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The Ruse

Johanne Prégent / 2023 / 11 min. / Canada / FRENCH

Synopsis

Clara, 14-year-old, eats her lunch every day hidden away in the school bathroom. In the eyes of her peers, she’s a bitch. She has suffered their bullying, but now knows how to avoid her tormentors, although her school life remains troubled and dysfunctional. When 12-year-old Felix stumbles into HER room looking for a place to hide, the hunted teens find themselves in forced isolation. Forced to spend time together, their resistance gives way to complicity, and when Felix’s attackers find their hideout, the pair have to think quick to elaborate a plan. In a brave mix of improvisation, sincerity and sensitivity, they make up a strategy to change their fates.

Cast & Crew

  • Screenplay : Katherine Dupont
  • Cinematographer : Nathalie Moliavko-Visotzky
  • Editor : René Caron
  • Sound : Normand Lapierre
  • Sound mix : Robin C
  • Sound editor : Robin C
  • Music : Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux
  • Cast : Leevia Elliott Robinson et Eliott Desjardins Gauthier
  • Production : PVP MEDIA INC ET MICHEL GAUTHIER PRODUCTIONS INC

Genre

Fiction

Topics

Youth, Childhood, Violence

Biography

Since her first film in 1987, Johanne Prégent has directed numerous projects for the big screen and television, including Les Orphelins de Duplessis, Les grands Procès, Les Intrépides and Scoop. Her films have won numerous awards in Quebec and abroad. She teaches directing, cinematographic writing and character creation at L’inis, and is a screenwriting advisor and scriptwriter-editor on numerous film projects and TV series.

Festivals

- 2023 -

MINIKINO FILM WEEK (MFW), Denpasar, Indonésie
DC Shorts Film Festival, Washington, USA
Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, USA
Cinémental, Winnipeg, Canada | Prix du Jury
ABYCINE - Albacete Independent Film Festival, Albacete, Espagne
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF), Chicago, USA
Smells Like Teen Spirit Festival, Paris, France
Festival du cinéma inter. en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec
Vail Film Festival, Vail, USA
Festival Les 7 jours du 7e art, Guinée Conakry

- 2024 -

BUFF Malm, Malmo, Suède
Cinema Sisters International Film / UPTILT Film Fest, Wilmington, USA
Psaroloco International Children's & Young People's Film Festival, Le Pirée, Grèce
Made Here Film Festival, Burlington, USA 
ClujShorts International Short Film Festival, Cluj Napoca, Roumanie | The Jury Award
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Morgan Hill, CA, USA
Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival, Kristiansand, Norvège
CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival, Bellingham, USA
Ennesimo Film Festival, Fiorano Modenese, Italie
KINOLUB Film Festival, Katowice, Pologne
Ciné-rencontres de Prades, Prades, France
Portobello Film Festival, Portobello, UK
Femcine Santiago Women's Film Festival, Santiago, Chili
Seoul International Children's Film Festival (SICFF), Séoul, Corée du Sud
LUCAS - International Festival for Young Film Lovers, Francfort, Allemagne
Open-Air Filmfest Weiterstadt, Weiterstadt, Allemagne
Festival de la Petite école du film court, Nancy, France
New West Film Fest, New Westminster, Canada
Giffoni Macedonia Youth Film Festival, Skopje, Macédoine
Kineko International Film Festival, Japon

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