A film by Helgi Piccinin
The documentary
Champions is a documentary in which the director follows the quests of his autistic brother Stéphane and his atypical friend Audrey. Born with an intellectual difference, Stéphane and Audrey want to prove to the world that they too can win medals. They found a passion in athletics competitions at the provincial and national levels and have now set their sights on the international stage. For three intense years marked by training and two championships, we follow them until the end of their ambitious dream, that of competing at the Special Olympics World Games in Dubai. Intertwining both the sports odyssey and the human portrait, this feel-good documentary offers an immersion into a fascinating world where athletes with an intellectual difference are at the forefront.
The protagonists
Stéphane, 25 years old, autistic
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
This very timid man who stands tall at 1.85m, both naive and playful in his character, is my younger brother.
Stéphane lives in Halifax with his parents, a dog and two cats. He is obsessed with running. In his neighbourhood, everyone knows him. He is the Forrest Gump from around the block seen running 6 km almost every day, from his small house to the gas station and back. Beyond the sport, his passions are old video games (Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong in particular), ping-pong, and basketball. When he runs, he is in complete control and appears to be the happiest boy in the world.
His goal: the 800m and 1500m medals.
Audrey Vincent, 25 years old, neurodevelopmental disorder: dyslexia, dysphasia and dyscalculia
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Audrey lives in Longueuil (south of Montreal) with her single mom and two fat cats. She speaks loudly in a shrill voice, often saying whatever is on her mind, without filter or tact. But her colourful and genuine personality is also what makes her so charming and once we learn how to deal with her, we discover a beautiful soul, and a tender naivety. When she is not running, she spends her time with horses. Endowed with an innate gift for these beautiful animals, she has been riding since childhood and works in the same stable where she “whispers to horses” five days a week. Her mother raised her alone with very modest means and fights to ensure that nothing gets in the way of her daughter’s ambitions and dreams.
Her goal: the 800m and 1500m medals.
December 2017. Stéphane Piccinin training at Crystal Crescent Beach, near Halifax in Nova Scotia.
The team
Since 2005, Quebec independent filmmaker Helgi Piccinin has developed a unique and intimate approach to documentary cinema, showing a profound sensitivity to the poetry of the everyday and to the themes of identity and difference. He has created several short and medium-length films that have been widely distributed and that immerse his viewers in unusual or uncharted universes. Educated in Quebec and France, he gained rich field experiences, first travelling the world and then shooting films in Quebec, Canada, and the United States. Featuring his autistic brother, his first full-length documentary, Champions, reflects an even more personal approach.
LES VUES DE L’ESPRIT is a Montreal film production company that specializes in the production of auteur documentaries. It puts forward strong films that feed social change. Led by producer Philippe Miquel, Les Vues de l'Esprit promotes the emergence of local talent and promotes a production ecosystem that respects the creative freedom of artists. In this spirit, Les Vues de l'Esprit teamed up with director Helgi Piccinin for the production of the film Champions.
Editing : Juliette Guérin, Étienne Gagnon (short versions)
Sound design and editing : Benoît Dame et Jérémie Jones
Sound mix : Benoît Dame
Music : Pierre-Luc Lecours
Sound Recording : Philippe Miquel
Finishing artist and colorist : François Dompierre
The partners
Produced with the financial participation of
In association with
The series
In addition to the film, a web series will present other champions: Canadian athletes but also parents, coaches and volunteers involved in the sports movement of the Special Olympics. This web series will be posted on the film's social networks before the release of the film, at the rate of one episode per week.
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