ONLINE
AU CONTRAIRE
FILM FESTIVAL
NOVEMBER 1st-30th, 2023
Through the power of film,
we can raise awareness, foster empathy,
and inspire change.
2023 WINNERS
Quebec Premieres
Available Online November 1st-30th
AWARD WINNING FILM
DIRECTOR MICAH LEVIN
Dear Ani
A documentary about Keith, an aspiring songwriter, who for 20 years had a creatively obsessive correspondence with music icon Ani DiFranco. He believed her poersonal replies to him were encoded in her song lyrics. Dear Ani shares his unforgettable story of connection through music, art, and mania that questions what is true and what is fantasy.
DIRECTORIAL DEBUT BY
QUEENA LIU
Uproot
A film about a family’s silent struggles with mental health care in immigrant communities. In his forties, the director’s father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and spent two years in and out of a psychiatric hospital. This film documents the director’s first time having an open and honest conversation with her family about his diagnosis that she never could as a child.
JOIN US
Don't miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this vital movement. Join us today in our mission to make a difference!
PROGRAMS
ACFF 2023 Programs
Programs offered online and on-site
VIRTUAL OR ONSITE SCREENINGS
Corporate Offering
Partner with us to destigmatize mental illness and open conversations that help change the workplace for the better. We are committed to helping companies like yours promote mental health awareness and support workplace health.
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Educational Institutions
Educational institution film screenings and dialogue sessions create an immersive experience for young people. It supports them to understand real-life scenarios and promote empathy, understanding, and compassion towards those with lived experience of mental health challenges.
SHARING FILM EXPERIENCES
M.I.A.W October 1-7, 2023
Mental Illness Awareness Week (M.I.A.W) is a dedicated time when nationally we unite to destigmatize mental health and support our communities. Let us provide you with the tools to spark important conversations, support education, and create a lasting impact in your community.
MISSION
We believe that through the power of film, we can raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire change. Let's come together and support a world where people with mental health challenges are understood, accepted, and embraced for who they are.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of this vital movement. Join us today in our mission to make a difference!
HISTORY
Paradis Urbain
The Au Contraire Film Festival is an initiative of Urban Pardes, a Canadian registered charity whose greater mission is assisting individuals, who, due to their mental illness, are having difficulty moving forward and recovering their lives.
Recognizing the power of creative expression as a catalyst that inspires Montreal citizens to take action, Urban Pardes, through the Au Contraire Film Festival, strives to dispel stereotypes and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
WHY FILM?
TheAu Contraire Film Festivalis dedicated to promoting a more enlightened perspective and showcasing films that explore the complexities and realities of living with mental health challenges.
Too often, movies can stigmatize or distort mental health concerns, making characters with an issue seem different from everyone else. As a result, people who deal with these issues every day can end up feeling ostracized.
Join us in our mission to break down stereotypes and challenge stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness. The Au Contraire Film Festival is dedicated to promoting a more enlightened perspective and showcasing films that explore the complexities and realities of mental health.
Our impact in numbers
The audience will get a chance to experience the incredible resilience of those featured in the films as well as the healing power of love, family and community and the sublimating power of art! And they will be entertained!
Cybil Geracimo
ACFF Curator, Programming Director
Our Sponsors
