FROM NOVEMBER 7 TO 17, 2019
The CINEMANIA Film Festival is very pleased to present 51 feature films this year, including many North American, Canadian and Quebec premieres, selected from among the best French-language films, all with English subtitles. 17 countries will be represented during the various sessions that make up the rich programming. 23 guests, directors, actors and producers, will come to meet the festival-goers of this 25th edition which will be held from November 7 to 17, 2019. In addition to the Imperial Cinema, emblematic building which remains the headquarters of the Festival, CINEMANIA will also set up in the following locations: the Outremont Theater, the Cinéma du Parc, the Cinéma du Musée, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Sofitel Hotel and the Phi.The CINEMANIA Film Festival is very pleased to present 51 feature films this year, including many North American, Canadian and Quebec premieres, selected from among the best French-language films, all with English subtitles. 17 countries will be represented during the various sessions that make up the rich programming. 23 guests, directors, actors and producers, will come to meet the festival-goers of this 25th edition which will be held from November 7 to 17, 2019. In addition to the Imperial Cinema, emblematic building which remains the headquarters of the Festival, CINEMANIA will also set up in the following locations: the Outremont Theater, the Cinéma du Parc, the Cinéma du Musée, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Sofitel Hotel and the Phi.
Opening, closing and pre-opening evening:
The highly anticipated PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE/PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU, by director Céline Sciamma, will open Cinemania on Thursday, November 7th at the Cinéma Impérial. Winner of the Screenwriting Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, the film stars Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant and dives into the heart of a love affair between a painter, Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and her model, Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), whom she is painting a wedding portrait for.
The feature film DONNE-MOI DES AILES featuring Jean-Paul Rouve (Le sens de la fête) and Mélanie Doutey (Le Grand Bain), will close out this 25th edition on November 17 at the Imperial Cinema in the presence of its director, filmmaker, writer and explorer of the great north, Nicolas Vanier. The film is inspired by the true story of Christian Moullec, also co-screenwriter, who crossed Europe in an ULM with wild geese. DONNE-MOI DES AILES puts environmental urgency at the heart of his story to portray a touching father-son relationship.
In addition, the festival will once again hold a pre-opening screening at Théâtre Outremont on Tuesday, November 5th, with the presentation of ANTIGONE by Sophie Deraspe in the presence of its director and actress, Nahéma Ricci. Antigone is in consideration for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar category. Previously, the film won the Best Canadian Film Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
25th edition Guests:
This year, CINEMANIA will offer festival-goers, many special screenings in the presence of guests including: LES MISÉRABLES, France’s entry in the race for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, which will be attended by Almamy Kanouté, Steve Tientcheu and Alexis Manenti, who also stars in ENKAS, the first feature film by Sarah Marx; Zabou Breitman who will present LES HIRONDELLES DE KABOUL, an animated film that has been previously screened at Cannes and Annecy; the actor Djanis Bouzyani who will be present for TU MERITES UN AMOUR, the debut film of actress Hafsia Herzi seen in La graine et le mulet and L’apollonide; director Antonin Baudry will attend the screening of his film LE CHANT DU LOUP; Dominique Besnehard will also return to CINEMANIA for LES ÉBLOUIS, accompanied by actor Éric Caravaca. PAPICHA, a fresco of the teen years in the 90s in Algeria, which was presented at Cannes and is being forwarded by Algeria for Oscar nomination consideration, in the presence of its director Mounia Meddour; Franco-Montreal actor Laurent Lucas will present the legal drama UNE INTIME CONVICTION by Antoine Raimbault; Serge Toubiana, critic and president of the Unifrance organization, will be there for Alain Cavalier’s film ETRE VIVANT ET LE SAVOIRE, which tells the story of his wife, the novelist and screenwriter Emmanuèle Bernheim. Festival-goers will also be able to count on the presence of Paris-based actor Niels Schneider, who will be present at SYMPATHIE POUR LE DIABLE by Montreal’s Guillaume de Fontenay, in Gala Presentation, which he plays Paul Marchand, a foreign journalist who finds himself taken during the Bosnian war during the siege of Sarajevo. The actor will also be onscreen in three other Cinemania films: SIBYL Justine Triet, in