Mathieu Trottier Kavanagh

DIRECTOR OF REBELLION

Born June 27, 1990 in Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Kavanagh's passion for the cinema was not slow to appear and has already shown great talent. In high school, he was contacted by SEVEC (Society for Educational aims and Exchanges in Canada) to produce a documentary on a student exchange between Quebec and New Brunswick. After producing the documentary "living together our differences", Mr. Kavanagh has recognition by the government and the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Subsequently, other projects and other social and cinematographic implications followed. However, it was in 2014 that the documentary production was booked to now focus on making the film. In 2015, "Alone in The Dark", a short horror film will be the first film directed by Mr. Kavanagh, followed by the web series "Tickets at will", a crime comedy and a huge planning on the production of a Historical inspired feature film made "REBELLION" which will indicate the origins of the patriotic conflict of 1837-38 in Canada. A promotional video will be shot in the spring of 2016 and the film is slated for the summer of 2018 and co-written and directed by Mr. Kavanagh. Since 2017 he is the president and production manager at Images Polar S.E.N.C. a company specializing in the field of events and cinema.

Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
The production of the short film "REBELLION" was mainly aimed at preparing the feature film "AUX ÂMES PATRIOTES" which is on the same theme of the history of the patriots of 1837-1838 in Lower Canada. We then decided to send it to various festivals around the world to tell our still little-known story.

What are your ambitions with your project?
The ambition that I have for the project is above all to be able to help us with the production of the feature film and potentially to promote the story of the Patriots throughout the world.

Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
What surprised me the most of all is the great enthusiasm for this historical period and that we had a lot of help for the production, we had the opportunity to film in a historic location and have access to period weapons which were actually used during the rebellions.

For what group of spectators is your film targeted?
It is especially aimed at those who are passionate about history, but especially little-known history and who wish to discover more.

Why should distributors buy your film?
Because it is inspired by a real event and in Quebec this story is greatly celebrated, a collaboration would be enormously well received in Quebec and French Canada.

How would you specify your work? What characterizes your film?
In one word, I would say "PASSION". I have been working on the production of the feature film "AUX ÂMES PATRIOTES" for over 10 years and it took 4 years in order to properly direct the short film "REBELLION". All because I am a passionate person and mostly because I want to do things well and I put a lot of work and attention to details.

Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
Since I was young I have always been passionate about cinema and particularly directorial work because the attention to detail and seeing a vision become a reality, thanks to a team who trusts you in your vision, is the most beautiful gift.

Who is your role model?
I really like the work of M Night Shyamalan, a director who I think is too underestimated.

Which movies are your favorites? Why?
I have a big weakness for the film "THE ROCK" with Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery and Ed Harris, otherwise of course I also greatly enjoy the film "THE PATRIOT" with Mel Gibson.

Where do you look for inspiration for your films?
I like to watch international films but especially in amateur films because that's where I find much more incredible inspiration than in blockbuster films.

Which topics interest you the most?
I really like history, especially history with a capital H.

What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?
My greatest accomplishment is to have succeeded in making a living from my passion and even as an independent while many saw me as a failure. I am proud to tell them that they were wrong and that my work is recognized internationally.

What do you consider most important about filming?
Equality. I work with a team of enthusiasts and cinema lovers, so for me, no matter the department or their role in the film, I treat everyone as equals.

Which film technique of shooting do you consider the best?
I have a great weakness for complicated scenes and shots such as sequence shots on my feature film I produced a 4 minutes sequence shot with 5 actors and 75 extras. I don't like simplicity, I like challenges.

How would you rate/What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
The film making industry has to give the next generation more opportunities. At this rate, the future of cinema is at risk. We already start seeing that the film industry is mostly led by producers instead of directors. This is often why the same things, ideas are presented instead of something new.

What can disappoint you in a movie?
Predictability. When an outcome or an intrigue of the scenario is visible from 1000km away I must admit that it disappoints me. When I go to the cinema it's to escape my life and dive into another universe and not guess the plots too easily.

Who supports you in your film career?
I have my partner Marie-Hélène, my family and friends who will always help and support me. But I must admit that my aunt Anne, who since I was young, gave me my first camcorder and always believed in me.

Rebellion

1837 during the Patriote uprisings in Lower Canada, the Patriote tried to stop the advance of the British troops who wanted to destroy the movement.

WATCH TRAILER FOR REBELLION