Festival du nouveau cinema – Movie fans in Montreal should have no break at this time: besides all the blockbusters that Hollywood sent to the screens in the last three months of the year –many of them Oscar candidates– our city is host to a high number of festivals. Those interested in more daring, experimental stuff had their doses this month with the Festival du nouveau cinema (FNC), now two other film events devoted to specific audiences are coming this November.
The Cinemania fest, a brainchild of Maidy Teitelbaum which now presents its 24th edition is a serious and engaging attempt to bridge our two linguistic solitudes. Cinemania specializes in movies made in francophone countries, but all of them are presented with English subtitles. This festival runs from November 1 to 11, and this year it will show 67 feature films coming from 13 countries. The cinema from Switzerland will be highlighted this year, with focus on the works by Ursula Meier, a representative of the new generation of European filmmakers who this year presided over the jury for the Camera d’Or section, at the Cannes Festival.
The opening film will be “Doubles vies” (“Non-Fiction” is its English title) directed by Olivier Assayas and featuring Juliette Binoche, Guillaume Canet and Vincent Macaigne. I had the opportunity to see this film at the Toronto Festival, and I strongly recommend it: it is a witty black comedy with some dramatic aspects as well, and above all, it touches many contemporary issues, from marriage life to the future of print books. “Edmond” by Alexis Michalik, focused on the creation of the play Cyrano de Bergerac, will be the closing film.
The venues for Cinemania will be the Imperial Theatre, Theatre Outremont, Cinema du Parc, Cinema du Musee, and the Cinemathèque Quebecoise. For detailed information on this event visit festivalcinemania.com
Documentaries are the subject of the other major festival coming next month: the Montreal International Documentary Festival will be held from November 8 to 18. “What Walaa Wants” by Canadian director Christy Garland, which centres on the life aspirations of a young Palestinian woman who wants to join the security forces all of it amid family and social tensions, is the opening film. “John McEnroe: The Realm of Perfection” by Julian Faraut, narrated by Mathieu Amalric and focused on the maverick tennis player, will be the closing film. The titles of these two movies give a good idea of the wide scope of the subjects covered by this festival: from politically-charged issues to sports, to environmental, artistic, and other social problems. There may be subjects for everyone’s interests.
A total of 147 films from 47 countries (including short, medium-length, and feature films) will be shown, separated into two main categories: Official Competition and Panorama. The screenings will be held at the Cinemathèque Quebecoise, Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin, Cinema du Parc, Cinema Moderne, and the Auditorium of the Grande Bibliothèque.
For information about prices, film schedule, and venues, visit www.ridm.ca
Feature image: Maidy Teitelbaum, Founder and President of Cinemania, with the Managing Director and programmers of this festival that presents French movies with English subtitles
