Gabor
Teaser of the feature-length documentary GABOR that plunges into the world of Gabor Szilasi, a humanist photographer of Hungarian origin who has spent the last 60 years putting in images the eloquence of the daily life of his adopted country. Through a conversation between the filmmaker Joannie Lafrenière and his friend Gabor Szilasi, this documentary is a quirky, feel-good portrait of this 93-year-old giant of Canadian contemporary photography. An uplifting immigrant story and an inspiring lesson on how to grow old with elegance and dignity.
To buy or rent the film, please follow this link:
https://maison4tiers.com/film/gabor/
Produced by Tak Films
The last flowers
Short documentary film that paints an intimate portrait of the florist Pierre-André Jacob who was born in the Hochelaga neighbourhood (Montréal) in the 1950s. He started out working at Fleuriste Maisonneuve when he was still a teenager. For more than five decades, he carefully crafted floral arrangements to mark the milestones in the lives of local residents. In 2021, Pierre-André closed up shop and left the neighbourhood, taking with him an intangible heritage of so many memories.
Produced as part of the exhibition HOCHELAGA-EVOLVING MONTREAL, presented at the McCord Stewart Museum in 2023.
Editing: Emmanuelle Lane
Mix: Marc-André Labonté
BIbelot & bingo
Six elderlies. Six terrific stories. Some have shaped today's Quebec, others have traveled the world and experienced whimsical adventures that would have their grandchildren blush. All of them are the evidence that old age is far from boring.
A tribute to the rich, spicy, life of the seniors, this project is an antidote to ageism. It stems from a desire to shed light on the invisible and look at old age differently.
Produced by Radio-Canada (Yannick Pinel and Claudia Timmons)
For the complete series, it's here:
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/bingo
Guide expert
Taking up the codes of guides for amateur photographers, LE GUIDE EXPERT DU PERFAIT PHOTOGRAPHE offers a quirky dive into the world of Quebec photography of the last 50 years through the work of Michel Campeau, Serge Clément, Bertrand Carrière, Normand Rajotte and Caroline Hayeur. A co-production by Joannie and Dan Popa, produced with the financial support of the CALQ and the Fabrique culturelle.
To see the project, please follow this link:
Regard 2021
Visual design for the 25th International Short Film Festival in Saguenay in collaboration with the fabulous artist Nathalie Dubé and the marvellous motion designer Gabriel Favreau.
King Lajoie-teaser
August 16, 1977, the life of a young 18-year-old trifluvian collapses: his idol, whom he considers his spiritual brother has just been found dead in his mansion in Memphis. The rest is part of history, but what about the young man grown up through the glitter of his idol?
In this unusal and colorful biopic, King Lajoie offers a kitsch dive into the world of Elvis Lajoie, a man who shares much more than a name with his idol.
A short documentary film produced by Colonelle Films with the collaboration of CBC DOCS. 2019
To see the film, please follow this link:
SNOWBIRDS
Trailer of SNOWBIRDS who is a feature-length documentary that reaches out to golden age Quebecers living in Florida during the winter season. This is the growing trend of an entire generation migrating to the tropics, seeking a leisure society that can entertain them.
With tenderness and humor, this sociological documentary goes to the heart of their daily lives by painting a human portrait of this typically Quebecois social phenomenon.
For the short version produced in collaboration with CBC DOCS, please follow this link:
https://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/shorts/snowbirds
Directed by Joannie Lafrenière and produced by Colonelle Films
NFB/Pause
Portrait of Marc St-Pierre, curator at the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) for 15 years, who talks about his passion for his work through archives tinged with nostalgia and memories.
Project realized within the framework of the new platform of the NFB, PAUSE which plunges in the heads of different directors and tells their creative process.
Regard 2018
Visual design for the 22nd International Short Film Festival in Saguenay featuring Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse as a world citizen in a hurry to travel to Chicoutimi (we understand her)!
The woman who saw the bear
Since 1980, Lucille Côté has lived in Laterrière, surrounded by more than 250 animals. With a silver mane and candid demeanor, Lucille practices a craft that has long been the exclusive domain of men: Taxidermy.
