Experiencing Interruptions?

Grounded

In painting and dance, Marie-Hélène, a respected figure on the Canadian contemporary art scene, finds an outlet for her creativity and her resilient spirit, after losing both her legs as a child. The arrival of her daughters sparks a new sense of freedom, pushing herself to let go self-censorship and to fully bloom.

  • Annie Leclair
    Director
  • Annie Leclair
    Writer
  • Annie Leclair
    Producer
  • Marie-Hélène Bellavance
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Enracinée
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Women, Disability, Arts, Diversity, Dance, Motherhood
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 15 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 1905 International Human Rights Film Festival
    Hong Kong
    China
    June 14, 2020
    World Premiere
    Finalist of the Quebec Cinema Focus
  • Festival international du film sur l'art de Montréal
    Montreal
    Canada
    March 17, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Jury's Special Mention
  • Show Me Shorts Film Festival, New Zealand
    Auckand and Wellington
    New Zealand
    May 25, 2021
    Premiere
    Quebecois Short Film Night
  • 2021 SIMA Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    February 2, 2021
    Finalist
  • Saguenay International Film Festival REGARD
    Saguenay
    Canada
    June 7, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Play Short International Film Awards
    Barreiro
    Portugal
    June 15, 2021
    Honorable Mention, Best Disability Short
  • Indie Shorts Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    June 16, 2021
    European Premiere
    Finalist
  • Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase
    Cannes
    France
    July 12, 2021
    Cannes Premiere
    Audience Choice Award
  • Venezia Shorts Italy
    Venezia
    Italy
    October 5, 2021
    Italy
    Official Selection
  • United Nations Association Film Festival
    Stanford
    United States
    October 26, 2021
    US Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Impact Docs Awards
    La Jolla
    United States
    January 27, 2022
    Award of Merit for Documentary Short, Viewer Impact and Film for Social Change
  • Women's Voices Now Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    March 1, 2022
    Jury's Special Mention
  • Cinédanse
    Rouyn Noranda
    Canada
    March 10, 2022
    Jury's Special Mention, Prix Lumière 2022
  • Porto Femme International Film Festival
    Porto
    Portugal
    September 16, 2022
    Portugal Premiere
    Official Competition - Bodies
  • On Art Film Festival
    Warszawa
    Poland
    September 28, 2022
    Official Competition
  • Seize the film
    Novi Sad
    Serbia
    October 14, 2022
    Official Competition
  • Moving Body Festival
    Varna
    Bulgaria
    October 28, 2022
    Best Individual Body Award
  • Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    March 18, 2023
    Jury Award Nomination for Best Mini Doc
Distribution Information
  • Annie Leclair
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: Internet, Theatrical
Director Biography - Annie Leclair

Award-winning French Canadian filmmaker Annie Leclair has been touring the world with her directorial debut film, Grounded (Enracinée.) A self-taught documentary film editor for the last 17 years, Annie is a former board member of the Montreal Women in Film and Television Association. Annie is the recipient of the Still I Rise Films Fellowship Program where she is completing her second documentary film, Les eaux calmes.  

During the 74th Cannes Film Festival, Grounded received the Audience Choice Award of 2021 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase; the Impact Docs Award for film for social change and viewer impact and the Best Individual Body Award at the Moving Body Film Festival in Bulgaria. A finalist at the 2021 SIMA Awards, Grounded was honored with the Jury’s Special Mention at the 39th International Festival of Films on Art of Montreal, the 2022 Women’s Voices Now and at the Cinédanse Film Festival in Canada.

Grounded was chosen by UNESCO for the International Day of People with Disability virtual event and was nominated for the Jury’s Prize Award at the 2023 Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. Most recently, Grounded was featured at ReelAbilities Film Festival – the largest festival in the United States dedicated to promoting the stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I was born with glasses. Well, I don’t remember (seeing) my life without them. At school, other kids used to call me Annie 4 eyes. True. I was the quiet observer. Eyes everywhere and on everyone.

I believe documentary is my medium. I feel that working in this field of the movie industry gives me the opportunity to use my strength as an observer but also to meet other realities and act as a translator or communicator on a very creative, empathetic and authentic level. We learn and see things from different perspectives and that is, purposely, the role and impact of documentaries, to me.

As an artist, it’s a great responsability to lead people into darkness sometimes, but also to lead the way out. It’s empowering!

I am interested in telling the stories that remain in the shadow and develop them over time. Every story you bring to fruition will change or refine your understanding of this world. l also believe that choosing a story is choosing to have a closer look at yourself in the mirror, but also a possibility of self-transformation.