Vincent René-Lortie is a Montréal-based film director. Having directed festival-renowned short films and music videos for Canada’s top artists, his dream-drenched work spans a wide range of genres including fiction, sci-fi, and dance. With his attention to the poetic and his obsession with the intimate, Vincent’s narratives continue to offer surreal journeys coated in high-value execution.
indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): Back in high school, my dream was to become an actor. I took part in every school play, basking in the thrill of performing in front of an audience. However, it’s peculiar that offstage, I was quite shy as a person. This shyness held me back, but it’s what ultimately propelled me to seek a place behind the camera. The path to get there felt quite natural, and I never truly wavered along the way. I graduated in Film Production from Concordia University in Montreal and was fortunate to exit the school with friends who shared a similar sensibility. Since then, our collaboration has never ceased, and it’s this same team that has accompanied me throughout the entire process of ‘Invincible.’
My artistic style has been evolving a lot, and I hope it always will be. Performance will forever be at the forefront for me, and my style often gravitates towards a more contemplative, introspective form of cinema, one that takes the time to breathe and allows space for the performances to shine. Yet, I love to use cinema as a tool to break free from our somewhat ordinary reality. I enjoy dancing on the line between the real and the dreamlike, without ever crossing into excess. I’ve applied this approach to several of my projects so far.
Watch The Official Trailer for INVINCIBLE Directed by Vincent René-Lortie
Do you hire a casting director, or do you like to choose the cast yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): It’s truly a collaborative effort, and I particularly enjoy working with a casting director. For several years, I’ve been working with Victor Tremblay-Blouin, who, incidentally, worked with me on ‘Invincible.’ I have a strong affinity for working with non-professional actors, especially when it comes to young casts. There’s a sense that their emotions are always more genuine and raw, that there’s an element of authenticity, or imperfection, that I truly connect with. However, it does require more time to unearth these qualities.
Take ‘Invincible,’ for instance, where the majority of the young actors had never stood in front of a camera before. Victor played a pivotal role by reaching out to high schools, community centers, and various other places to discover these young talents. It was a beautiful and enriching process.
Without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the script, how did you come up with the idea?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): ‘Invincible’ is based on a true story, that of my childhood friend Marc-Antoine Bernier, who tragically passed away at the age of 14 after escaping from a juvenile center. It was a deeply impactful event in my teenage years. Marc was an incredibly close friend, and his untimely death left me bewildered. At the time, I thought it was an accident, but I had a sense that there was more to it. Marc’s story was complex, and I was aware of that depth.
Creating this film became my way of reconnecting with him, attempting to understand his journey, and gaining a better grasp of why his life took such a tragic turn. The focus has always been on unraveling the events leading up to his passing, which is why I chose to center the film on the 48 hours preceding that pivotal moment. The film doesn’t solely fixate on the specific incident of his death; it delves deeper into the ‘why’ behind this tragedy, exploring the nuanced layers that accompanied it.
Who is “INVINCIBLE” for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): It was hard to predict initially. I was crafting a story about a young boy from my city, with his Quebec accent and the cultural nuances that came with it. I wasn’t sure if people would resonate with his narrative. But up to this point, since its festival debut, I’ve witnessed something quite remarkable surrounding the film.
“Invincible” genuinely appeals to a wide range of ages, as well as diverse cultures and languages. I’ve had individuals from various backgrounds in different countries approach me, expressing that they’ve encountered young individuals similar to Marc. At times, they’ve even seen their own experiences mirrored in Marc’s journey or recognized elements of their own past in his story. I believe the emotions I captured in the film—those of powerlessness, feeling misunderstood, and the sense of being trapped at a young age—are profoundly universal and resonate with many. It’s truly heartwarming and sincere.
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): It was a 7-day shoot, which is quite generous for a short film. However, the film featured a substantial cast and scenes that were quite challenging to shoot, both emotionally and technically. So, even with those 7 days, we often felt we didn’t have enough time!
How long was the post-production process?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): We took our time during post-production. It was almost a year from the shoot to the first festival screening. However, we had a lot of material to work with. We always planned to make a 25-30-minute film with numerous scenes, most of which were shot from multiple camera angles. So, the editing process was complex but also a beautiful phase of rewriting. In the end, I’m glad we took our time. It was my first live-action short film, and I wanted to do things right.
The film had a lot of talent working behind the scenes as DPs, sound designers, composers, etc. Why is diversity important both in front of and behind the camera?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): I think diversity is necessary and crucial for the proper functioning of our industry. It results in better films, new voices, and fresh approaches, as well as a working environment that is much less male-dominated and toxic, and much more open-minded and healthy. I look forward to the day when diversity becomes something normal, something common. Unfortunately, we’re still a long way from that, but until then, I hope everyone will keep fighting for genuine diversity in the world of cinema.
What are your goals with “INVINCIBLE”?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): That the film continues to be watched! I genuinely hope that the film will maintain its resonance with audiences as it moves forward, serving as a catalyst for meaningful conversations on urgent topics like the mental well-being of children and teenagers.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): I’m in the final stages of production for an experimental short film, and as a matter of fact, I’ll be heading to Vancouver this Wednesday (Nov. 1st), to capture a pivotal scene for this project. Additionally, there’s a project that’s particularly dear to my heart – my first feature film, which I’ve been writing and nurturing over the past year. While I can’t divulge all the details just yet, the project is advancing quite nicely, and I’m so excited about the forthcoming developments.
What would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his/ her journey? Any special courses, workshops, or helpful books they can read?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): I simply recommend always staying close to what you know – I believe the most meaningful stories are those that are close to our hearts, regardless of the style, genre, or approach.
Who is your favorite director? Why?
Vincent René-Lortie (VRL): It’s quite challenging to pick just one director as many have inspired me in various ways. But I believe that being from Quebec, we have a few directors who have consistently influenced and shaped our film industry. Personally, I’ve always been deeply attached to Denis Villeneuve’s work. I know he’s incredibly successful now, but when I was young, his early works left a significant mark on my childhood and inspired me to become a director. For instance, his film “Incendies” was a major inspiration for “Invincible,” both in its visual and editing approach.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Vincent René-Lortie. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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