Named one of the most influential animators of the last 25 years, Theodore Ushev draws inspiration from all forms of art, questions the state of the world and projects himself into his own creations. His highly personal films have won hundreds of awards, including the prestigious Cristal du court métrage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Guy-L. Coté Prize at the Sommets du cinéma d'animation (The Physics of Sorrow), as well as an Oscar nomination (Blind Vaysha). To fully grasp the depth of his approach, we need to turn our attention to his paintings, installations, illustrations, posters, and performances. Accordingly, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the** Musée-Château d'Annecy**, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada, present THEODORE USHEV, THE MATTER OF MEMORY, an exhibition featuring over 200 original works, posters, several films, unique and astonishing objects and a monumental installation. After a presentation at the Musée-Château d'Annecy last year, which drew over 80,000 visitors, the exhibition finally arrives in Montreal, in a major Canadian premiere, where it will be presented in three rooms at the Cinémathèque québécoise from May 3 to September 22.

A graduate of Sofia's National Academy of Fine Arts, Theodore Ushev is a much sought-after poster designer. He moved to Montreal in 1999, where he soon found the National Film Board of Canada to be a fertile ground for developing his style. Over the course of two decades, he produced 15 animated films. His acclaimed trilogy on the relationship between art and power – Tower Bawher (2006), Drux Flux (2008) and Gloria Victoria (2013) - quickly won the respect of audiences and festival juries alike. The Physics of Sorrow (2019), his most ambitious work, is based on a novel by Guéorgui Gospodinov. It is the first fully animated film made using the encaustic-painting technique, or hot-wax painting. Over the course of his career, Theodore Ushev has also signed a carte blanche for the Festival du nouveau cinema (Rossignols in December) and numerous independent films (Sonámbulo, Demoni, Life in a Box). His first live-action film, the dystopian Phi 1.618 (a Bulgaria-Canada co-production), was released last year.

In addition to his films, Ushev creates innovative installations, multimedia works and virtual reality projects. He gives master classes all over the world.

Theodore Ushev draws inspiration from all art forms, questions the state of the world and projects himself into his own creations. He is a complete artist. THEODORE USHEV, THE MATTER OF MEMORY, presented at the Cinémathèque québécoise until September 22.

Visit cinematheque.qc.ca for full details.

The opening will take place on May 2 at 5:30 p.m., in the presence of the artist.

THEODORE USHEV, THE MATTER OF MEMORY is co-produced by the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Musée-Château d'Annecy, in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada. The exhibition is made possible by the City of Annecy, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Canada Council for the Arts.

The films The Physics of Sorrow and Blind Vaysha, are produced by the NFB with the participation of ARTE France.