Fondation

Mélissa Lefebvre holds a bachelor's degree in dramatic arts education from UQÀM’s École Supérieure de théâtre. She has written and directed numerous plays for various groups of students, always placing them at the heart of the creative process. Her interest in collaborating with young students who have recently emigrated to Canada led her to produce a number of projects, including the theatrical work and documentary Bagages, which has won several awards in Québec and internationally.

Nathalie Vézina teaches French in a class for recently emigrated young students in Montréal. Her pedagogical approach uses art and culture as raw material. Adhering to the principle of the teacher as a cultural facilitator, she increases the number of opportunities to get involved in meaningful projects. She has participated in cultural mediation activities, notably with the PHI Foundation and the Fondation de la Place des Arts. Through authentic experiences, her students are able to get to know themselves and their host country. She collaborated on the film project Bagages and contributed to the creation of the poetry album Bagages - Mon histoire.

For 10 years, Paul Tom has been drawing on people’s intimate experiences to tell their life stories with great sensitivity and care. His films give a voice to those who are not always heard, aiming to create and sustain an open dialogue with them. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, his work explores the construction of identity, family relationships and everything that touches the fragile side of humanity. His films Seuls and Bagages have been selected by some forty festivals around the world and have won a dozen awards.