Emerging Filmmaker Competition - Special Jury Prize, Honorable Mention
For its sensitive direction, impressive ensemble cast, and incisive portrait of a community in crisis, the Jury gives a special citation to Underground (Souterrain), Sophie Dupuis (Canada).
When an explosion causes a mine to collapse in the remote Val d’Or region of Quebec, trapping several men, Maxime, a troubled young man must suppress his demons, and summon all his courage, and training, to save them.
Maxime (Joakim Robillard) is a temperamental young man, working on the rescue team at the local mine. He shares his life between his girlfriend with whom he’s patiently trying to father a child. His friend, Julien (Théodore Pellerin), was once a co-worker, but a car accident has left him disabled, for which Maxime was responsible. When the mine collapse occurs, Maxime’s determination, fueled by guilt, may help save the lives of these men, even if it costs him his own. “A nuanced portrayal of real, human characters; both dramatic and poignant, Underground is one of the best Canadian films of the year.” --Matthew Simpson, Awesome Friday (Canada)
Director Biography
Born and raised in Val-d'Or, Québec, Canada, Sophie Dupuis is the director of the shorts “J'viendrai t'chercher” (2007), “Si tu savais Rosalie” (2009), “Félix et Malou” (2010), “Faillir” (2012), the documentary short “L'hiver et la violence” (2014) and the features Family First (Chien de garde) (2018) and Underground (Souterrain) (2020).
Sponsors
