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La Fondation du neuvième art

Zone Internationale du Neuvième Art (ZINA)

Première rencontre de la bande dessinée et des nouvelles images
(Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

The fondation du neuvième art (F9) is a Montreal-based, non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating and exhibiting Quebec and French comic strips and animation using new technologies. Created in 1999 by Stéphane Lemardelé and William Swift, F9 has a global vision to promote local and international works in French.

F9's first major happening was ZINA 99 (Zone internationale du neuvième art). The event, which was partly funded by the Daniel Langlois Foundation and held at the Ex-Centris Complex in Montreal from September 9 to 12, 1999, brought together artists from Canada, France and Belgium. ZINA 99 explored new modes of expression and new technologies and their impact on the comic industry. A wide range of comics and animated works in various media (Internet, CD-ROM, video and film) were showcased. The press criticized the event for its broad and sometimes ambiguous focus, saying that though ZINA 99 billed itself as a festival for comic strips and new images, it was unclear how the two mixed. Some wondered whether organizers were able to demonstrate this relationship at all amidst the series of animated features, Web events and documentaries.

Angela Plohman © 2000 FDL

(1) "Crazy Comics," Hour (September 9 - 15, 1999): 37; and Denis Lord, "Mariage ambigu," Le Devoir (September 10, 1999).