The Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal (Montréal animated film summit) is an international festival dedicated to animation in all its forms, from heritage films to new media by way of current production. Over four days, every space at the Cinémathèque québécoise moves to the rhythms of animation! A unique event in Quebec, the festival celebrates an art form that has long brought international recognition to Quebec and to Canada. The next Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal will be held from 1 to 4 December 2011.
Every year, the Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal presents the best animated films from Quebec, Canada and elsewhere. The program includes a selection of international titles, a solid line-up of student films directed by young artists representing the future of animation cinema, an overview of Canadian and Quebec production, retrospectives, and activities for young audiences. Part of the program is also presented in the city of Québec.
In addition to screenings, the Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal offers a range of special activities. The Cinémathèque québécoise hosts a series of original and eclectic events: exhibits, performances, discussion forums with directors and artisans, workshops, film classes, entertaining and rewarding sessions with animation professionals and renowned guests, and festive evening activities.
The Sommets du cinéma d’animation de Montréal is an essential annual rendez-vous that brings together animation artists and professionals as well as movie-lovers from all over. Recognized as a true Mecca in the animation world, Montréal can certainly boast of the asset that is the Sommets, a major event that celebrates animation in all its bold and diverse forms and that highlights the knowledge and expertise of local practitioners of this art form.
GERD GOCKELL
Gerd Gockell was born 1960 in Darmstadt; from 1980-87 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brunswick; he worked as a freelance animator for the "HR-Hessische Rundfunk" Frankfurt; 1988 he moved to London and worked on several film projects; in 1990 he founded the ANIGRAF film production with Kirsten Winter in Hanover; various teaching appointments since 1992, including e. g. the Academy of Fine Arts in Brunswick, Ngee Ann Polytechnics in Singapore, Academy of Fine Arts in Kassel and 2002-2011 Head of the Animation Dept. at the University of aplied Sience and Arts Lucerne; lives and works in Hanover and Lucerne.
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HELEN FARADJI
Arriving in Montréal in 1999, Helen Faradji has been giving free rein to her love of film ever since. After completing a Ph.D. on the films of the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino, she began her career as a film critic at CISM radio, then moved on to the weekly ICI. After a detour into the world of movie distribution, she became editor in chief of revue24images.com, the online edition of 24 Images magazine. She also publishes a blog on the topic of film (www.lafilledesvues.ca) and recently delved into the joys of radio as a film columnist, alongside Georges Privet, for the program Médium Large on Radio-Canada’s Première Chaîne.
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NICOLAS BRAULT
Born in Montréal in 1975, Nicolas Brault holds a degree in graphic design from the Université du Québec à Montréal. After making two student films using a graphics tablet (L’œil, 1999, and Vermino, 2000), he won the 2000 edition of the National Film Board of Canada’s Cinéaste recherché(e) competition, which enabled him to direct the film Antagonia. Antagonia was screened at the Clermont-Ferrand film festival and at CINAMINA in Portugal, where it picked up an award. Brault then turned his attention to Inuit culture with his short Îlot (2003), as well to African oral traditions, with Hungu (2008). In his most recent film, Le cirque (2010), a Folimage-ONF co-production, Brault touches on memories surrounding the death of his mother. After collaborating on several projects combining animation and live action, he is currently developing a film that unites bodily motion and pixilation.
Below you will find the program of the last three years:
Program - Sommets du cinéma d'animation 2008
Program - Sommets du cinéma d'animation 2009
Program - Sommets du cinéma d'animation 2010
