This documentary describes the final three months leading up to the opening of Moulin à images by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina, an impressionistic performance-event of epic dimensions. To build this monumental historical panorama blending different genres, a group of talented and creative young people have been invited to achieve something very special. Here, virtuosity and ingenuity have a rendezvous with history: Quebec City is celebrating its 400th anniversary. Meeting the challenge is none other than the celebrated director Robert Lepage, co-directing with a member of the Ex Machina team who gives us an insider's point of view. This film by Mariano Franco and Marie Belzil demonstrates the scope of the Lepage project, highlighting the contribution of every artist as the creators hone their craft in the nerve centre. The Image Mill Revealed is an adventure in art for the viewing audience. The countdown has started: the opening is in 75 days.

Mariano Franco, director

Mexican-born Mariano Franco has lived in Montreal since 1996. In 2002 he earned his B.A. in film production from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University. As a young filmmaker he won Concordia's Michel Trudel Award in Film Production for El Sueno, which also took the Short Film Award at Festivalissimo in 2002.

Franco is fascinated by the different aspects of filmmaking and has tried directing, cinematography and editing. Since 2002 he has built up an impressive track record as editor on such films as Territoires by Mary Ellen Davis (2006), produced by Périphéria Productions, as well as Free Delivery (2008) and Al Dente (2008) by Pablo Diconca. He also co-directed the documentary Tais-toi Jaloux (2006) with Marie Belzil and directed the fiction shorts Entractes (2007) and Desolacion (2009), the latter winning a grant from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec as part of its Vivacité program.

More recently, teaming up once more with Marie Belzil, he co-directed the documentary The Image Mill Revealed, produced by Les Productions du 8e art and the National Film Board of Canada. It follows the creative process leading to the monumental screening of Moulin à images (The Image Mill) by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina, created to celebrate Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Franco is also pursuing a musical career with his group Psychotropical Orchestra, currently preparing a sophomore album.

Marie Belzil, director

In 2004, Marie Belzil earned her B.A. in film production from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University. While she was still a student, her short film Huston (2001) garnered the Audience Award at the Festival Projet Y and won her a grant from the production house La Fabrique d'images.

Between 2005 and 2007, she began her TV directing career at Société Radio-Canada (SRC) and joined the teams working on the current affairs programs Le Point, Découverte, Enquête and Enjeux. In 2006, she made the report "Le Tribunal des toxicomanes," aired during Enjeux, which won the Justicia Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Jack Webster Award and SRC's prix Salut aux talents. At the same time she pursued her love of film, collaborating on documentaries and fiction.

In 2007, the famous theatre director Robert Lepage hired her to take part in the creation of the epic screening Le Moulin à images, to celebrate Quebec City's 400th anniversary. As creative assistant and image coordinator, she also covered the artistic direction of a number of the show's segments, heading a team of 15 people. Belzil co-directed the documentary The Image Mill Revealed (2009). Produced by Les productions du 8e art and the National Film Board of Canada, this is an inside look at the creative process behind the Lepage/Ex Machina project.