Regard Festival: 30 Years of Short Film & Saguenay Roots

The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region is bracing for an influx of film enthusiasts as the 30th edition of Regard, one of North America’s leading short film festivals, kicks off on March 18, 2026. While the festival draws tens of thousands of attendees from across Quebec and beyond, its presence in the city of Saguenay has often felt understated.

“People here know us so well that we haven’t always felt the need to put up big banners or flashy displays downtown,” explains Mélissa Bouchard, the festival’s programming director. But as the milestone 30th edition approaches, Regard is expanding its footprint, adding a novel “headquarters” at the Hangar in the port area, replacing the iconic Le Montagnais hotel as the location for its official evening events.

The festival is also spotlighting several filmmakers from the region, including Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette (La tête en champ de bataille), Jérémy Gagnon (Pique-nique), Thomas Dufour (Les grandes roues), Romy Boutin St-Pierre (Sara&amp. Fatima), Mélanie Saint-Germain (Au cœur du remous), and Félix Bellefleur (Perras). “Most of them live in Montreal or studied there, but they’re keen to shoot their films in their native Saguenay or return to settle there,” Bouchard adds, drawing on her own experience as a former volunteer, invited filmmaker, and editor with the festival.

A Sense of Humor

In 2021, Regard relocated its offices to Racine Street and inaugurated the nearby Short Film Alley, which has since develop into an official street name. This year, the alley is expanding to become the “Court Yard.”

“It’s a bit of a silly play on words, but it reflects the humor that characterizes us: we don’t always accept ourselves too seriously, even as we put on a world-class event,” says Marie-Michelle Plante, the festival’s general director. “I was impressed, when attending the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, with whom we regularly collaborate, by how much Regard is considered a major calling card for Quebec. It’s truly unique to offer screenings to over 700 people, as we do at Théâtre C; international guests seek to come back.”

Sébastien Pilote, a filmmaker and member of the board of directors, previously served as the festival’s programmer. He attributes the festival’s steady growth to “its ability to inject fresh blood.” Unlike some cultural organizations known for clinging to the status quo, Marie-Michelle Plante has only been in her position for a year, succeeding Justine Valtier, who served for two years, and before her, Marie-Elaine Riou, who held the post for seven years and is now at the Quebec City Film Festival. Pilote joined Regard in 1998, the year the festival took its current form, dedicated to the short film format.

Youthful Projections

“At a time when the region’s population is aging, we’ve been able to stay dynamic enough to attract young people from UQAM and Concordia,” Pilote says. “It gives a great image of the city. We owe that to the fact that so many people have mobilized. Originally, we wanted to create a cultural bridge between Chicoutimi and Jonquière. And we still offer screenings in both sectors. Our programming also reflects our desire to stay young: sections like ‘Turn at All Costs’ offer free and eclectic works, and our competitions mix films from here and abroad, more institutional productions and artisanal works.”

Plante recalls “having tears in her eyes” listening to young employees share that they had dreamed of working for the festival since childhood. Regard also organizes youth screenings, which are a hit with both filmmakers and the hundreds of children who discover their films together.

As the Quebec government considers cutting funding for school cultural outings, the director emphasizes the importance of free family screenings. “We certainly hope that schools will continue to bring their students to us, but if necessary, we’ll consider expanding this family component, because young people are the cinephiles of tomorrow. We need to continue to reach them.”

Olivier Du Ruisseau is a guest of Regard.