By Donald Teuma-Castelletti –
For many in the Pontiac, the idea of bringing a film festival to the area may seem a bit absurd – especially because there is neither a cinema or a drive-in within the limits.
But one group has toiled relentlessly to make it possible and soon, Phare Ouest’s Festival International du Cinéma des Femmes de Fort Coulonge will take over the town, bringing with it a selection of seven full-length films, six short movies, seven directors and a variety of coinciding events.
Running Aug. 9 – 12, the festival has one goal for the movie-goers: to expose them to movies they wouldn’t otherwise see, and therefore, themes they may not have experienced, all created by women directors.
But how can the group attract an audience, if the films are something they’ve never heard of?

Festival organizers have prepared for that as well, making the attendance to each viewing absolutely free.
“We decided to make [the viewings] free because they’re not classic Disney, Hollywood movies,” said festival organizer Suzanne Vallières-Nollet.
If it’s free, the group rationalizes, there’s less barriers to an audience spending their money, and their time, to see a film.
However, another barrier that some may perceive lies in what is an undeserved notion that because a woman is in the director’s chair, it is automatically a feminist film. This is quite untrue, stressed Vallières-Nollet.
“We don’t want to ask women directors to do feminist movies,” said Vallières-Nollet. “We just want them to make movies.”
They’re not movies solely for women either, they’re for everybody.
“Just like you don’t have to be a man to enjoy Spielberg,” she added.
Themes explored in the selections share only the common thread of having women directors, and range vastly from experiencing the plights of a young Syrian refugee to exploring the real cost of genetically-modified organisms, and much more.
“Every movie can reach some local realities,” said Vallières-Nollet.
While many selections run in French, there are a number that are English, and some of the French ones will feature subtitles.
One to highlight for anglophones is a film called Cowboy (The Rider), which is the story of an American rodeo star who suffers a concussion and can no longer ride. This one is especially interesting because it is a blend of both fiction and documentary, where many of the people who lived this reality have portrayed themselves for the film.
A director of interest, and the guest of honour to the festival, will be joining the group Sunday morning for a screening of Our People Will Be Healed. This is the 50th film directed by Alanis Obomsawin, exploring how one Manitoba school for Cree children succeeds, providing students with a desire to learn and a pride in their culture.
All four days of the festival will be accompanied by a community meal, including a barbeque, spaghetti dinner and a corn roast, as well as a brunch following the Sunday film. These meals, however, are not free, but will be an opportunity to digest what has been viewed throughout the day.
As well, Thursday will feature another unique activity to open the festival, in the form of celebrating the art of preserving. The Festival de Cannes, a play on the France film festival of the same name, is a canning party that will run from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.
“This was a way to set the ambiance for this festival,” said Vallières-Nollet, highlighting the relaxed nature over the glitz and glam expectations of urban film fests. “If you come in your swim suit because you just left the beach, you’re welcome.”
Much like other film festivals, there will be a chance to vote on favourite selections at the end. As well, there will be a panel of judges forced to narrow down their own choices, with the jury to be unveiled at the community brunch.
There will be two locations to host the ongoing events, located just around the block from each other. Meals and community events will take place at the Golden Age Club, found at 566 rue Baume, while the films will be screened at the Adult Education Centre at 183 rue Principale.
Efforts to start the festival began in February 2017, when the group had to make it known what they were doing by launching the idea and selecting a weekend unoccupied by another film fest in Ontario or Quebec. The group wanted to hold it in Fort Coulonge in the hopes of attracting tourists from Ottawa and Montreal, offering them a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of urban-living.
Phare Ouest has kept the focus on women directors because of the current reflection of seeking equal representation across industries.
“We wanted to do our part in this, to give the space for these artists to share their work,” explained Vallières-Nollet.
After watching many submissions and seeking out plenty of other films, the selections were chosen based on their themes, in the hope that they will delight and force viewers to react.
The number of hours necessary for the group of organizers to prepare everything has been impossible to keep track of. Vallières-Nollet alone estimates she put in hundreds of hours, all done out of passion, as it is a volunteer-run event.
The event has been made free for audiences due to the support of crowdfunding, as well as sponsorships from municipalities and local businesses.
Still, unpaid organizers were clear on how they’d like to be paid – by seeing the theatres full for every screening.
“The best salary we can have is getting a lot of people out,” said Vallières-Nollet.
While tickets are free, space is limited. Guests to the screenings are asked to book their spots ahead of time, by visiting: https://lepointdevente.com/lieux/centre-pontiac
“We want to make something that the community will say, ‘Hey, we have this in our town,’” she continued. “I already know on Aug. 12, when I go to sleep, I will be really proud and happy. I hope this pride and happiness will be shared around the community, too.”