9th edition of Atelier Grand Nord XR (AGN XR) - Cohort Announcement

The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) has unveiled the new cohort of French-speaking producers selected for the 9^th edition of the Atelier Grand Nord XR (AGN XR). Participants from France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Québec will gather in the Outaouais region from April 25 to May 2, 2025, to work on their eight projects in development. The experience will continue with visits to several Montréal-based companies specializing in XR on May 1 and 2.

Selected Québec projects will receive a $100,000 grant to support their development.

The eight projects selected for the 9^th edition of AGN XR are:

• DNA of the Soul (France)
  Hugo Texeire, writer and director
  Sarah Arnaud, producer
  Tchikiboum
  
  
• Épicentre (Québec)
  Olivier Choinière, writer and stage director
  Thomas Payette, creative director
  Isabelle Brodeur, producer
  Mirari
  
  
• The Architecture of Happiness (Québec)
  François Dubé, producer and co-director
  Mathieu Troussel, technical consultant and co-director
  Étienne Bernier, content producer
  Frangin
  
  
• The Gold of Amazon (France)
  Pierre-Alain Giraud, director and producer
  Emanuela Righi, producer
  Novaya
  
  
• Lucina Rosa (Québec)
  Patricia Bergeron, director
  Colas Wohlfahrt, director
  Ginette Petit, producer
  Outsiders Films
  
  
• Inner Lights (Québec)
  Philippe Lambert, co-director
  Charles Stéphane Roy, producer
  Scintilla
  
  
• Symphony of the Depths (Switzerland)
  Cinzia Fossati, writer and director
  Laurence Moletta, writer and director
  Hélène Faget, producer
  Tell Me The Story
  
  
• Theresienstadt (Luxembourg)
  Max Jacoby, designer and director
  Fred Neuen, producer
  Digital Voodooh

Focused on virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, the Atelier Grand Nord XR (AGN XR) offers participants a unique opportunity to discuss their immersive creation projects with consultants, deepen their reflections on their works, and foster the exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Thanks to the valuable collaboration of Xn Québec, the 2025 AGN XR cohort will have the opportunity to visit several renowned digital experience studios in Montréal: SAT, PHI, OASIS immersion, Normal Studio, and Felix & Paul Studios. These visits will give participants the chance to engage with industry professionals and discover unique creative spaces.

A Fruitful Experience

The workshop aims to foster connections conducive to creation and potential partnerships, as illustrated by the testimonies of two past participants:

“This event facilitates the exchange of ideas, the exploration of innovative solutions, and the creation of strategic partnerships with French-speaking entrepreneurs and experts. It’s an incredible opportunity to propel your project’s development and increase its visibility on the international stage.”
Hélène Faget, Producer at Tell Me The Story (Switzerland).

“Participating in the Atelier Grand Nord XR was a true burst of inspiration and a fantastic catalyst for our project. The coaches' expertise and the group's synergy notably helped enrich our creative approach to craft a more human and universal story capable of resonating with a wide audience.”
Caroline Julien, President of Creo (Québec).

The Seven Consultants

• Myriam Achard, Head of New Media Partnerships and Public Relations – PHI (Québec)
• Jean-Pascal Beaudoin, Co-founder and Creative and Sound Director – Headspace Studio (Québec)
• Eloi Champagne, Head of Technical Direction and Production Technology – National Film Board of Canada (NFB) (Québec)
• Oriane Hurard, Producer – Atlas V (France) and AGN XR Moderator
• Stéphanie Sphyras, XR Director, Screenwriter, and Artistic Director – Swing Digital Production and Principe Actif (France)
• Louis Thériault-Boivin, Founder and Director – Neek Studio (Québec)
• Maude Thibodeau, Chief of Creation and Experience Director – Dpt. (Québec)

The Partners

This ninth edition of the Atelier Grand Nord XR is organized by SODEC, in collaboration with MUTEK, and supported by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), the Fondation de formation continue pour le cinéma et l’audiovisuel (FOCAL), Cinéforom, the Film Fund Luxembourg, the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and Xn Québec.

About SODEC

SODEC’s mandate is to promote and support the development of cultural enterprises in Québec and abroad across the sectors of film, books and publishing, fine crafts, art markets, music, performing arts, and digital media. SODEC also manages and preserves a heritage real estate portfolio of 32 buildings that reflect Québec’s identity.