The 43rd edition of the Festival du Nouveau Cinema will begin on October 8 and continue on for twelve days until the 19th. If you have never been to this fall film festival and wonder why you should I will answer that by saying they are all about cutting edge, diversity, features up and coming as well as well known directors, and films covering broad subjects. This year there will be close to 400 films being screened over the almost two weeks and many look very exciting.
We get off to a running start with Philippe Falardeau’s film, The Good Lie. Falardeau will be in attendance at the opening screening. The film is about four Sudanese war orphans called the “Lost Boys” and follows their adaptation to living in the United States. The closing film is by FNC veteran Wim Wenders along with Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and is a documentary called The Salt of the Earth. It tells the tale of the life and work of Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado. He is famous for his photographs of nature and landscapes.
In between there is anticipated films like: Maps to the Stars by David Cronenberg (Canada/U.S./France), Wild by Jean-Marc Vallée (Quebec), Below Dreams by Garrett Bradley (U.S.), and Adieu au Langage by Jean-Luc Godard (France). Talent in the festival also comes in the form of actors/actresses. Some of the higher profile ones include Reese Witherspoon (The Wild and The Good Lie), Eddie Izzard-Dustin Hoffman-Kathy Bates-Josh Lucas-Debra Winger (Boychoir), Julianne Moore-Mia Wasikowska (Maps to the Stars), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Gemma Arterton-Ryan Reynolds (The Voices), and Anthony Perkins-Kathleen Turner (Crimes of Passion).
For ease, the festival is divided up into different categories. We have: International Competition, Special Presentation, Panorama, Focus, Temps θ, Les P’tits Loups, FNC Lab, New Storytelling, Cartes Blanches, Elephant ClassiQ, and Tribute/Retrospective. In the Tribute section this year we have blocks of films dedicated to Czech director Harun Farocki, actor/comedian Robin Williams, producer/director/critic Peter Wintonick, painter/illustrator/animator Frédéric Back, actor/playwright/filmmaker Pierre Patry, director Mohammad Shirvani, director Jean-Claude Lauzon, and actress Lauren Bacall.
On top of the films there are many associated events taking place within the festival. On the opening and closing nights there will be parties at the Agora Hydro-Quebec at UQAM. Italian wine tasting, a choreography-themed party, cocktail party to the poetry of Gérald Godin, Emile Gaudreault Master Class, Wapikoni Mobile, FNC Pro, and Pan-Canadian Student Film Meetings.
Get ready, set up your plan of attack early and have fun!
Additional Information:
-Dates: October 8 – 19, 2014
-Venues: Concordia University Alumni Auditorium, Concordia University J.A. DeSeve Cinema, Cineplex Quartier Latin, Cinema du Parc, UQAM’s Pavillon Judith-Jasmin Annexe, Dome at Place des Festival – Quartier des Spectacles, Agora Hydro-Quebec at UQAM, Hyatt Hotel
-Website : www.nouveaucinema.ca
-Ticket Purchase: (514) 790-1111 or www.ticketpro.ca or www.nouveaucinema.ca or the venue ticket boxes
-Ticket Prices: Individual Tickets – Adult – $13, Students/Seniors – $9, Children Under 12 – $8
Booklet of 6 Tickets – $66
Passe FNC – Adult – $175, Students/Seniors – $150