Carrying in him an insatiable thirst to showcase the human condition in unique and contemplative ways, Alexandre Richard revels in pushing boundaries through psychologically-perplexing concepts, enthralling visuals and directorial aesthetic. His marriage of style and substance makes for thought-provoking storytelling that has garnered this self-taught filmmaker critical international acclaim. In the last years, Alexandre amassed over 25+ awards and nominations, including “Coup de coeur” at the Fantasia International Film Festival, “Best Canadian Film” at the Vancouver Independent Film Festival and Montreal Independent Film Festival and 5 nominations at the 2020 Berlin Commercial Awards.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
– Winner “Coup de coeur” – SLA COOP – at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2020
– Winner Best Music Video at the Tokyo International Short Film Festival 2020
– Winner Best Music Video at the New York Independent Cinema Awards 2020
– Nominated Best Director at the Berlin Commercial Awards 2020
– Nominated Best Editor at the Berlin Commercial Awards 2020
– Nominated Best Experimental Film at the Berlin Commercial Awards 2020
– Winner Best Dance at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2020
– Winner Best Director at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2020
– Winner Best Editor at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2020
– Winner “Trophée Or” at the Marcom Awards 2020
– Winner “Prix Platine” at the Hermes Creative Awards 2020
– Winner “Prix Or” at the Hermes Creative Awards 2020
– Winner Best Editing at the Montreal Independent Film Festival 2020
– Winner Best Canadian Film at the Vancouver Independent Film Festival 2020
– Winner Best Canadian Film at the Montreal Independent Film Festival 2020
– Winner Best Director at the Vienna Film Awards 2020
– Winner Best Editor at the Short to the Point Festival 2020
– Winner Best Director at the 300 Seconds Short film Festival Toronto 2019
– Winner Best Director at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2018
– Winner Best Music Video at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2018
– Nominated Best Editor at the UMVA (Utah Music Video Awards) 2018
– Nominated Best Editor at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2018
– Nominated Top 20 best music video at the Prism Prize Awards 2018
– Winner Best Director at the Paris International Music Video Underground 2017
– Winner Royal Reel Awards at the Canada International film Festival 2013
– Winner Best Director at the Fantasia International Film Festival 2011Director Statement
“Autonome” tells the tale of a self-exiled artist who’s crumbling under the weight of solitude. Set in 1954, we follow a man who abandoned everything in favor of following his artistic dreams in “the big city” of Montreal. Far from the warm embrace of his loved ones at a time when communication was burdensome and with the advent of the seasonal winds of depression, the walls of isolation begin to close in on him and scrape at his soul.
Although isolation, depression and loneliness have become all-too familiar feelings due COVID-19 and the misery left in its wake, “Autonome” was conceived a year prior to our current predicament. The thought that this story of self-doubt, lost love and broken dreams rings so true today is both coincidental and a testament to the universality of its themes.
As a filmmaker, my yearning to create immersive narrative experiences perfectly complemented Mada Mada’s vision, who himself is a film composer. From our very first meeting, we knew what we were about to do: a short film wrapped inside a music video.
“Autonome” opens with a contemporary dance void of any musical attributes. The dance represents the character’s frustrations, loss of control, anxiety and the suffocating nostalgia we feel once solitude turns into a disease. By hearing the skin tearing, the breathing cracking, the feet stomping and the character’s held-back screams, we show his body broken in lieu of his broken psyche. This will be a physical piece. One where every movement is a memory, a mistake, a regret or even a tragedy. Complementing the body’s expressionist poetry, the thunderous rain that materializes inside the artist’s space suggests the severity of Seasonal Affective Disorder on a mind adrift; itself represented by a gradual deterioration of this ship in a bottle.
Cinematography maestro Graham GS and I opted to maintain a grounded camera language throughout for a more intimate presentation of the artist. It’s only once his body begins to speak that the camera finds its freedom on steadicam, a technique that further connects us to the character as he wrestles with his inner demons.
Experimental Film & Music Video Festival 
