Manic chronicles filmmaker Kalina Bertin’s struggle to make sense of the mental illness wreaking havoc over her family’s household. Convinced that her father holds a key piece of the puzzle, she sets out to find the truth about him and discovers a man known alternately as a cult leader, a scam artist, a prophet, and father of fifteen.

Interview with Writer/Director/DOP/Producer: Kalina Bertin

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

There was a deep sense of urgency for me to understand and shed light on this mental illness that became very much part of my daily life through my siblings' struggles.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s intriguing, mysterious, haunting, moving, and candidly exposes the realities of mental illness as rarely shown before.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

We all have our family secrets and issues. We all at some point want to know and understand where we come from and how our family’s heritage has affected us, and how we fit within that story. Most of us know someone, close or far struggling with mental illness. The themes tackled by the film go from personal to universal and I believe there is enough material for anyone to relate to the story at some point.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Like all documentary films, Manic evolved tremendously throughout the shooting process. I never knew what exactly would unfold before me when the camera was running. On one end I would learn about my father as the film progressed, through interviews with characters from his life and through my research of archival material. On the other end I would capture verité style footage with my siblings as they were experiencing manic and psychotic episodes. The story was building as I shot.

Then once in the editing room, the imposing, but exciting challenge was to bring together the two narrative arcs: the investigation of my father’s story and my sibling’s struggles with mental illness. Essentially, the archival footages was a crucial tool to enable the story to organically flow from past to present.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People are extremely moved by my family’s story and feel like they can understand more than ever the challenges and realities of living with mental illness.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

As much visibility as possible for the film’s message to reach its audience.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Festival directors and journalists.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Ultimately my goal is to shed light on bipolar disorder, a complex and larger than life condition which remains unfamiliar to the vast majority, but which is far more common than you would imagine. I’m hoping people will leave the theater with a better understanding of what it is like to live with mental illness and how disastrous it can be to lead a life without seeking a successful treatment plan, not only for people suffering with the disorder, but for their loved ones as well.

My father was never successful in treating his own illness and it created a storm that engulfed and shattered so many lives. Ultimately, his children are the ones paying the price for the chaos he created.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How can we provide better support for people suffering with bipolar disorder?

Manic Writer/Director/DOP/Producer: Kalina Bertin

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Aiming to build empathy and awareness toward such a complex condition, I am currently directing a virtual reality experience which will enable the viewer to explore the world of manic-depression from within – through poetry, interaction and abstraction.

Interview: April 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Manic

Length: 84 mins

Director: Kalina Bertin

Producer: Marina Serrao, Kalina Bertin

Writer: Kalina Bertin

About the writer, director and producer:

DIRECTOR / WRITER / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY / PRODUCER

Kalina Bertin is an emerging filmmaker based in Montreal. Her documentary film Manic will be screening in competition at Hot Docs 2017. She currently is directing a virtual reality experience which will enable the viewer to explore the world of manic-depression from within.

PRODUCER

Marina Serrao is an emerging producer from Montreal, Canada. Over the last eight years, Marina has had the good fortune to have worked in fiction, TV and documentaries on set and in award-winning production companies, as well as programmed for the Cinema Politica Network.

Key cast: Felicia Bertin, François Bertin, George Dubie.

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festival directors, journalists.

Social media handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyeSteelFilm/

Twitter: ‪@EyeSteelFilm

Other: http://www.eyesteelfilm.com/projects/completed-films/manic/

Funders: CMF, Super Channel, SODEC

Made in association with: EyeSteelFilm

Where can I see it in the next month? At Hot Docs, The Canadian International Documentary Film Festival!