Elias Djemil

Elias Djemil-Matassov is a filmmaker, producer, and multidisciplinary artist of Russian-Algerian origin, based in Quebec City. A polyglot, his background reflects a versatility and capacity for adaptation evidenced by an internationally awarded body of work. Whether exploring the Holocaust through experimental dance (Franciszka) or tracing the roots of contemporary Algerian music (Au rythme du temps), his work pays tribute to human creativity in all its facets. "The image, of any sort, frozen in time or in motion, invented or inspired by reality, always brings us back not only to ourselves, but above all to others." After completing film studies, he founded Octo Film INC in 2008, dedicated to producing emerging directors. With experience across short films, television, photography, and community engagement - including as president of the Festival de Cinéma de la Ville de Québec and of independent cooperative Spira - he built a practice rooted equally in popular cinema and abstract art. In 2015, movement and dance became central to his creative exploration, leading to a prolific parallel career in photography with collaborators such as Ex Machina, the MNBAQ, and the National Ballet of Canada. He also developed narrative work in the video game field, collaborating with Ubisoft, among others. From 2023 onward, Elias Djemil turned his attention to the intersection of artificial intelligence and artistic creation. He created Creators of Tomorrow, a documentary TV series broadcast on Bell Media / Fibe TV1, and developed the transmedia universe Vlad and the Vostoks - spanning AI-generated music, a quadruped robot, XR experiences, and immersive installations. He also built ETHOS, a 13-dimensional ethical neural network designed to evaluate the moral and ecological weight of digital content. He gives conferences and workshops on AI ethics, the environmental cost of technology, and the creative process in schools, universities, and companies across Quebec.