On Screen Manitoba

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will present a varied and groundbreaking selection of seven films at the 30th edition of the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA), from March 15 to 25, 2012. The documentary A Museum in the City ( Echo Media/NFB) by Luc Bourdon will be in competition at the festival, having its world premiere. Two other NFB films will be shown as world premieres: the documentary The Mystery of Mazo de la Roche ( Red Queen Productions/NFB) by Maya Gallus and the animated short film Kaspar by Diane Obomsawin. Also in competition, Bone Wind Fire by Jill Sharpe delves into the creative processes of Georgia O'Keeffe, Emily Carr and Frida Kahlo. And for the first time ever, FIFA will present a 3D film,Lost Action: Trace by Marlene Millar, Crystal Pite and Philip Szporer. 

World premieres 

A Museum in the City by Luc Bourdon (Echo Media/NFB, 52 min) takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes visit to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) and looks back over its 150-year history. In touring the museum's pavilions, the viewer meets curators, educators, artisans, the institution's visionary director—Nathalie Bondil—as well as a dynamic and dedicated team of volunteers, without whom the museum would not exist. Luc Bourdon has chosen to make a film about the art of bringing a museum to life, giving us a new perspective on this unique institution and ensuring that our visits there will never be the same. The premiere will take place with the director in attendance. 

The Mystery of Mazo de la Roche by Maya Gallus (Red Queen Productions/NFB, 52 min) introduces one of the most successful and prolific women writers of the 20th century. Her novel Jalna, which tells the dramatic story of a family dynasty, skyrocketed her to international fame and fortune in 1927. By the time she died, 11 million copies of her book had been sold in 93 languages. She remains one of this country's bestselling authors, but despite her widespread fame her private life remains a mystery. The film uses both dramatic and documentary techniques to untie the tangled life of this extraordinary woman. 

In the animated short Kaspar (NFB), filmmaker Diane Obomsawin offers viewers an impressionistic fable that tells the tale of Kaspar Hauser, a famous 19th-century orphan who has inspired countless artists. Poetry, sadness and uncertainty permeate this story which, as it unfolds, leads to the fascinating discovery of a beautiful yet terrifying environment. The premiere will take place with the director in attendance and will be followed by a question period. 

Also in competition 

Premiering in Montreal and screening in competition is Bone Wind Fire by Jill Sharpe (NFB, 30 min). The director takes viewers on an intimate and evocative journey into the hearts, minds and vision of Georgia O'Keeffe, Emily Carr and Frida Kahlo—three of the 20th century's most remarkable artists. Bone Wind Fire uses the women's own words, taken from their letters and diaries, to reveal three individual creative processes in all their subtle and fascinating variety. Carefully crafted and creatively photographed, the film captures the view through the artists' eyes. 

Please find the complete Press Release HERE.