THE HEAD ON THE BATTLEFIELD
a short documentary film by Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette
in competition at the Animation Cinema Summits
Montreal, Wednesday May 13, 2026 – La Distributrice de films and FIZ Studio are proud to present the animated short film La tête en champ de battlefield, written and directed by Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette, produced by Isabelle Phaneuf-Cyr. Screened as a world premiere at REGARD – International Short Film Festival in Saguenay, the film will have its Montreal premiere, in Canadian competition at the 24th edition of the Sommets du cinéma d’animation. The two screenings will be held on May 15 and 16 at the Cinémathèque québécoise, in the presence of the filmmakers.
Head on the Battlefield is a poignant animated documentary about David, a 45-year-old veteran who shares his inner struggle with his younger brother. A moving quest to find balance in the face of invisible wounds.
Trailer: vimeo.com/1191375714
Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette have been writing, developing, drawing and animating together since 2008. Their animations can be found in multiple projects and collaborations such as the web series L’usine et ma vilaine memoire de 9 ans (winner of the Numix prize for Best Linear Documentary Web Production 2018) and 50/50: the documentary (2018) presented as part of the Grands reportages d’ICI RDI. Anaë and Louis-Pierre produced and directed the animated short films Nuit blanche (2014), The last minute (2015) and À l’aube (2019) which were presented in numerous festivals and won several prizes and mentions. In 2020, the NFB invites them to participate in the Parenthesis project alongside six other artists. This series of short animated documentary stories gives a voice to Canadians affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19. Their short film Head on the Field of Battle is their most recent animated documentary.
THE HEAD ON THE BATTLEFIELD
With the participation of David Cossette and Louis-Pierre Cossette
Animated documentary. Quebec (Canada). 2026. 21 minutes.
In original French version with English subtitles.
Director: Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette | Screenplay: Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette | Host: Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette | Sound design: Martin Lemay | Music: Pascal Beaulieu | Production: Isabelle Phaneuf-Cyr (FIZ Studio) | Distribution: The Film Distributor
Website: ladistributrice.ca/films/la-tete-en-champ-de-battaille
Facebook: facebook.com/lateteenbattlefield
Instagram: instagram.com/lateteenbattlefield
SCREENINGS AT THE SUMMIT OF ANIMATION CINEMA (24th edition – May 11 to 16, 2026)
Friday May 15 at 6 p.m. | Quebec Cinematheque (Montreal)
Saturday May 16 at 2 p.m. | Quebec Cinematheque (Montreal)
In the presence of filmmakers Anaë Bilodeau and Louis-Pierre Cossette
THE HEAD IN THE BATTLEFIELD was produced thanks to the financial participation of the Société de développement des enterprises culturelle (SODEC), the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Cinema and Television Tax Credit (Gestion SODEC), the Saguenay Cinema Bureau and the Saguenay Arts Council.
ABOUT
Founded in 2015 by Isabelle Phaneuf-Cyr, FIZ Studio develops and produces audiovisual projects ranging from documentary to animation, including cultural, institutional and narrative content. Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Film Distributor distributes and represents, in close collaboration with filmmakers and producers, Canadian short and feature films. She takes on around twenty films per year, including the works of Sophie Goyette, Ashley McKenzie, Denis Côté, Olivier Godin, Jennifer Alleyn, Félix Dufour-Laperrière, Matthew Rankin, Sarianne Cormier, Kazik Radwanski, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan McKenna and Fanie Pelletier. Website | Facebook | Instagram