Two NFB shorts at the 2023 Fantasia film festival. Audrey Nantel-Gagnon’s Fire-Jo-Ball (NFB) and Janice Nadeau’s HARVEY (NFB/Folimage) will screen in competition at the festival

Montreal – WEBWIRE – Friday, July 7, 2023

The National Film Board of Canada returns to Montreals Fantasia International Film Festival with a documentary short and an animated short by two talented, award-winning women filmmakers: Audrey Nantel-Gagnons Fire-Jo-Ball, which will have its Montreal premiere, and Janice Nadeaus HARVEY. The films will be screened in competition, in the Fantastiques Week-ends du Cinma Qubcois program. HARVEY will also be presented in competition in the My First Fantasia youth program. The festival runs from July 20 to August 9, 2023.

Quick Facts

Fire-Jo-Ball by Audrey Nantel-Gagnon (16min54s) MONTREAL PREMIERE
Produced by Nathalie Cloutier for the NFBs Quebec, Canadian Francophonie & Acadian Documentary Studio
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/fire-jo-ball

• Jo-Ann, a 57-year-old bartender, dreams of becoming a singer and actress. Oscillating between spectacular and intimate, between extra and ordinary, Jo-Ann infuses her daily life (and the film) with true main-character energy. At the crossroads of genres, Fire-Jo-Ball paints a portrait of a woman who loves all things rosy, even if her life isnt always so. This short doc had its world premiere at the REGARD festival.
• Audrey Nantel-Gagnons first film, Shirley Temple (UQAM, 2018), was screened around the world and won several significant awards. Moving between documentary and fiction, the filmmaker places her characters at the centre of her work. Her approach revolves around intimate moments and human relationships, resulting in a filmmaking style thats both accessible and dynamic. Fire-Jo-Ball is the product of a close collaboration between the director and the protagonist, who allowed themselves to dream together.

HARVEY by Janice Nadeau (9min)
Co-produced by Marc Bertrand (NFBs French Program Animation Studio) and Reginald de Guillebon (Folimage), with the support of the Centre national du cinma et de limage anime. Head of Development: Corinne Destombes (Folimage).
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/harvey

• A luminous look at loss and bereavement, seen through the eyes of a child with an overflowing imagination. Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Herv Bouchard, illustrated by Montreal filmmaker Janice Nadeau (La Pastque).
• Janice Nadeau, whos illustrated a number of books and is a three-time recipient of Canadas prestigious Governor Generals Literary Award, has had her film selected to screen at several acclaimed festivals in Canada and Europe, including Clermont-Ferrand, REGARD, Stuttgart, Annecy, Animafest Zagreb and the Sommets du cinma danimation. This short had a standout creative team that included Claude Cloutier and Marc Robinet (lead animators), Olivier Calvert (sound design) and Martin Lon (original music). With the voice of Ryan S. Hill.

French version here | Version franaise ici.

About the NFB

The NFB is Canadas public producer and distributor of award-winning documentaries, auteur animation, interactive stories and participatory experiences, working with talented creators across the country. The NFB is taking action to combat systemic racism and become a more open and diverse organization, while working to strengthen Indigenous-led production and gender equity in film and digital media. NFB productions have won more than 7,000 awards, including 12 Oscars. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca.