A Midsummer’s Wake

A MIDSUMMER'S WAKE

Fiction, Drama, 90 min, 2008, DV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Lea (Kim Prangley) and Andrew (Bashar Shbib) have been complacently married for over fifteen years. Lea’s inability to bear children is what has caused the biggest rift in their union. When Andrew dies of a sudden heart attack, Lea’s friends (Karina Chadwick, Alexandra Woodward, Christina Andrade-Sangster, Joan Andrade) surround her for comfort and support. As they gather for a weekend to mourn the loss of their loved one, these five women of various ages come to strengthen the ties that bind them to one another.

The natural landscape that envelops them in its benevolent gaze exerts itself as a guide in their spiritual quest. The funerary wake becomes an opportunity for the women to explore the meanings of life, death, friendship and passion. Such a process cannot occur smoothly. When buried secrets emerge into the light of day, the widow and her friends eventually come to appreciate the cycles at work within themselves, as well as the natural world around them. In the end, an unexpected outcome will bring each of them to redefine their meanings of the word “love”.

A Midsummer's Wake is an honest and vibrant exchange that professes to heart-wrenching feelings, emotions, love, sex, and secret revelations.

Cast & Crew

STARRING: KIM PRANGLEY, KARINA CHADWICK, ALEXANDRA WOODWARD, CHRISTINA ANDRADE-SANGSTER, JOAN ANDRADE, BASHAR SHBIB, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB,
EDITOR: EYAD HAMAM
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: TOLGA KUTLUAY
ORIGINAL MUSIC: MAXIME FILLION, GEOFF KLEIN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: J.-P. FORTIN, SYLVAIN BROSSET
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
WRITER, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR: BASHAR SHBIB

Almost Paradise

ALMOST PARADISE

Fiction, Drama, 82:25 min, 2014, HD, Canada, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Catherine (Catherine Enoe) is native to Grenada and works as a nurse caring for outpatients. She travels from patient to patient, healing them and taking the pulse of contemporary Grenada. She indirectly reveals to us that in this presumed post colonial world new forms of colonialism are still alive and well in this almost paradise.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : CATHERINE ENOE, VERA ENOE
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY : J.-P. FORTIN
SOUND RECORDIST : SYLVAIN BROSSET
EDITOR : DORIN GOIAN, J.-P. FORTIN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, D.J. TURNER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS : CHERYNE CHEBIB, SYLVAIN BROSSET
PRODUCERS : BASHAR SHBIB, J.-P. FORTIN
WRITERS : BASHAR SHBIB
DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB

Lazarus

LAZARUS

Fiction, Drama, 78:30 min, 2015, HDV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Louise (Rebecca Rau) and four other troubled young patients are ordered to appear at a week-end of art therapy sessions with Doctor Zion (George Moskos). Louise soon falls in love with another inductee, an alcoholic patient named Kurt (Dustin Ruck). Doctor Lazarus (Damon Cox), an assistant of Dr. Zion, guides their progress while the doctor is out.

One of the patients, Eric (Jason J. Cox) is a sexually depraved teenager. He soon takes an obsessive interest in Louise, who becomes distrustful of the goings-on in the halfway house.

Through discussion, painting lessons and music therapy, the group hashes out their life stories and inner struggles. All the while, Dr. Lazarus becomes sexually obsessed with Eric. The story takes a turn to black humour when Doctor Lazarus manages to create an atmosphere of fear and distrust amongst the group.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : DAMON COX, REBECCA RAU, JASON J. COX, DUSTIN RUCK, SOPHIE CULLEN AUBUT, GEORGE MOSKOS
WRITER : JIMMY BELLEMARE
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : GABRIEL BROWN
SECOND UNIT CAMERA : CAMILLE FORTIN-CHBIB
BOOM OPERATOR : MARTIN ALLAIRE
ART DIRECTOR : SOPHIE CULLEN AUBUT
EDITOR : DANY FOSTER
SOUND: TITI REBO
MUSIC: DUSTIN RUCK
PRODUCER : BASHAR SHBIB
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
DIRECTOR : JIMMY BELLEMARE

The Weddings Murders

THE WEDDINGS MURDERS

Fiction, Drama, Crime, 90 min, 2016, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

The Wedding Murders is a story of obsession, told through the lives of two men – a serial killer and a detective. Henry Sparks (Mark Houghton) has worshiped Detective Prospect Jenkins (Ross Partridge) from the day he met him in the schoolyard when he was ten. As adults, a series of murders have brought Henry and Prospect closer together, as Prospect becomes more estranged from his wife, Geena (Alexandra Woodward). Prospect will be drawn deeper into the world of this homosexual serial killer, where he will learn just how far worship can go.

No amount of professional ambition could have prepared Prospect for the high-profile serial-killings known in the headlines as “The Wedding Murders”. Bodies begin to turn up in and around the district. Prospect’s obsessive determination to regain control of the case begins to take its toll on his personal and professional life. The obsession has clearly become mutual; Henry has won Prospect’s attention... Regardless of the cost.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : MARK HOUGHTON, ROSS PARTRIDGE, ALEXANDRA WOODWARD, TONIA LYNN, TADZEO HORNER-CHBIB
COSTUMES : CATHIA PAGOTTO
ART DIRECTOR : JEAN-FRANÇOIS DA SYLVA-LA RUE
EDITOR : JON DEITCHER
ANIMATION: GABRIEL SANCHEZ
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : KARINE ZERBÉ
ORIGINAL MUSIC : STEPHEN DE OLIVEIRA, PHILIPPE LAUZIER
SCREENPLAY : BASHAR SHBIB, BRIAN DOUGLAS McDONALD
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB
ALSO STARRING : NICOLAS MARANDA, LINDSAY O. PIERRE, KEIR CUTLER, HUBERT MARSOLAIS, PATRICIA ADNAN

The Last Chapter

THE LAST CHAPTER (Lulu In June)

Fiction, Drama, 83:00 min, 2020, HD, colour NTSC.

Synopsis

Ron Weer (Bashar Shbib) is an unpublished writer from the city. He is asked by his employer, a publisher, to pick up an overdue book manuscript from Yan de Rilke (Jan Kuilman), an isolated writer who lives in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Yan is suspicious and reluctant.

With difficulty, Ron manages to gain Yan’s trust. They hit it off, and Yan allows Ron to read and comment on his manuscript. They argue throughout the day till night about love, politics and philosophy. As night falls Ron is invited to sleep over. The film is interwoven with Yan’s novel, Lulu in June, which tells the story of Lulu (Rebecca L. Rau), a lonely, naive and innocent young woman as she adventures with love.

Everything seems to be weaving together famously until the last chapter.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : JAN KUILMAN, BASHAR SHBIB, REBECCA RAU, STEPHEN P. TAYLOR, DOMINIQUE REMY ROOT, GABE BROWN, JAMES MURRAY, XANIA KEANE
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : GABRIEL BROWN
CAMERA OPERATOR : IVAN WOOD
ART DIRECTOR : XANIA KEANE
SOUND RECORDISTS : STEPHEN DE OLIVEIRA, JANNA JEFFREY
EDITOR : J. P. FORTIN
MUSIC: TRIKE (XANIA KEANE & STEPHEN TAYLOR)
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS : KIRA ETTEHADIEH, J. P. FORTIN, SYLVAIN BROSSET
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS : FAROUK CHEBIB, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
PRODUCER : BASHAR SHBIB
WRITER, DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB

Strawberries and Wine

STRAWBERRIES AND WINE

Fiction, Drama, 76:45 min, 2020, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Three siblings, Michael (Mark Houghton), Nicholas (Jordan Henry) and Jean (Abby Zotz) reunite at the vineyard where they grew up, one year after the passing of their parents. Michael’s wife Diana (Susan Eyton-Jones), their family and friends, and a couple of uninvited guests (Iona Brindle and Martin Yu), join them as they come together for a final commemoration of the passing of their parents. As new passions set in, choices will be made between integrity and selfishness and about what the future will hold. Not only for the vineyard, but for them as well.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : SUSAN EYTON-JONES, IONA BRINDLE, MARK HOUGHTON, JORDAN HENRY, ABBY ZOTZ, BOBO VIAN, GABOR ZSIGOVICS, MARTIN YU, SHERINE TARHABI-BOUCHER, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, BASHAR SHBIB
PRODUCTION MANAGER : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : MICHEL LAMOTHE
ASSISTANT CAMERA : PETER PONS, STÉPHANIE ALTAMIRANO
SOUND : MICHEL LECOUFLE
BOOM : SIMON POUDRETTE-WILSON
ART DIRECTOR : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET
SET DRESSER : CHRISTIAN ROY
MAKE-UP/HAIR : JOSÉE LANGLOIS
COSTUMES : ZYX PRODUCTION
EDITORS : GEOFF KLEIN, ROBERT YATES
MUSIC : CLAUDE DEBUSSY, SUZANNE EYTON-JONES
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : PIERRE LATOUR
CO-PRODUCER : HÉLÈNE VERRIER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS : MARIE-HÉLÈNE PANISSET, ANDREW MAKAREWICZ, HÉLÈNE VERRIER
SCREENPLAY : BASHAR SHBIB, GABOR ZSIGOVICS, JAMES WALLEN
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB

Gadabout

GADABOUT

Fiction, 75:09 min, 2020, HD, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

This is a road movie about Jan (Hawa Fallah), Terry (Ryan Kibby) and Bobby (Aaron Gomez). Jan loves Bobby, and Bobby loves Terry, but Terry loves Jan and Bobby. When Bobby loves Terry no more than Jan loves Terry. And so on and so forth.... until they pick up a hitchhiker named Amelia (Natalie Lauer).

Cast & Crew

STARRING : HAWA FALLAH, RYAN KIBBY, AARON GOMEZ, NATALIE LAUER
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY : J. P. FORTIN, BASHAR SHBIB
SOUND RECORDIST : SYLVAIN BROSSET
EDITORS : SYLVAIN BROSSET, JADE FAITH
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, HARALABOS SUGLERIS, KIRA ETTEHADIEH
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS : MAEVA DUBOSC, REBECCA RAU
PRODUCERS : BASHAR SHBIB, J. P. FORTIN, SYLVAIN BROSSET
WRITERS : ZACH SADOWSKI, BASHAR SHBIB
DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB

Gabriel’s Trip

GABRIEL'S TRIP

Fiction, Drama, 87 min, 2020, DV, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Gabriel’s Trip is Bashar Shbib’s third film dealing with the eccentric life of Gabriel Young, a middle-aged independent filmmaker. In the first instalment of the Gabriel Young Series (Hot Sauce), Gabriel (Bashar Shbib) must come to terms with his amnesia. In the second film (The Kiss), he must confront his paranoia. And in the third, Gabriel is diagnosed with acute schizophrenia and must adapt to his new condition. In seeking new beginnings, Gabriel returns to his native country Egypt, only to go back to Quebec disillusioned.

The story begins when Gabriel finds out that his young friend (Dustin Ruck) has recently been diagnosed as HIV-positive. A short time thereafter, Gabriel makes his way to the Middle East where he is immersed in the culture of his heritage. He ponders the true meaning of life and his identity, where he undergoes a personal crisis. His children (Maïa Nadon-Chbib, Tadzeo Horner-Chbib, and Camille Fortin-Chbib) and mother (Karina Chadwick) arrive unexpectedly. It is eventually through their love and support that all turns out well and Gabriel will be, once again, able to resume his “normal” way of life (death).

Cast & Crew

STARRING : BASHAR SHBIB, KIM PRANGLEY, KARINA CHADWICK, DUSTIN RUCK, ROBERT MURRAY, MAÏA NADON-CHBIB, CAMILLE FORTIN-CHBIB, TADZEO HORNER-CHBIB, EMILY DESORMEAUX
EDITORS : EYAD HAMAM, SYLVAIN BROSSET
SOUND: EYAD HAMAM, SYLVAIN BROSSET
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY : EYAD HAMAM, SYLVAIN BROSSET, BASHAR SHBIB
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY : BASHAR SHBIB

Gabe’s Gaze

GABE'S GAZE - (In Post Production)

Fiction, 90:00 min, 2020, HD, DV, 35mm, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

Gabriel Young (Bashar Shbib) survives a heart malfunction and decides to change his lifestyle. This is the fourth film of the ongoing series on the life of the disgruntled and somewhat humorous indie filmmaker. Gabe adventures into themes of ageing, nostalgia, work ethic, anger and kindness. His interactions with his interns display some eccentric workplace behaviour not recommended for a well functioning corporation.

Cast & Crew

STARRING : BASHAR SHBIB, SYLVAIN BROSSET, EMMANUEL CAMPEAU, TALA CHEBIB, JOSEF A. EASTMAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER : MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
PRODUCED BY : BASHAR SHBIB, SYLVAIN BROSSET, J.-P. FORTIN
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY : SYLVAIN BROSSET, J.-P. FORTIN
EDITOR: DANIEL GABRIELLI
SOUND: SYLVAIN BROSSET
MUSIC : BASHAR SHBIB
ART DIRECTOR : BASHAR SHBIB
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY : BASHAR SHBIB

Fade Out

FADE OUT

Fiction, TBA min, 2020, HD, colour, NTSC.

Synopsis

An elderly Vermont obstetrician discovers that he has a short time to live. He decides to close up his home and visit South America exploring the countries using public transport. He meets several locals and tries to live his last days enjoying life's simple pleasures.

STARRING: BLAIR GANNON, GABRIEL SANCHEZ,
EDITOR: DANIEL GABRIELLI
SOUND: BASHAR SHBIB
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: BASHAR SHBIB, SYLVAIN BROSSET, J.-P. FORTIN
MUSIC:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MAÏA NADON-CHBIB
PRODUCER: BASHAR SHBIB, SYLVAIN BROSSET, J.-P. FORTIN
WRITER, DIRECTOR: BASHAR SHBIB

A MIDSUMMER'S WAKE

a Bashar Shbib film