Joannie Lafrenière

At the crossroads of musical documentary, art film and poetic essay, the film Héritières delves into the world of the musical project of the same name, which brings together more than twenty female performers of different ages and cultural origins around the theme of maternal legacy and the collective heritage of women across generations.

The first documentary feature by Joannie Lafrenière paints a tender and light-hearted portrait of her friend, the talented photographer Gabor Szilasi. Structured around a number of interviews, notably one between the filmmaker and the energetic, eloquent, insightful and inspiring man himself. This intimate and unconventional documentary revisits the career and personal history of a remarkably creative nonagenarian with a fascinating life story. The film is a journey through the past that remains firmly anchored in the present, much like the photographer himself, who passionately continues to capture the poetry of daily life in his adopted homeland as he has done over the past six decades.

Every year, thousands of Quebecers flock south to escape the harsh winters. Using a quirky Wes Anderson–inspired aesthetic, Snowbirds examines their hibernation destination: the French-speaking community of Hallandale Beach in Florida. There we meet characters like Agathe, affectionately nicknamed "Aunty" by the other seniors, an 88-year-old Quebecoise who eats chocolate bars and drinks Pepsi for lunch. Her secret to a pill-free old age? A fanatical worship of the sun. Many others come for the same reason, and together their days at this campground community are dictated by English conversation classes, jaunts to the beach and afternoon lawn bowling. With lots of tenderness and good humour, the film considers the joys and woes of aging, the importance of community and American-Canadian cultural differences.