Montreal: Festival of Nouveau Cinema
An IMAGINE Report

The 33rd: WOW! 

A galaxy of new lights and bright stars

The Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema will hold its 33rd edition from October 14 - 24. On this year’s menu: an impressive array of new voices and a fine group of established cinematic masters. These 208 works from 42 countries boldly reaffirm the Festival’s inclusive spirit: feature-length fiction and documentaries, short cuts, new-media installations and performances, and meetings for industry profes­sionals. Canada’s oldest international film festival, known for its warm hospitality and jubilant atmosphere, is proud to present the year’s very best films. It all starts with CLEAN by Olivier Assayas (France/United Kingdom/Canada) and RYAN by Chris Landreth (Quebec/Canada) and ends with MEMORIES AFFECTIVES by Francis Leclerc (Québec/Canada) - selections that reflect this year’s impressive Canadian and Quebec presence at the Festival.

The leaves are turning! Make the drive, take the train, or if you have the time cruise. It’s worth the trip from New England to Montreal to participate in the best of the festival’s mission of bringing new talent into the spotlight, the international selection, programmed by Claude Chamberlan with Don Lobel and Dimitri Eipides, includes works from an unprecedented variety of countries and a record number of women filmmakers with strong visions. Some twenty of these films are first, second or third works. It’s a rich and bold selection grounded in current realities. See a complete list on the festival web site.

This year marks the fourth for the Festival’s Forum (a platform for exploring the creative process), and the first for the Forum’s Technology Day. Designed for industry professionals and programmed by Daniel Canty and coordinated by Julie René, Technology Day consists of space and time specially reserved for the Festival’s partners to present their latest technological breakthroughs.

A special presentation this year is Robert Greenwald’s American Trilogy. An absorbing and devastating critique of the world hyperpower’s controversial government, this trilogy of documentaries from prolific director and producer Robert Greenwald will be shown: UNPRECEDENTED: THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, Richard Day Perez, Joan Sekler, UNCOVERED: THE WAR ON IRAQ, Robert Greenwald and UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, Nonny de la Pena. See the Bush Administration exposed as never before.

And for the sheer fun of it! CinéOké II: 3-2-1 Action Passion. After the resounding success of Montreal’s inaugural CinéOké at this summer’s edition of Magnifico, it’s back this fall with a special Festival edition. This evening conceived and hosted by actress Elyzabeth Walling, happens Saturday, October 23rd at Ex-Centris’ Fellini Theatre. Don’t hesitate to share your passion for the movies by coming as a spectator or, better yet, by coming to play your favorite scene from your favorite movie. Send your suggestions, as soon as possible, to: cineoke@nouveaucinema.ca.

Montreal’s DigiScreen, which offers a digital HD distribution and screening network, will provide encoding services for the Festival films that will be shown at Cinéma l’Amour, Cinéma Parallèle and Quebec City’s Cinéma Cartier.

The Louve d’Or, Feature Film Award ($5,000), the Radio-Canada People’s Choice Award ($5,000) and the Screenplay Award, which will consist of funding to attend the prestigious éQuinoxe screenwriting workshop, will be the three awards presented this year for fictional feature films.

In the Documentary section, the National Film Board will once again present the National Film Board Documentary Award ($5,000). The Critics’ Prize (AQCC) will go to the best feature-length documentary.

Single tickets cost $10 ($8 for students and seniors). Booklets of five ($40) and ten tickets ($70) and passes ($150) are also available. Forum tickets are priced at $6. Presales will begin Saturday, October 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Ex-Centris (3536 St. Laurent Blvd.).

For more information, visit www.nouveaucinema.ca where you can build your own custom schedule.