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NFB Women Pioneers

Sat, 05. 3., 18:00Sun, 06. 3., 15:30

NFB Women Pioneers – Curated by Julie Roy

Duration: 65 minutes

As a Canadian public institution, the NFB was very much ahead of its time when it founded Studio D, the first feminist film production unit, in 1974. At the same time, a number of women began their own creative work in the animation studios. It was also around this time that the NFB brought in several female animators from abroad to share their knowledge and expertise in animation with their Canadian colleagues. This was the case with the German Lotte Reiniger, the US-American Caroline Leaf, and the Belgian Clorinda Warny, who contributed to the exciting atmosphere of that era during their time at the NFB by working with Canadian pioneers such as Suzanne Gervais, Lynn Smith, and Francine Desbiens.

Cycle

Cycle

Suzanne Gervais
Canada
1976,
05'00

A free-hand line animation, where the movement as much as the designs reflects the artist’s thoughts on the life of humans and their universe. What evolves is a stream of ideas about the elemental situation of humankind, poised midway between the primary dust and the measureless universe yet unplumbed.

Aucassin et Nicolette

Aucassin et Nicolette

Lotte Reiniger
Canada
1976,
16'00

The medieval story of Aucassin and Nicolette comes alive with fairy-tale enchantment at the hands of renowned German animator, Lotte Reiniger.

Premiers jours / Beginnings

Premiers jours / Beginnings

Clorinda Warny
Canada
1980,
09'00

The animator's personal view of the universe. The product of an eclectic imagination, this universe draws on historical, literary and classical sources to illustrate our close ties with nature. Abstract landscapes evolve into strange, god-like figures whose images revert into landscapes. 

The Sound Collector

The Sound Collector

Lynn Smith
Canada
1982,
11'55

Leonard is a 6-year-old boy with the unusual hobby of collecting sounds. Transforming household noises around him into exciting fantasies, he creates an adventure story for his older brother.

Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman

Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman / Variations on Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman

Francine Desbiens
Canada
1985,
13'30

A lyrical dance through time about family roots. Objects in the room swirl, rearrange and change themselves to reflect the passing seasons, years and generations. As Victorian Christmas fantasies give way to computer-age realities, the procession of objects reaffirms the values that endure the vagaries of fashion and the ravages of time.               

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