THE NFB AT THE RVF

THE NFB AT LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE: A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE AND FREE FILMS THAT MAKE SOME NOISE!

For its 23rd edition, Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF) is honouring Acadia and its people, whose Francophone culture has survived, strong and proud, through the years. The NFB at the RVF offers a new year of free programming from coast to coast, featuring both new films and old classics for any group, organization, or institution that wishes to set up screenings either in theatres or online.

This year’s RVF will be the perfect opportunity to screen some outstanding works from NFB’s Canadian Francophone Studio (formerly Studio Acadie). These include the latest documentary by the great Acadian documentary filmmaker Monique LeBlanc, Plus haut que les flammes (Higher Than Flames Will Go), a moving film adaptation of Louise Dupré’s famous poem of the same title; and Le grand Jack (Jack Kerouac’s Road – A Franco-American Odyssey), a portrait of Jack Kerouac by renowned Acadian author and director Herménégilde Chiasson. The idea of Acadia, with its inspirational, free and resilient people, naturally connects to other NFB films about the Francophonie in motion, such as Kenbe la, jusqu’à la victoire (Kenbe la, Until We Win). This Will Prosper documentary paints a vibrant picture of Alain Philoctète, a Haitian-born artist, philosopher, and activist living in Quebec who dreams about bringing permaculture to his native land.

Many other great productions are part of the seven programs offered this year: Jack Kerouac’s Road – A Franco-American Odyssey, Kacho Komplo, and Wind, to name just a few. The inclusion of Parliament: The Virtual Experience marks the first time the NFB has featured an interactive production in its RVF programming. Acadians have demonstrated a will to preserve their language and culture, making New Brunswick Canada’s only officially bilingual province. A cornerstone of Canadian identity, bilingualism is central to the democratic undertakings at the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa. The tour of this historic and highly symbolic building can be experienced on mobile phones, tablets, or VR headsets. The programs for children are also inspired by the idea of Acadia in motion. The Explorations program, for young children, includes Peep and the Big Wide World, while Discovering Acadia and Other Places, aimed at ages 8 and up, is a selection of classics and animated vignettes about the Acadian people, Pimp My Boat, an NFB classic, kicks off this program with humour, colour and exuberance.

The NFB’s programming for the 2021 RVF is sure to make a warwarie (a “big noise” in Acadian French) in every province and territory.

To organize a screening

- Programming: Online or by file download (PDF format)
- Registration form

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SEVEN PROGRAMS:

To organize a screening

WHO can organize theatrical or online public screenings?

• Anyone!

WHAT can we screen?

• The seven programs described above. Hyperlinks to each film (or a clip from it) are provided to help you select your program. For more information, please feel free to contact the programming officer, Florence François, at f.francois@onf.ca or 514-914-9253.

HOW MUCH does it cost to organize public screenings?

• Everything is free, including the films and promotional materials!

WHERE do we organize public screenings?

• You could organize a public screening in a community hall, a gymnasium, a school, a parish hall, a seniors’ residence, a library, a classroom—even your living room or kitchen (popular venues nowadays).

HOW do we organize a screening?

• Follow these steps:

1. Download the registration form or request one at rvf@onf.ca.
2. Select your program(s).
3. Find a venue and set the screening date(s) for between March 1 and March 31, 2021.
4. E-mail the completed registration form to rvf@onf.ca or fax it to 514-841-3500 no later than January 31, 2021.
5. If you can, find a guest speaker to discuss the films after the screening. This often attracts a larger audience and stimulates discussion.
6. You will receive the DVD, link to download the film(s), or hyperlink (depending on what you requested), along with the promotional materials.
7. Promote your screening(s) in your community to attract as many people as possible; for example, by putting up posters of the event in strategic locations at least three weeks in advance, by using social media, by sending out e-mails, by making use of local media, or by placing ads if it is a public event (see the checklist provided in the registration form for tips).

 

You agree to…

• hold your screenings only during the RVF; that is, between March 1 and March 31, 2021;
• present each program in its entirety (let us know beforehand if this is not possible);
• perform the necessary technical testing as soon as you receive the DVDs, hyperlinks, or have downloaded the files;
• provide the NFB with an audience data report for each screening no later than April 5, 2021; and
• return or destroy the DVDs provided or delete the downloaded files. If you elect to destroy the DVDs or delete the downloaded files, please inform the NFB at rvf@onf.ca.

 

The NFB agrees to…

• provide you with the film(s) in the program(s) you have selected on DVD, via a download link, or by hyperlink;
• give you online access to all available promotional materials so you can promote the event in your networks;
• send you posters in French for each program, upon request (max. 4 posters);
• promote your screening(s) on the RVF and NFB websites and blogs; and
• promote public screening(s) in the press release announcing the NFB’s participation in the RVF.

 

On the Web all year long

In addition to the public screenings, you can also watch films year-round on our page dedicated to the Francophonie, which offers a list of curated works that honour the diversity of Canada’s Francophonie.

Please forward this information to as many people as possible, so they can enjoy the NFB’s free RVF 2021 program.

The Francophonie is as close as the nearest screen!

Florence François
Programming Officer
Distribution, Communications and Marketing
National Film Board of Canada
f.francois@onf.ca