50th edition of the
Festival du nouveau cinéma

In theatres from October 6 to 17, the festival offers a most ambitious programming this year

October 5, 2021

The 50th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) kicks off on Wednesday with the premiere of BOOTLEGGER, the first feature film by multidisciplinary artist Caroline Monnet, at 7 p.m. at the Imperial Cinema. The screening will be preceded by the presentation of CINQUANTE TEMPS, a short film directed by filmmaker Luc Bourdon, former General Director at the FNC, who has revisited 50 years of the Festival’s archives for the occasion.

With one of its most bold programming, the FNC is offering no less than 280 titles this year, from 57 countries, and 161 world, international, North-American and Canadian premieres. It will also have a new co-production market and events for all audiences.

The festival will take place in Montreal at the Imperial Cinema, Cinema du Musée, Cinéma du Parc and Cinémathèque Québécoise from October 6 to 17, and it will be accessible online to the pan-Canadian public from October 6 to 31.

With one of its most bold programming, the FNC is offering no less than 280 titles this year.

“For 50 years, keen to always be at the forefront and in tune with society, the Festival has been influenced by developments in the film industry in each of its editions. Today, we are not only very happy to be able to reunite with our moviegoers in theatres in Montreal and celebrate this half-century of cinema with them, but also to be able to offer everyone online access to respond to new distribution models. We are also very proud to present new initiatives such as our Nouveau International Co-Production Market and our outdoor events. Happy 50th anniversary to you all!”, emphasizes Nicolas Girard-Deltruc, General Director of the Festival du nouveau cinéma.

A Louve d’honneur for Jane Campion

In addition to the presentation of BOOTLEGGER on opening night, other special events can be found throughout this remarkable edition. New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion will be attending the FNC to present her latest feature THE POWER OF THE DOG. As the first woman to receive the Palme d’Or in 1993 with The Piano, she will give an exclusive master class on Thursday, October 7. The FNC will take advantage of her visit to present Campion with a Louve d’honneur recognizing her marvelous career as a whole.

On Friday, October 8, the audience will be able to discover LA VIE RÊVÉE (1972) by Mireille Dansereau, restored by Éléphant and presented by Quebecor, a partner of the FNC for 15 years now.

“In keeping with our longstanding commitment to culture, Quebecor has been proud to partner with the FNC for 15 years and to help showcase the best in cinema from Québec and abroad”, says Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor. “We are very pleased to present the premiere of the restored version of Mireille Dansereau’s La vie rêvée (1972), courtesy of our team at Éléphant: The Memory of Québec Cinema”.

‘The festival will take place in theatres from October 6 to 17, and will be available online to a Canadian audience from October 6 to 31.’

“La vie rêvée was the first privately produced Québec film directed by a woman and we are delighted that it is on the program of a major festival such as the FNC, for our goal is to bring the films in our cinematic heritage to the widest possible audience”.

A walkthough of interactive experiences

Additionally, the FNC can be found on the streets of Montreal with two free outdoor courses. In the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, the interactive circuit OUR COMMON HOME, NOTRE HABITAT COMMUN by Daniel Iregui invites spectators to reflect on global warming and its consequences. The creator Daniel Iregui will talk about his work during a master class on Thursday, October 14 at the Grande Bibliothèque.

Another activity to discover during the first days of the festival: FAUNE, which is an augmented reality treasure hunt in public space. The route is activated thanks to a system of QR codes implanted in the series of posters signed by artists Adrien M and Claire B in collaboration with Brest Brest Brest. The posters can be seen in the Griffintown Cultural Corridor and the route is active thanks to a custom-developed application.

DUNE as the final screening of the 50th festival

The Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) is very pleased to announce that it will present Denis Villeneuve‘s DUNE at its final screening on Sunday, October 17, at the Imperial Cinema at 8 pm.

DUNE, which depicts a mythical and emotionally charged hero’s quest, tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man with a destiny larger than himself. He must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to secure the future of his family and his people. This planet is the exclusive source of the most precious resource of all, for which sinister forces are unleashing a conflict from which only those who can control their fears will survive.

Adapted from Frank Herbert’s novel, DUNE is one of the most anticipated films of the year and stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and Zendaya, among others, along with Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem. Denis Villeneuve directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth, based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert.

A longtime regular at the FNC, Oscar-nominated Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve opened the Festival du nouveau cinéma in 2017 with the presentation of Blade Runner 2049. Tickets for the event screening are on sale on the Festival website. DUNE will open in Quebec theatres on October 22, 2021.

The 50th Edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma

October 6 to 17 and online until October 31. Tickets are on sale now on the festival website. In addition, following recent government announcements, the festival is adapting to the new measures and announces that masks will be required at all times in screening rooms as of October 8.

For more information on the programme of the 50th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma : nouveaucinema.ca • Ticket Office

Images : courtesy of the Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal

Other articles on Cinema