Since making his first feature, Drifting States, in 2005, Denis Côté has become one of Canada's most internationally celebrated filmmakers. Over the course of six features, he has collected international accolades: his debut shared a Golden Leopard in the video competition at Locarno, and he subsequently won Silver Leopards for Best Director for his third feature, All That She Wants, and his most recent film, Curling. Carcasses, his fourth feature, played Cannes' prestigious Directors' Fortnight.

Employing a minimalist aesthetic-few characters, handheld video camera, and decidedly remote locations-Côté is usually drawn to characters who exist on the fringes of society. Running through all of his films is a sense of dread, and each of his films build assumptions only to dash them through abrupt shifts in tone and circumstance. His films are immensely rewarding to watch especially when considered together to see the progression of his interests and aesthetic, which culminates in his two most recent films: Les lignes ennemies and Curling-the latter of which is heart-wrenching, funny, and redemptive, and has the assurance and breadth of a masterpiece.

Featured Works:

Models (Ulrich Seidl, 1999); That Old Melodrama (Denis Côté, 2001); Drifting States (Denis Côté, 2005); Tennessee (Denis Côté, 2005); Toys (Denis Côté, 2005); Maïté (Denis Côté, 2007); Our Private Lives (Denis Côté, 2007); All That She Wants (Denis Côté, 2008, pictured); Carcasses (Denis Côté, 2009); Curling (Denis Côté, 2010); Les lignes ennemies (Denis Côté, 2010)

Program information:

Denis Côté

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