29th FIFA: International Festival of Films on Art extols intrigue, no matter the discipline

For the past 29 years, Montreal’s beloved celebration of architecture, dance, sculpture, theatre, design, literature, jazz and anything creative under the sun has entertained and educated us about visionaries who’ve somehow left their mark. They might still be at the height of their career (as is the case with this year’s documentary portraits of Anish Kapoor, Dame Shirley Bassey and Jean Paul Gaultier), or they might be long gone – the legacy of Basquiat, Le Corbusier and Puccini, among others, will be explored. So in between a live painting session with Zilon, a talk about the emergence of online music platforms (see next page) and a behind-the-scenes look at horror films with a few special effects whizzes, take a look at these 5  noteworthy titles, which will unspool for our own self-righteous art snob pleasure.

The Year of Anish Kapoor
UK director Matthew Springford sets up shop for a year in the studio of renowned Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor. The film documents an intensely productive period for the artist as he prepares wax and pigment-based sculptures for a solo show at the Royal Academy in London, the first time such an honour is bestowed upon a living artist.

Jean Paul Gaultier ou les codes bouleversés
Perhaps best known for creating Madonna’s cone bra, this intimate portrait of Jean Paul Gaultier is proof that the designer is anything but a one-trick pony. Entrepreneur, innovator and fashion renegade for three decades, it’s clear that the charismatic Gaultier continues to forge a legacy in the realm of haute couture. Must-see viewing for those who plan on attending his exhibit (the first ever devoted to his work) at the Fine Arts Museum next year.

Comic Books Go To War
How does one fit the complexities of war and oppression into comic strips? Director Mark Daniels explores the graphic novel as a testament of history, using family photos, videos, news clips and drawings from numerous graphic novelists. Daniels examines the political and aesthetic nuances of reporting through speech and thought bubbles.

Basquiat, une vie
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s singular artistic imprint is an indelible mark on the art world and beyond. Diving into the mythologies and ideologies behind the work, this doc follows Basquiat’s trajectory from graffiti artist to Warhol collaborator. Rare images, excerpts from his film and anecdotes from close friends build the chronology of an artist who expired too soon.

The Picture of the Napalm Girl
Journalist Marc Wiese tackles one of the most unforgettable images of the past sixty year. The 1972 photo of nin-year-old Kim Phúc, running naked and screaming as napalm sears her skin has become synonymous with the brutality of war. Through the stories of Phúc and photographer Nick Ut Coon Huynh, who won a Pulitzer for his photojournalist work, Wiese offers a rich narrative for one static frame of suffering and survival.

29th FIFA (International Festival of Films on Art)
March 17 to 27
At the Canadian Centre for Architecture, NFB Theatre, Cinémathèque québécoise, Goethe-Institut, Musée d’art contemporain, Museum of Fine Arts, Place des Arts and Concordia University | artfifa.com