Grand-Métis, March 24 2010. Philippe Baylaucq’s film, Il était deux fois un jardin / Twice upon a garden, on the Reford Gardens and the International Garden Festival, will be premiered at the 28th International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) in Montreal on Friday, March 26th at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.

By popular demand, the FIFA has added two additional screenings: Saturday, March 27th at 9:00 pm at the Goethe-Institut (English version) and Sunday, March 28th at 9:00 pm at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (French version). The three other screenings are sold out. Tickets are available at the Place des Arts box office as well as online at www.artfifa.com or by phone 514 842-2112.

Il était deux fois un jardin / Twice upon a garden is an essay on the art in nature and the nature of art.Filmmaker Philippe Baylaucq followed the gardens for two years, capturing their beauty over all four seasons and observing the artisans of the gardens and designers of the International Garden Festival  as they toil to bring the gardens to life. 

Using evocative archival footage, Philippe Baylaucq gives life to Elsie Reford and her work to transform the forests and fields at the gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula into a gardener’s paradise. Marc Gadoury’s sensitive cinematography shows the story of Alexander Reford and his great grandmother who in their own ways and times have shaped the gardens. The film sways between images of the historic gardens and footage of the contemporary installations of the International Garden Festival. The serenity of the gardens contrasts with the frenzy surrounding the creation of the Festival. The 52 minute documentary illustrates how the art of the gardens can be expressed differently.

The film was produced by Beitel/Lazar Productions and is distributed by reFrame Films. The film will be broadcast on Télé-Québec in September 2010.

FIFA

Il était deux fois un jardin / Twice upon a garden is among the 43 films in official competition and the complete program of the 28th FIFA includes 230 films from 23 countries. The International Festival of Films on Art touches every discipline of art, every era and all styles, including: visual art, sculpture, architecture, design, craftsmanship, fashion, decoration, museology, photography, film (featuring filmmakers, actors, film shoots, film tricks), literature, dance, music and theatre.

An international jury composed of professionals from the areas of art and film selects a group of works that are part of the official competition. The official competition chooses the works based on their standard of quality, originality and creativity. This competition is recognized universally by the arts and film communities.