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Olivier Côté is a director and script-writer who grew up between Montreal and Puerto Rico. His previous short films, Strike (2021) and Kings (2023), have garnered recognition at festivals worldwide (Palm Springs, Rhode Island, Interfilm-Berlin, Regard, +). He advocates for intimate cinema as a means to better question social trends. The Ones Who Stay  is his documentary directing debut.

Jean-François Bouchard has worked in lens-based visual art since 2003, focusing on marginalized and misunderstood groups in Western society. His work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and festivals across Canada, the U.S., and France. His photographs have appeared in publications such as The Washington Post, Stern Magazine, and Wired. His upcoming book, The New Cubans, will be exhibited internationally. The Ones Who Stay is his documentary directing debut.