Michael Crochetiere – Subterranean Passage

Featured Member Works: Michael Crochetiere – “Subterranean Passage” (1999)

27:24 (broadcast cut), 16mm. colour, sound

When you are 9 years old sometime the only defence is your imagination.

“Once I had the power to disappear, to sink inside the dragon’s dreams, to touch the dragon’s sandy skin, as if it were my own” (Amanda in Subterranean Passage)

Financial Participation

Telefilm Canada, The National Film Board of Canada

SaskFILM, The Canada Council for the Arts, The Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative, The Saskatchewan Arts Board

Michael Crochetiere is a Canadian filmmaker and university instructor who holds degrees in English Literature, Theatre Arts, Music and Film Production from Concordia University (B.A., B.F.A.) and The Art Institute of Chicago (M.F.A.). His short film Subterranean Passage premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1999. It has since screened at over 50 venues worldwide, winning sixteen awards including the Silver Medal (Professional Independent category) at the 41st Brno Sixteen Film Competition (Czech Republic) and Best Experimental/Drama Film awards at the 31st Nashville Independent Film Festival, The Niagara Indie Film Fest and the Vancouver Island Film, Video and New Media Festival. The film has been screened by several broadcasters in North America and Europe, including SCN (Saskatchewan Communications Network), YLE Finland (New Cine), Kunstkanaal in The Netherlands, KSPS (PBS) Spokane and WTTW (PBS) Chicago (Image Union). Subterranean Passage has been accepted into the National Archives of Canada.

Michael has taught film studies and film production at McGill University, Concordia University, Emily Carr University, The University of Regina and CEGEP John Abbott. He is presently at work on the feature film script Dark Flowers, a contemporary fable set in the subconscious of an eight year-old girl.