Archéologie de la lumière invites us into the heart of Minganie’s landscapes in Quebec. A place surrounded by countless presences. Everything there is perception. Every perception emerges from the interplay between the observer’s gaze and the living world: the trees, the moss carpeting the forest floor, the water winding through rocks, light filtered by the canopy, the sun’s reflection on the restless sea, the northern lights dancing across the night sky. To perceive is to attune ourselves to the movement of air and wind, to the distant clouds gathering and heralding a storm. Everything is light. Everything is perception.

Born in Montreal, Sylvain L’Espérance studied visual arts and cinema. He has directed thirteen films that combine direct cinema and experimental research to explore reality in a poetic lens. His works have been screened in twenty countries around the world. Intérieurs du delta won Best Director Award at the Festival dei Popoli in Florence (2010), while Sur le Rivage du monde received the Grand Prix in the international competition at DOK.fest in Munich (2013). Combat au bout de la nuit was presented in the Panorama section of the Berlinale (2017). Animal Macula has distinguished itself at several festivals, notably winning the Special Jury Prize in the National Feature Film Competition at RIDM 2021. Archéologie de la lumière won the same award in 2024.