Although less celebrated than directing, production design is nonetheless essential to filmmaking, defining a film's very own world and atmosphere from the big picture to the smallest details. As part of our student mediation activities, this series offers a chance to rewatch on the big screen recent Québécois films that stand out for their exceptional production design, among other things, transporting us to another universe—whether a fantastical, bygone, or quirky one.
Special Offer: $5 for students
Winner of 11 Prix Iris in 2023, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay
The Viking Company is recruiting volunteers to collaborate on the first manned mission to Mars. The goal is to form a B-team of alter egos who will live the adventure in parallel, behind closed doors on Earth, in the hope of remotely solving the interpersonal problems encountered by the five real astronauts who will soon land on the red planet. The film tells the story of how David, a physical education teacher, seizes this opportunity to rekindle his dream of becoming an astronaut and perhaps make a difference. Somewhere between unlikely science fiction and modern allegory, Viking is a dramatic comedy about the gap between our aspirations and reality.
Stéphane Lafleur
Stéphane Lafleur is a filmmaker, editor, and musician. His first feature film, Continental, a Film Without Guns (2007), premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, and was shown at several other international festivals. It won numerous awards, including Best Canadian First Feature Film at TIFF and Best Film at the Festival international du film francophone de Namur (Bayard d’or). Four years later, he directed Familiar Grounds, which won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and the Grand Jury Prize at the Taipei Film Festival. You're Sleeping Nicole, his third feature film, was selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. His latest film, Viking, premiered at TIFF in 2022 and won 11 awards at the Gala Québec Cinéma, including for Best Film.
Photo : Caroline Hayeur