which he shares the screen with Virginie Efira and Adele Exarchopoulos; RETURN by Jessica Palud, presented in Venice, also with Adèle Exarchopoulos and finally CURIOSA alongside Noémie Merlant (Portrait of the girl on fire); director Antonin Baudry will accompany the film LE CHANT DU LOUP; Dominique Besnehard will also return to CINEMANIA for LES ÉBLOUIS, accompanied by actor Éric Caravaca. PAPICHA, a fresco of the Algerian adolescence of the 90s presented in Cannes and representative of Algeria at the Oscars, in the presence of its director Mounia Meddour; Franco-Montreal actor Laurent Lucas will present the legal drama AN INTIME CONVICTION by Antoine Raimbault; Serge Toubiana, critic and president of the Unifrance organization, will accompany Alain Cavalier’s film S’TRE VIVANT ET LEVOIRE, which tells the story of his wife, the novelist and screenwriter Emmanuèle Bernheim. Festival-goers will also be able to count on the presence of Paris-based actor Niels Schneider, who will be present at SYMPATHIE POUR LE DIABLE by Montreal’s Guillaume de Fontenay, in Gala Presentation, in which he plays Paul Marchand, a foreign journalist who finds himself taken during the Bosnian war during the siege of Sarajevo. The actor will also screen three other films at this edition: SIBYL Justine Triet, in which he shares the poster with Virginie Efira and Adele Exarchopoulos; RETURN of Jessica Palud, presented in Venice, also with Adèle Exarchopoulos and CURIOSA alongside Noémie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire).
Focus on Marie Gillain:
Belgian actress Marie Gillain will be present at the festival as part of a dedicated focus. She will see 4 of her films presented at the Cinémathèque québécoise: LES AFFINITÉS ÉLECTIVES by Vittorio and Paolo Taviani where she plays an Italian countess who finds her young love; ALL OUR ENVIES by Philippe Lioret in which she portrays a disillusioned young judge in debt court; MARIE by Marian Handwerker, a fresco of adolescence in the mid-1990s and, NI POUR, NI CONTRE (BIEN AU CONTRAIRE) by Cédric Klapisch in which she plays a cameraman who helps a gang of thugs to do a robbery.
Spotlight Presentations:
Each year, CINEMANIA’s mandate is to present the Montreal public with a selection of films that have been noticed at major international festivals. The public will be able to see THE TRUTH by Hirokazu Kore-Eda (Palme d’Or in 2018 for A Family Affair), presented as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival and which brings together, for the first time, Juliette Binoche and Catherine Deneuve; or, again, ALICE AND THE MAYOR by Nicolas Pariser in which Fabrice Luchini is the distraught Mayor of Lyon to which Anaïs Demoustier, a young philosopher, comes to the aid; LA BELLE ÉPOQUE by Nicolas Bedos, presented out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival and the last Toronto International Film Festival, featuring Guillaume Canet, Doria Tillier, Daniel Auteuil and Fanny Ardant in a love story that cuts across ages and eras; the romance by Christophe Honoré CHAMBRE 212, a Canadian premiere, with Chiara Mastroianni and Benjamin Biolay; the Franco-Belgian war drama LA MISÉRICORDE DE LA JUNGLE by Joel Karekezi; or the latest film by Arnaud Desplechin, ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE with Léa Seydoux and Sara Forestier, as two addicted lovers charged with the murder of an elderly woman.
CINEMANIA will present, as usual, several North American premieres; CAMILLE, which tells the story of the death of the French journalist Camille Lepage while working in the Central Africa; drama A SWEET SONG directed by Lucie Borleteau and taken from the eponymous novel; Bertrand Blier’s latest film CONVOI EXCEPTIONNEL starring Gérard Depardieu, Guy Marchand and Alexandra Lamy; L’ADIEU À LA NUIT by André Téchiné in which Catherine Deneuve portrays a grandmother facing the radicalization of her grandson. J’IRAI OU TU IRAS, Geraldine Nakache’s drama comedy filled with humor on the deep love between two sisters who disagree on everything, starring Leïla Bekhti and Géraldine Nakache; the Franco-Taiwanese poetic drama L’AUTRE CONTINENT directed by Romain Cogitore; the thriller from Stéphane Demoustier LA FILLE AU BRACELET, presented in Locarno and inspired by real events; LE MEILLEUR RESTE À VENIR, a comedy drama that brings together on the screen Fabrice Luchini and Patrick Bruel; LE MILIEU DE L’HORIZON from director Delphine Lehericey featuring Laetitia Casta; LES PLUS BELLES ANNÉES D’UNE VIE (Montreal premiere) by Claude Lelouch (Oscar winner for Un Homme et une femme in 1966), a moving journey involving the memories of a couple played by Jean-Louis Trintignant and Anouk Aimée; LOLA VERS LA MER, a road-movie in which a father and his transgender daughter together after years of silence; Anthony Marciano’s bittersweet romantic comedy PLAY; and also, REBELLES, the French version of Thelma and Louise with Cécile de France, Yolande Moreau and Audrey Lamy.
