Others' Gold

In a dark, ambiguous environment, minuscule particles drift slowly before the lens. The image focuses to reveal spruce trees and tall pines, while Innu voices tell us the story of this territory, this flooded forest. Muffled percussive sounds gradually become louder, suggesting the presence of a hydroelectric dam. The submerged trees gradually transform into firebrands as whispers bring back the stories of this forest.

The documentary proposes a unique meeting with the speakers of several indigenous and inuit languages of Quebec – all threatened with extinction. The film starts with the discovery of these unsung tongues through listening to the daily life of those who still speak them today. Buttressed by an exploration and creation of archives, the film allows us to better understand the musicality of these languages and reveals the cultural and human importance of these venerable oral traditions by nourishing a collective reflection on the consequences of their disappearance.

For more than a century, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous region in Azerbaijan with an ethnic Armenian majority. With an empathetic ear to both sides, this film delicately unpacks the sensitive subject of ethnic nationalism in the South Caucasus. Using poetic visuals and a mesmerizing, immersive soundscape, Under the Same Sun introduces us to the viewpoints of writers, activists and everyday citizens. Through these interviews, the film raises an urgent and timely question: How does one retain a belief in universal human rights in the face of aggressive propaganda and increasing ethnic nationalism?

A documentary film that can best be described as a portrait of an author about and featuring André Forcier. It is the story of an extraordinary and undeniable filmmaker in the landscape of Canadian national cinema and a pillar at the heart of its identity. It is an opportunity to relive his work, known for its strong dose of magical realism, through the reenactment of scenes from his entire filmography. It is a walk through his world, which sometimes appears like a memory, a footprint, or a recollection.

A French-to-Spanish interpreter working for a food processing plant that hires seasonal workers from Guatemala is, at first determined to obey the sometimes excessive directives of the young boss, but she befriends the workers and tries to defend them against the exploitation they suffer.

As they make their way to Schefferville, an isolated village in Northern Quebec, to settle the sale of a cottage, Sophie and Mathieu unwittingly find themselves facing a grave and unexpected situation that tests their relationship.

Felix and Malou are two neighbors in a small village with large fields. Each family, each with its problems of adolescents of thirteen. But between the two houses, through their differences, Felix and Malou are found ... and survive.

Damien, a 16-year old swimmer, clashes with his Coach at practice. In parallel, Damien plays with his younger brother at a hotel waterslide, but his erratic behaviour shows something hidden beneath the surface. Bleach explores the confusing moments following trauma and abuse, and how big each small step can be.

Kenbe La: Until We Win chronicles the inspiring journey of Alain Philoctète, an artist and activist who dreams of developing a permaculture project in his native country even as he fights an ongoing battle with cancer.

An astronaut sends her young son a video message from outer space. In Mexico, a stripper dances night after night to keep a roof over her child’s head. In Canada, a woman becomes a mother for the first time after enduring seven miscarriages. Finnish filmmaker Joonas Berghäll has travelled to South African settlements, Nepalese terraced fields and Russia’s metropolis Moscow to investigate an unshakable and almost magical connection: the bond between mother and child. MOTHER‘S WISH portrays 10 women from the most varied of cultural and social backgrounds who all tell of the beauty and difficulty of being a mother. These are not only stories of love and pride – but also of disappointed hopes and the most precarious of life circumstances. Above all else, however, the protagonists tell of their determination – regardless of their current living conditions – to fight for a better future.

A submarine crew, a feared pack of forest bandits, a famous surgeon, and a battalion of child soldiers all get more than they bargained for as they wend their way toward progressive ideas on life and love.

In a Guadeloupean village, a young boy adopts a stray dog. Devastated by his new companion’s sudden disappearance, he sets out on a quest through this unknown island.

Nitassinan is a feature-length documentary that bears witness to the Innu people and affirms our history—past, present, and future. The film testifies to our vitality, our resilience, and the unbreakable bond that unites us to the land. Because Nitassinan is not only the place we come from; it is a living part of ourselves. It has nourished our language, inspired our thoughts, and guided our steps. This film is a message of love for our territory, which saw our birth and which still accompanies us today, even in our dreams.

A few years ago, the al-Mahamids fled Bashar al-Assad and Syria to settle in Montreal. A nuanced portrayal of a courageous family coping with a seemingly interminable war, thousands of kilometres away, that continues to affect their lives.

Two cousins come of age together, overcoming the heinous acts which interrupted their childhoods.