Pioneering Filmmaker Remembered in The Lost Garden

After four amazing days of films, panel discussions, pitching and networking, my head is spinning and full to bursting with stimulating images, ideas and inspiration. So much talent and creativity in one place, it’s hard to know what to share, and will take a while to digest before I can pass along some reflections and highlights.

One thing I have to shout about is the astonishing discovery (for me) of Alice Guy-Blanche, a pioneer of the moving picture who was nearly forgotten, and, being sated from a banquet of female creativity and ingenuity, as well as technical expertise, I have to say that it makes perfect sense. Copies of the film may be obtained from the NFB, and I believe this is a film that every filmmaker and cinephile must make an effort to see. As was pointed out afterwards during the panel discussion moderated by film critic Kathryn Monk (more on that stimulation discussion later!), this should be mandatory on the curriculum of every film program everywhere.

The National Film Board Collection says:

“Alice Guy-Blaché was a filmmaker before the word even existed. She made her first film at the end of the last century, when cinema was still a newborn. After directing, producing and/or writing more than 700 films, she slipped into oblivion. The Lost Garden rescues the story of one of cinema’s most fearless pioneers.”