Saguenay, Thursday, February 29, 2024 – Canada’s largest short film market, at REGARD – Saguenay International Short Film Festival, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024! For the occasion, the event will feature interviews, networking activities, round tables and masterclasses for the 400 industry professionals in attendance. There will even be a trivia night where participants can test their knowledge of the world of short films.
An accessible Market
While a professional section might seem to be exclusively for film professionals, most of the activities at REGARD’s Short Film Market are free and open to all. First, cinephiles will be able to learn all about the favourite films of the spokesperson for the 28th edition, Étienne Galloy, and of director Myriam Verreault (Kuessipan, À l’ouest de Pluton) through the First Stirrings activity, presented by Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the works that shaped the two artists’ unconditional love of cinema!
One-on-one activities are also planned for those who want to learn all about the exceptional careers of actress Anne-Marie Cadieux and of well-known publicist, producer and programmer Kathleen McInnis, both of whom are members of this year’s Official Competition jury. These activities are made possible by the support of Vital Productions and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Meanwhile, SARTEC and UNEQ present a discussion on literary adaptation for film with authors Chloé Varin and Catherine Léger. The activity will take place at a well-known local bookstore, Les Bouquinistes, on Racine St., which will also host a public reading by the finalists of the Philippe Belley creative residency. The writers will present excerpts from their scripts adapted from regional literary works.
In a more technical vein, REGARD and Culture Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean will present a panel on demystifying grant applications with representatives of several funding bodies and a moderator Gabrielle Desbiens. The activity will include a case study on a fictional application, led by Mylène Corbeil, a seasoned producer at La Créative Films in Montreal, and Marjorie Armstrong, a Saguenay-based actress and screenwriter. This activity is also open to all.
A panel on colour grading, a crucial step in the cinematic postproduction process, will be presented in collaboration with the École supérieure en Art et technologie des médias. Independent colourist Vickie-Lynn Roy, Eric Denis of Studio Element in Quebec City and Martin Gaumont of Outpost in Montreal will be the expert guests for this activity.
Lastly, fans of the short form will get a chance to test their knowledge on the evening of March 21 with a trivia night at La Tour à Bières in Chicoutimi, presented by Inis.
“The Market is such a great event. Like cinema itself it touches on so many different things, and it’s full of creative possibilities and ingenious talents. Long live the Market!” said Market director Mireille Tremblay-Caron.
REGARD: a treasured space for professional meetings
Short-film artists will have several opportunities during this 20th Market to take advantage of a busy schedule of professional activities. For its two dozen guests from around the world (South Africa, Lithuania, Morocco, Lebanon, the UK and more), each year REGARD organizes an activity outside Chicoutimi, in a bucolic setting, designed to foster interaction. This year the travellers will be invited to Les Jardins de Sophie, in Saint-Fulgence, to share a meal and get to know one another. The next morning, all Canadian festival guests will be invited to attend an official introduction over morning coffee at Hôtel Le Montagnais. The Pro Breakfasts return Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. to La Pulperie in Chicoutimi. This not-to-be-missed activity is presented by the Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and Film Laurentides.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 22, regional production companies will gather for a brainstorming session to discuss ideas for increasing the quantity and quality of their work. Led by filmmaker Sara Bourdeau, the activity will also include Mylène Corbeil, producer at La Créative Films, and René Turcotte, a Rimouski-based production accountant. This activity is an initiative of Festival REGARD and the TaCIC, with the support of SODEC and the Bell Fund.
Several other professional gatherings are planned for March 21 to 23, including a Think Tank activity bringing together representatives of Canadian festivals, as well as a meeting of the members of the Table de concertation interrégionale en cinéma (TaCiC).
SODEC x REGARD networking activity
In anticipation of the upcoming deadline for submissions to the Aide à la création émergente program run by the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), several writers and producers have been invited to La Pulperie in Chicoutimi on Saturday, March 23, at 1 p.m. for a new kind of meeting: teatime! Meanwhile, the Cours écrire ton court scriptwriting competition, organized by SODEC in collaboration with several partners, will have its official awards ceremony on Saturday, March 23, during a cocktail reception at Hôtel Chicoutimi. This activity is also free and open to all.
Box office
The public activities of the Market are free and open to all. Industry professionals wishing to participate in the 20th annual REGARD Short Film Market can purchase a pass on the event website for $125. Pass holders can access networking activities exclusively for professionals, are included on the list of guests and receive Market newsletters.