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Canada

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6:00 PM-8:00 PM, EST

So Surreal: Behind the Masks

Film Screening, followed by a Q&A|Réseaux de l'Atlantique noir

Tickets

So Surreal: Behind the Masks, dir. Joanna Robertson, Neil Diamond | Masked Dancer in the Forest © Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson

So Surreal: Behind the Masks, dir. Joanna Robertson, Neil Diamond | Masked Dancers on the Shore © Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson

Canada 2024 | 1"28
Director: Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson
Director of Photography: Glauco Bermudez, Yoan Cart
Editing: Rebecca Lessard
Music: Anaïs Larocque

After the film, Rebecca Lessard, editor and archive researcher for the film, will be available for a Q&A. The Q&A will be moderated by Paul Rothé, director of art film programming at the International Festival of Films on Art (leFIFA).

So Surreal : Behind the Masks is a documentary that uncovers the untold story of the ceremonial masks of the Yup’ik people (Alaska) and the Kwakwaka’wakw people (Northwest Coast). Filmmaker Neil Diamond, a member of the Cree Nation (one of the major Indigenous nations of North America) and known for his impactful documentaries such as Reel Injun and Red Fever, brings a unique perspective deeply rooted in his culture and his commitment to preserving Indigenous narratives.

Both an expedition and a spiritual quest, this investigation delves into the history of cultural objects appropriated by Western museums and collectors, from the distant lands of Turtle Island (North America) to the hands of European surrealists. These masks have influenced some of the most renowned modern artists and writers, such as Max Ernst (German painter and sculptor), André Breton (French poet), Roberto Matta (Chilean painter and sculptor), and Joan Miró (Catalan artist). Through this journey, Neil Diamond reveals the lesser-known influence of Indigenous cultures on modern art and follows the quest for the restitution of amask stolen over acentury ago from the Kwakwaka’wakw people.

Festivals:
Le FIFA, Quebec, Canada (2025) - Special Mention
Toronto International Film Festival, Canada (2024)
Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada (2024)
Charlottetown Film Festival, Canada (2024)
Barrie Film Festival, Canada (2024)
Anchorage International Film Festival,USA(2024)
Presented in partnership with FIFA, this activity is part of the International Symposium Networks of the Black Atlantic, a project by Nigra Iuventa, organized in partnership with the Consulate gégeneral of France in Québec and the Goethe-Institut Montreal, to be held in Montreal from November 18 to 22, 2025.


 

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