The End of Certainties, the latest documentary by Jean-Daniel Lafond, will be launched as a world premiere on NFB.ca on Monday, December 14, the opening day of the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA) Conference of Montreal, which will be presented live online from December 14 to 17, 2020. Co-produced by Majda Films International and the National Film Board of Canada, the film gives viewers first-hand access to the diverse testimonials of some 20 influential men and women who took part in the IEFA Montreal and Paris conferences from 2017 to 2019. The result is an insightful, cogent overview of the impacts of globalization today, and the inequalities, ideals, disillusionment, fears and hopes that it continues to generate. After its world premiere, the film will continue to be available free of charge on NFB.ca.
Globalization: the state of play
More than a decade after the global financial crisis of 2007-08, this documentary takes stock of economic, sociocultural, environmental and political imbalances, and addresses a fundamental question: What can we do to build a more inclusive, fairer world? At the IEFA events in Montreal and Paris, Lafond meets economists, financiers, politicians and other key players active in various international bodies. Using in-depth conversations as well as excerpts from the conferences, he delves into these participants' views, which include questioning the direction that globalization and capitalism have taken in light of the glaring inequalities that have resulted; the need to renew pacts of solidarity and take concrete actions in that regard; the essential role that First Peoples must play in the conversation about climate issues; the profound changes sweeping the world of work and technology, resulting in both challenges and great leaps forward; and the vital importance of education.
Multiple voices, one overarching view
The End of Certainties is a multi-voiced meditation that offers sometimes divergent outlooks on our world today, but unanimously speaks to an urgent need to instil greater humanity. The film's participants include, among others, Lynn Forester de Rothschild, founder and CEO of the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism (United States); Paul Desmarais, Jr., Chairman of the Board and Co-CEO of Power Corporation (Canada); Gérard Mestrallet, President of Suez and Honorary President of Engie in 2018 (France); Siila Watt-Cloutier, advocate for Arctic Peoples' human, environmental and cultural rights (Canada); Myrlande Pierre, Chair of the City of Montreal's Table sur la diversité, l'inclusion et la lutte contre les discriminations from 2018 to 2019 (Canada); Kako Kossivi Nubukpo, Director of the Economic and Digital Francophonie from 2017 to 2018 (France); and Gil Rémillard, Founder and Chairman of the IEFA (Canada).
The End of Certainties by Jean-Daniel Lafond (45 min 27 s)
Co-produced by Jean-Daniel Lafond (Majda Films International) and André Picard (NFB)
