Elie Castiel is juggling many balls

by Silvia Cademartori

Man cannot live on art alone. Ask Elie Castiel. He’s been moonlighting as a full-time library employee for over 30 years so he can pursue his passion for films.

It’s a passion that’s led him to hang his hat in many places: president of the Quebec Film Critics Association, editor-in-chief of Séquences movie magazine, lecturer at the Université de Montréal, and a translator of the official Montreal World Film Festival catalogue.

What’s even more amazing is that Castiel completed his MA in Film Studies at Concordia last December while working on all of the above. Clearly, Castiel is driven.

“It’s more than a hobby. It’s my life,” he said, meaning films, “but I learned when I was young that I couldn’t earn a real living in art alone, so I decided to go to work for stability and pursue films on my own time.”

In time, Castiel, who holds the position of Supervisor, Bibliography Access, at Concordia, found his interest had turned into knowledge others were aware of. While working on his MA, Castiel was approached by the director of Hellenic studies at Université de Montréal to teach a night class in Greek cinema. Castiel had come highly recommended by Serge Losique, head of the Montreal World Film Festival.

Castiel focused his master’s degree on Greek cinema. He wrote his thesis on filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos, whose trademark is filming long scenes in one take. Castiel’s knowledge of Greek cinema has also landed him a plum spot as a juror at the International Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece. He has also sat on film juries at the Toronto and Montreal film festivals.

Despite his success, he won’t give up his day job. “I actually like what I do, and it forces me to manage my time efficiently,” he said. “Working full-time outside of film taught me skills I eventually needed to manage my work in film, like delegating. I’ve had to learn that I don’t have to do every single thing myself.”

“Well organized” is how Peter Rist describes Castiel. Rist is an associate professor of film studies at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. He first met Castiel as a film studies undergraduate.

“I couldn’t get over the fact he wears so many hats. Most people know him as a library employee but when you scratch below the surface there’s another world he lives in and is respected in,” says Rist, who supervised Castiel’s thesis. “He’s this city’s expert on Greek cinema.”

Now in his fifties, Castiel has devoted his entire adult life to the pursuit of films, foregoing a personal life. “No one forced me to make that decision, and I’m very happy with it,” he said.

During the course of a half-hour interview Castiel chatted easily in English, French and Italian. Born in Morocco, he claims Spanish as his mother tongue, and languages are another of his interests. Before completing his BFA in Film Studies in the mid-’80s, he obtained a BA in Translation in 1978 and a BFA in Theatre and French Literature in 1974. Combining foreign languages with film, Castiel can speak endlessly and passionately.

“American films are invading the world. We don’t have foreign films opening in theatres regularly any more. We have to wait for the film festivals,” he said. “Why do you think the World Film Festival is so packed every year? At least we have the festivals.”

At least Quebec cinema has Elie Castiel.