Filmmakers, friends and movie buffs invaded the l’Escaouette theater in Moncton on Tuesday to kick off the 38th Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadia under the sign of local cinema. Marked by the premiere of the Acadian documentary Trecarréthe opening night which was sold out had a festive feel.
It was an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NFB’s Studio Acadie in addition to paying tribute to the late Léonard Forest, pioneer of Acadian cinema.
Directed by his daughter Violaine Forest, the tribute film Memory in mind which aims to be a work of love for the filmmaker and poet, offers a moving portrait of the journey of the director, producer and screenwriter.
“My father was a man of few words,” mentioned Violaine Forest, who chose to make his films and his poetry speak and also leave room for silence.
Léonard Forest is at the origin of the presence of the NFB in Acadia. The commissioner and president of the NFB, Suzanne Guèvremont, highlighted the great contribution of Léonard Forest, one of the first filmmakers to collaborate with the agency.
His documentary Fishermen of Pomcoupmade in 1956, was the first film about Acadia shot by an Acadian, recalled the commissioner. It recounted the journey of the Acadie studio with its ups and downs.
Over the past 50 years, 264 films have been produced and co-produced with the NFB in the Atlantic. Ms. Guèvremont reaffirmed the public producer’s commitment to Acadia. “We are here to stay,” she said.
The most recent production from Studio Acadie, Trécarré: at the source of the sound of Baie Sainte-Marie by Natalie Robichaud was warmly applauded by the crowd. A colorful film about the music and creativity of Baie Sainte-Marie with quite comical moments, sympathetic characters and beautiful images of this maritime region of southwest Nova Scotia.
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