Cinéfranco 2008 — Guests

François Delisle Friday, March 28 at 7:00PM

Meet François Delisle after the movie You (2007) Telefilm Canada During and after his film studies, François Delisle made several experimental shorts in Super 8 including La Mer on s’en fout! and Du couteau au fusil. In 1991, Delisle attracted critical attention with the release of his medium-length film Beebe-Plain. In 1994, Ruth, his first feature film, was well received by critics and was shown in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada, Germany, Belgium and France. In 2002, Delisle founded the company, Films 53/12, from which he produced and directed his second feature film, Le bonheur c’est une chanson triste (2004). This film gained international recognition and was presented in more than 20 festivals and film events. François Delisle is strongly committed to filmmaking that is at once independent and personal -- a commitment he upholds through his active involvement in both the creation and the production of his films. From Telefilm Canada

Hassan Benjelloun Sunday, March 30 at 3:30PM

Meet Hassan Benjelloun after the movie Where Are You Going Moshé? (2007) Maroc Hebdo International Moroccan-born scriptwriter, director and producer Hassan Benjelloun made his first feature film La Fête des autres in 1990, followed by Yarit in 1994, Les amis d'hier in 1997, Les lèvres du silence in 2000 and Jugement d'une femme in 2001. The latter film recounts the situation of women in Morocco and won many festival prizes. His most recent film La chambre noire examines Morocco's dark period during the 1970s and won the grand prize at the Khouribga African Film Festival, a Silver Yennega Stallion at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, and received a special mention of the Jury at the International Carthage Festival in Tunis. From Telefilm Canada

Bertrand Weissgerber Wednesday, April 2 at 8:30PM

Meet Bertrand Weissgerber after the movie Remember to Love Me (2006) Bertrand Weissgerber After studying cinema in Paris and after serving in the French military service, Bertrand Weissgerber makes his first short film "Amour de sang" which attracts much attention, and spends the next couple of years working at the Cinémathèque française. Later he becomes an assistant director and producer until he comes to Canada. He then works in prestigious production companies and specializes in the production of documentaries. In Quebec, he also continues building up his career as a writer by creating and writing most of the documentaries he produces. In 2006, he steps away from documentaries with "Remember to Love Me" which he wrote and had the technical collaboration of two giants in the film industry Tim Stipan (Robert Altman’s colorist) and Nico Illies (Martin Scorcese’s colorist). Shot in Super 8 and post-produced in HD-SR to be transferred in 35mm in New York, "Remember to Love Me" is a world technical innovative film supported by Kodak and Technicolor, which has been selected in over 15 international film festivals. Bertrand Weissgerber is now working on several documentaries and is finalizing his first feature film.

Mohammed Ismaïl Thursday, April 3 at 8:30PM

Meet Mohammed Ismaïl after the movie Goodbye Mothers (2007) Born September 1st, 1951 in Tetouan (Morocco). In 1970, he starts studies of right at the faculty of Rabat. In 1974, he integrates the Moroccan Television where he produces and achieves many movies, of the theatrical evenings as well as a certain number of varieties. Among his realizations: Documentaries TV films Short films Movies 1993: Co production of the "Yarit" feature film of Hassan Benjelloun 2000: Realization of the feature film "Et après..." = big price and price of better script and realization of Oujda National Film Festival, Official selection of Marrakech, Carthage, Ouagadougou and Kerala Festivals... 2003 Production of short films 2004-2006: Production of TV films 2007: Produced and directed "Adieu Meres" From www.adieumeres.com

Richard Jutras Friday, April 4 at 7:30PM

Meet Richard Jutras after the movie La Belle Empoisonneuse (2008) After studying film, Richard Jutras debuted at Videographe as a director, as well as a musician and soundtrack designer. Since then, he has worked actively as a director, screenwriter and editor. He has made eight short productions in five years. His most recent is "Rendez-Vous dans l’inachevé", a 28-minute film with no dialogue, where the action unfolds over the backdrop of war. Several of his productions, like Biscuit soda (1984), Kid Kodak (1992), Musiques pour un siècle sourd (1999), Pawn shop (2001), Flagrant délit (2001), Hit and Run (2002) and Nul si découvert (2004), have merited awards and special mentions, or were presented at festivals here and abroad. From www.coopvideo.ca/membres/richard-jutras.en La Belle Empoisonneuse is his first feature film

Marc Bisaillon Saturday, April 5 at 1:00PM

Meet Marc Bisaillon after the movie La Lâcheté (2007) Telefilm Canada Former student of philosophy, Russian studies and film, Marc Bisaillon decided in 1998 to devote himself to screenwriting. He has written the scripts for three feature films, including Les Immortels (2003) and Cowardice (2007). He has also made two short films: SPCE (2002) and Y’en n’a pas comme nous! (2005). In a parallel career, Bisaillon is also a singer-songwriter and composed, with Éric Rathé, the songs and music for Les Immortels. From 1988 to 2003, he was with the now defunct underground group, Les 3/4 Putains. His new group, Léopold Z, produced their first CD, La Joie, in 2005. Cowardice was Bisaillon’s first time directing a feature film (2007). From Telefilm Canada

Saâd Chraïbi Saturday, April 5 at 3:30PM

Meet Saâd Chraïbi after the movie Islamour (2007) Maroc Hebdo International Born in 1952 in Fez (Morocco) After being a member at the National Federation of the Film Clubs of Morocco in the seventies, Saâd Chraïbi joins the filmmakers of the group "Les cendres du clos". After having worked for the short film "Les Cent jours de la Mamounia", Saâd Chraïbi gets involved in writing his first feature film in 1984, a chronicle of life, that had taken 7 years before it came out because of lack of financing. In 1998, Saâd Chraïbi makes his second feature film "Femmes... et femmes", a tribute to four Moroccan women looking for their identities in society. Two years later, he makes another film Soif, a chronicle of the life of a small Moroccan village dealing with the French presence. This film was shown twice in Toronto in front of very appreciative audiences. In 2004, Saâd Chraïbi makes the courageous film Jawhara, Bent El-Habs, about a young woman recalling her life growing up in prison during the "Lead years" of recent Moroccan history. Saâd Chraïbi is a major figure in Moroccan cinema through his writing, his conferences. His intellectual contribution is enriching and energizing artistic life in Morocco. UPDATE: Film director Saâd Chraïbi will not be in Toronto

Franz Josef Holzer Sunday, April 6 at 3:30PM

Meet Franz Josef Holzer after the movie The Gap (2007) lecart.romandie.com Born in 1967 in Walenstadt (Switzerland). Studied Philosophy, Literature and Psychology in Zurich and Berlin. Studied medicine in Geneva. 1998 Receives degree in Medicine. Since 1998 works as independent filmmaker. Writes and produces screenplays for short and full-length films. Since 1992 lives and works in Geneva. Deux / Two (2000) Short film: won 2 awards in Geneva (cinema tout écran Festival) and Locarno International Film Festival From Swiss Films