Old Guys in Bed: Jean-Pierre Bergeron Steps Behind the Camera for His Directorial Debut

A Bold First Feature After Years of Anticipation

Widely recognized for his memorable performances in television and film over several decades, Jean-Pierre Bergeron is taking a new direction in his career with Old Guys in Bed, marking his debut as a feature film director. Thirteen years after his celebrated short Alone with Mr. Carter, which featured actor Robert Naylor, Bergeron returns behind the camera to dive into the complexities of romantic and sexual relationships between older gay men in the digital age. Although a commercial release date in Quebec or Canada has yet to be announced, the film will make its world premiere on August 3 at the Fantasia Festival.

A Story Sparked by Creative Frustration

Bergeron recounts the long and often disheartening journey toward realizing this project. “After the success of Alone with Mr. Carter, I thought I’d easily secure a $1 million budget for my next film,” he says. Instead, he spent eight years trying to fund a trilogy, with no results. Tired of being seen solely as a ‘first-time filmmaker’, he made a pivotal choice: to write a script tailored for a low-budget production, with minimal characters and limited settings—while ensuring he remained deeply connected to the story. The result is a film both intimate and emotionally resonant.

Giving Voice to Elder Gay Experiences

Old Guys in Bed aims to spotlight a demographic often underrepresented in cinema. “The film authentically portrays the lives of thousands of older gay men around the world, especially their experiences in online spaces where trust is difficult,” Bergeron explains. Through this lens, the filmmaker strives to create an honest story that brings awareness to a marginalized community and reflects a rarely depicted reality.

Clear Cinematic Influences

Bergeron cites Sunday Bloody Sunday by John Schlesinger as a key inspiration—a groundbreaking film featuring a same-sex kiss outside of any exploitative context. “It was the first time I saw that,” he recalls. “So, I knew I had to include a kiss between two older men in my film.” He goes even further, boldly including a long, unfiltered shot of an older man’s naked body, which he considers a political statement. “It’s my rebuttal to Roger Vadim filming Brigitte Bardot’s back in And God Created Woman. Why shouldn’t we do the same with an older man?”

Coming Out in the Public Eye

For Bergeron, the release of his film also aligned with a personal milestone: publicly coming out as gay. “I was already out in my private life, but I wanted my media coming out to coincide with the film,” he says. While he feared it could restrict future acting opportunities, the impact turned out to be the opposite. “I ended up playing a trans woman in Complexe G and an elder gay character in Faits divers. It actually broadened the range of roles I was offered.”

Continuing to Shine on Screen

Bergeron hasn’t left acting behind. He will soon appear in the film La dernière communion opposite Guy Jodoin and Fayolle Jean, portraying a former monk in search of a lost love. He amusingly points out a twist in casting dynamics: “I’m playing a grumpy straight man, and Guy Jodoin—who’s straight in real life—is playing a gay character.”

A Candid Take on Gerontophilia

Never one to shy away from taboo subjects, Bergeron openly discusses his attraction to older men, which is frequently misunderstood. “People teased me, saying my partners might have heart attacks,” he laughs. But he’s quick to push back against lazy stereotypes: “No, I’m not seeking a father figure. It’s not a disorder—it’s a preference.” He sees this conversation as an essential part of his film’s message, aiming to normalize and validate all forms of attraction within consensual adult relationships.

Note: Old Guys in Bed will premiere on Sunday, August 3 at 7:00 PM at the Cinéma du Musée, as part of the 29th edition of the Fantasia Festival. A commercial release date is yet to be confirmed.