Volatile Materials

Post-McLaren Abstract Animation

In this the 65th anniversary year of animation at the National Film Board of Canada, the NFB is proud to present the up and coming work of the successors to Norman McLaren, founder of the Animation Studio. The nine films in the Volatile Materials collection, running at the Ex-Centris, Cinema Parallèle beginning May 26, are evidence of the recent growth of abstract film in Canada. A discussion with one of the filmmakers will follow each evening of screenings. The  Volatile Materials DVD, a true art object collectible in its velvet and metal box, will be on sale, starting May 26, at the NFB Store at < www.nfb.ca/store> / (514) 283-9000 or 1 800 267-7710.

Volatile Materials will also be presented in Quebec City on May 27 and 28, as part of the exhibition Quebec Cinema: The Whole Story at the Musée de la civilisation de Québec. Also on May 27 and 28, Karl Lemieux, one of the filmmakers featured in the collection, will lead a workshop titled “Make a Film Without a Camera” on how to make an abstract animation short.

The filmmakers included in this collection come from various backgrounds: David Rimmer is one of Canada’s leading experimental filmmakers; Steven Woloshen works in the purest McLaren tradition, Jean Detheux paints in digital, Chris Hinton is a well known cartoon filmmaker, Karl Lemieux belongs to the next generation, Anne-Marie Sirois is moving from narrative into abstraction for the first time, and Theodore Ushev is a multi-talented artist and graphic and web designer.

All these artists privilege a highly developed dialogue between music and image: the powerful Sviridov score in Tower Bawher, Michael Oesterle’s unnerving composition for cNote, the East Asian rhythms of Black Star Liner in Gathering Storm, Dave Brubeck’s smooth jazz phrasing in Cameras Take Five, and Jean Derome’s intricate improvisation in Liaisons, for example.

The DVD collection comes with a booklet in which each artist explains his or her creative approach. Optional soundtracks in French and English accompany each film. Animation specialists Marco de Blois, Pierre Hébert and Marcel Jean cast an expert eye (and ear) on each work and offer their critiques.

Volatile Materials

In Montréal
At the Ex-Centris, Cinema Parallèle
May 26 to June 1, 2006 at 3:15 pm and 9:20 pm
At the end of each evening of screenings, there will be a discussion with one of the filmmakers Chris Hinton, Jean Detheux, Theodore Ushev,
Steven Woloshen or Karl Lemieux.

Press screenings will be held
on May 16 and 23 at 10 am.

In Quebec City
As part of the exhibition Quebec Cinema: The Whole Story
at the Musée de la civilisation de Québec
May 27 and 28, 2006 at 2 pm and 3:30 pm
For further information: (418) 643-2158

The DVD will be on sale
at the NFB Store, 1564 St-Denis, Montréal
at the online store < www.nfb.ca/store>
and by phone: (514) 283-9000 / 1 800 267-7710

Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada has produced more than 11,000 films and other audiovisual works and won more than 4,500 awards - including 11 Oscars®. As Canada's public film producer, the NFB produces and distributes distinctive, culturally diverse, challenging and relevant audiovisual works that provide Canada and the world with a unique Canadian perspective. Named one of the top documentary organizations in the world by realscreen magazine, the NFB is equally renowned for its auteur animation – with this year marking the 65th anniversary of cutting-edge animated filmmaking from the National Film Board. To purchase NFB releases or for more information, visit < www.nfb.ca> or call 1-800-267-7710.

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For further information or to arrange an interview with one of the filmmakers, please contact

Adrian Gonzalez, (514) 999-5272, adriangonzalez@sympatico.ca