Fri. Dec. 1st, 9:30pm @ Arts Court Theatre – Merganzer & Sonya Stefan
Sat. Dec. 2nd, 9pm @ Arts Court Studio – Sparklesaurus
Dec. 1st – 3rd @ Arts Court Theatre & online – Hard Science
Headlining Mirror Mountain’s opening night this year will be a live music performance by Ottawa’s Merganzer with live visuals by Montreal-based media artist Sonya Stefan.
Merganzer is the project of violinist Mika Posen (formerly of Timber Timbre and Agnes Obel), combining slow-burning soundscapes, ambient textures, and melodic interludes. Her expressive pop-noir songs and minimalist instrumental pieces slip in and out of dream-like states, using everything from simple strings, to homemade beats, to soaring sine waves.
Sonya Stefan creates live hybrid images using video feedback, electronic glitchery, and discarded 16mm film she collected from garage sales and garbage cans around Montreal. She performs using damaged and disintegrating equipment of all kinds, from broken video mixers, to scratched and worn celluloid film strips, to glitched television screens. Stefan transforms, manipulates, and overlaps these materials in real time, creating a truly unforgettable live experience.
They will be accompanied on stage by percussionist Pascal Delaquis (Hilotrons, The Acorn). The performance will take place Friday, Dec. 1st at 9:30pm in Arts Court Theatre and is co-presented by Ottawa Showbox.
Join us the following night on Saturday, Dec. 2nd at 9pm for a party in our festival lounge in Arts Court Studio featuring a special set by Ottawa dream-pop quartet Sparklesaurus. Their sound pairs the emotional rawness of garage rock with the lush glitter-infused tonalities of glam, set in a landscape of scaling synths, swirling guitar tones, colourful harmonies, and a stoney rhythm section. Its members are Felicity DeCarle, Colleen Jones, Shamisa Schroeder and Brad Lapensee.
Delicious free snacks will be provided by one of our amazing sponsor restaurants. The performance is co-presented by Ottawa Showbox.
Ottawa’s Hard Science will contribute to this year’s festival by creating a short animated teaser film that will introduce all screenings in the 2017 edition. Hard Science is the brainchild of audio/visual artist and modular synth wizard Arturo Brisindi. He produces synthpop and performs live techno and visuals with an arsenal of vintage analog and digital equipment. Hard Science’s nostalgic sound and glitchy video images immerse you in a dreamy world of hazy space pop.
Hard Science will also once again be supplying some awesome music for Mirror Mountain’s festival trailer this year, with a track from his recent debut LP Dreaming in Stereo.
Tickets can be pre-ordered through our website. Mirror Mountain Film Festival is proudly presented by The Shallowbrook Group.
Mirror Mountain Film Festival 