L'Arpège
After locking herself from the outside world, Élyse, a former deaf pianist, begins to perceive the sounds around her as rays of colour.
Yet, this gift is not as radiant as it seems. Through connection and love, Élyse navigates the treacherous waters of confidence and true happiness.
Featuring the music of award-winning composer Jean-Michel Blais (i.e. Mathias & Maxime).
(See PDF Press Kit for detailed synopsis)
French subtitles, DCP, 5.1 Surround available upon request.
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Joshua MaheuDirectorS.U.G.A.R. (2017)
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Joshua MaheuWriterS.U.G.A.R. (2017)
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Jean-Michel BlaisMusic ByMathias & Maxime
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Marie Duprez-PannetratKey Cast"Élyse"Le Mystère de l'Oiseau Bleu, Les Pévétistes, La fidélité, The Card
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Natasha QuirkeKey Cast"Audrey"DC's Legends of Tomorrow, When Calls The Heart, Lost in Space, The Tudors
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Tanya JutrasProducerWhen My Demon Speaks
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Alexandre PilonDirector of PhotographyRenaissance
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Taryn BirkettProduction Designer
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Project Title (Original Language):L'Arpège
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Project Type:Experimental, Short, Student
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Genres:Drama, Coming of Age, LGBTQ Film
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Runtime:15 minutes 51 seconds
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Completion Date:September 1, 2019
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Production Budget:2,894 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:American Sign Language, English, French
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Shooting Format:RED
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - Vancouver Film School
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Reale Film FestivalMilan
Italy
July 25, 2020
Winner - Best Soundtrack -
Uruvatti International Film FestivalTamil Nadu
India
December 3, 2020
Indian Premiere
Winner - Best Women's Film -
Uruvatti International Film FestivalTamil Nadu
India
December 3, 2020
Indian Premiere
Special Jury Award - Best Student Short Film -
Vancouver Short Film FestivalVancouver
Canada
January 22, 2021
Official Selection -
"Eurasia Fest" International Film FestivalMoscow
Russian Federation
Russian Premiere
Finalist - Best Short Film -
1904 Deaf Film FestivalMissouri
United States
May 30, 2020
Special Online Event
Finalist - Best Short Narrative -
1904 Deaf Film FestivalMissouri
United States
May 30, 2020
Special Online Event
Finalist - Audience choice Award -
Florence Film AwardsFlorence
Italy
Italian Premiere
Finalist - Best Short Narrative -
Indian International Short Film Festival
India
December 17, 2020
Official Selection -
Paris Lift-OffParis
France
Private Screening
Official Online Selection -
Prisma Independent Film FestivalRome
Italy
Official Selection -
Seize The FilmNovi Sad
Serbia
September 23, 2020
Serbian Premiere
Official Selection -
New West Film FestVancouver
Canada
Online Event
Official Selection -
Oaxaca Film Fest
Mexico
June 16, 2021
Official Selection - Short Narrative
Montreal-born screenwriter/director Joshua Maheu’s mission is to showcase the stories of underrepresented voices. From people with differing abilities to Queer culture,
Joshua aims to shape the world into a more inclusive place.
Joshua Maheu first pursued an educational path in Communications Studies at Concordia University, in Montreal, before fully committing to his passion of storytelling.
Within his curriculum, his final film project S.U.G.A.R. (2017) truly led him to his filmic debut while winning his first award at the North American Film Awards.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, his pursuit took him to the sought-after Vancouver Film School where he completed a one-year film production degree. During said year, he wrote and directed his most recent award-winning success: L'Arpège (2019).
Having curated summers and worked at camps for children with disabilities for ten years, L’Arpège remains a truly introspective and intimate project. He wrote the piece as a response to the representation of people with disabilities in cinema.
Thus far, L'Arpège has won Best Soundtrack (2020 Reale Film Festival), Best Women's Short Film and a Jury Award for Best Student Film (2020 Uruvatti International Film Festival) along with six finalist awards for Best Short Film (i.e. Eurasia Fest 2020, Florence Film Festival 2019, 1904 Deaf Film Festival) and Audience's Choice (1904 Deaf Film Festival); while having accumulated multiple official selections worldwide.
As he is excited to conclude L’Arpège's festival run, Joshua is currently in the works of his first series, which has already won a Finalist Award for Best TV Script (2020 Wiki Screenwriting Contest) and was a Semifinalist in Screencraft's 2021 TV Pilot Competition.
L’Arpège is all about connection. Connection with the self. Connection with others. Connection with our past.
It is about finding your inner light, with the guidance of external stimuli, through the darkest of times; allowing yourself to actualize your outlook on life as well as your confidence.
We want to tell this story to help people grow. To heal. To understand their behaviour. This short narrative is supposed to instigate self-reflection within its viewers. Each will take something away from it that is different from another based on their own trauma.
To allow people to witness how trauma does not have to take control over one’s life.
Rather, to see how the people we love can inspire us. Change us. Move us.