Through various contemplative and country-flavoured tableaux, we meet a particular breed of taxidermist, living outside of the digital age, with enough skills to get by in the woods without a compass or a frying pan.
Stop-motion by Daniel Delisle et Benoit LeRouzès
Music by Gervaise
Voix maritimes
First of the 20 episodes of Voix Maritimes, a documentary series featuring river enthusiasts, from Montreal to Anticosti. This mosaic of portraits offers a privileged encounter with fishermen, sailors, artisans, lighthouse keepers, adventurers and artists united by their common love for the river. Sailing on both shores of the St. Lawrence River, this series unites individuals with a unique way of life, each offering a unique and complementary perspective on this river that has for centuries shaped history and the identity of Quebecers.
The 20 documentary shorts co-directed with Émilie Beaulieu-Guérette tackle the human aspect of the various uses and traditions of the St. Lawrence and create a vibrant mosaic of characters with aquatic fiber and a marine heart.
Les Apparences
Video clip for Ariane Moffatt's song entitled LES APARENCES.
The images are from the documentary SNOWBIRDS produced by Colonelle Films.
Featuring Agathe Cyr and residents of various Hallandale parks in Florida (mainly Seville Park and Green Acres).
With the help of these snowbirds and collaborators Sophie B-Sylvestre Carolyne DeBellefeuille Nathalie Dubé Harrison Fun Andrée-Anne Roussel Sarah Mannering and the beautiful Post-Moderne crew (Julien Alix, Annaël Beauchemin and Jessie-Lee Labonté).
La Pastèque
Documentary portrait combining photos and videos to explain the approach of the illustrator Pascal Blanchet in the project Tout Garni of La Pastèque editions. Through a story written by André Marois, 12 talented illustrators tell interactively the story of Arthur who must deliver a pizza in an apartment with a thousand surprises.
Director of the 12 portraits of illustrators related to the project including Isabelle Arsenault, Cyril Doisneau, Geneviève Godbout, Patrick Doyon, Rémy Simard, Cathon, Pascal Girard ...
vue de ruelle
Rêver en couleur is part of the VUE DE RUELLE project. Developed for the 375th anniversary of Montreal, this project takes a tender and curious look through 8 films on the green lanes of the city and is particularly interested in citizens who choose to invest them with passion and ingenuity in neighborhoods. Southwest and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Rêver en couleur highlights the beautiful madness of Alain Cadieux, proud resident of Ville-Émard with singular ideas.
Animation and beautiful drawings: Nathalie Dubé
The moustache
A concise, comedic portrait of a community of Sri Lankan men sharing a distinctive mustache as a common trait. Never out of style in these parts, the mustache is held up here as a signifier of virility and manliness.
This short was produced for television as part of La Course Évasion autour du monde, in collaboration with Émilie Beaulieu-Guérette.
Regard 2017
Advertising for the Saguenay International Film Festival, Edition 2017 where David Bowie meets a pizzaghetti and a colorful mascotte in a seventies look.
Director: JOANNIE LAFRENIÈRE
Visual conception: NATHALIE DUBÉ
Assistant: RENAUD DEREPENTIGNY
Music: GERVAISE
Voice over CLAUDE GAGNON
Sound mix: PIERRE BROUILLETTE HAMELIN
My christmas wish list
This peculiar Christmas tale introduces the audience to a young woman determined to meet Santa Claus. With nothing but a dream and a fistful of Monopoly dollars to go on, this is one manhunt that promises more than a few twists and turns.
With Santa Claus as the target of a The Fugitive-worthy stalking, this is one short film packed with action and adventure!
Dance with the stars
On the sidewalks of Hochelaga and led by the rhythms of mambo and salsa music, we meet Ronald Lacoste, a magnificent dancer (and ladies' man.) As she ventures into this universe in which seniors dance like there's no tomorrow, Joannie becomes acquainted with these electrifying dancers who meet at Maisonneuve Market at sunset.
Produced for television as part of the Evasion series Vues de quartier.
View all Vues de quartier episodes on demand here:
http://www.evasion.tv/emissions/vues_de_quartier