The Festival will also screen 13 first feature films including: ATLANTIQUE by Mati Diop, Grand Prix at the last Cannes Film Festival; EXFILTRÉS by Emmanuel Hamon, a powerful account of the Islamic State’s mobilization with Swann Arlaud; LA SOURCE by Rodolphe Lauga, an autobiographical account of family ties; LA DERNIÈRE VIE DE SIMON with its director, Leo Karmann, in attendance, who portrays with audacity and originality the magic of childhood or, again, VIF ARGENT, the first lyrical and fantastic film by Stéphane Batut.
Events:
Screening of the documentary by Patrick Fabre followed by a round table ” Cinéma francophone au féminin : quel état des lieux?»- Friday, November 8 at 5 pm and 6 pm at the Cinémathèque Québécoise
The presentation of Patrick Fabre’s documentary, which paints a portrait of the place of female filmmakers in the French film industry, will be the perfect opportunity to debate the issue at the Francophonie level. Following the birth of the 50/50 x 2020 movement, what recent developments and progress have been observed in Quebec, in France, and more widely? The discussion will be moderated by journalist Helen Faradji. As a reminder, CINEMANIA presents this year no less than 15 feature films directed by women.
Discussion about Sympathy for the Devil – Sunday, November 10th at 4pm at the Phi
The premiere of Sympathie pour le diable at CINEMANIA will be an opportunity to evoke the indelible trace left by the war of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the collective memory, and in particular to the country’s cinema with writers such as Emir Kusturica (Life is a Miracle) or Danis Tanovic (No Man’s Land). Montreal director Guillaume de Fontenay will return to what has led him to become fascinated by the atypical figure of war reporter Paul Marchand. A provocative adventurer, he crisscrossed the besieged city of Sarajevo aboard an old car on the roof of which was written: “Do not shoot. Waste your bullets. I’m immortal.” Niels Schneider, the actor who plays Marchand on screen, will share his filming experience and his perception of the man. The discussion will be moderated by Jacques Beauchamp, host of Aujourd’hui l’histoire (Radio-Canada).
Virtual Reality Salon – From November 8 to 17 from 12:30 pm to 6 pm at the Cinéma Impérial
In association with the IHP, and on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, CINEMANIA launches its first component dedicated to the VR. During the festival, the Cinéma Impérial mezzanine will host four interactive short films offering both those who are experienced and beginners immersive, daring and exciting experiences.
Meet Up with festival guests – Saturday, November 9 at 4 pm at Sofitel Montréal Le Carré Doré.
Herby Moreau, a journalist and cultural columnist, will host a public discussion on November 9 with the guests attending the first weekend of the Festival. This discussion, which will revolve around the Oscar race, will bring together Sophie Deraspe, director of ANTIGONE, alongside Almamy Kanouté, Steve Tientcheu and Alexis Manenti from the movie LES MISÉRABLES by Ladj Ly, who represent Canada and France respectively this year in the race for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. As a reminder, CINEMANIA will present this year a third film representing their country in the Oscar race: PAPICHA by Mounia Meddour.
France-Canada Co-Production Market – November 13 to 15
UNTERVAL, in association with the CINEMANIA Film Festival and in partnership with SODEC, the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada and the Quebec Film and Television Bureau, organize a business meeting for companies operating in the fiction (feature film) sectors, documentary and new writings (virtual reality). This is aimed at French producers wishing to obtain financing and develop film projects with Canada, a captive and responsive market where bilateral exchanges with France have existed for a long time.
Symposium “Image Education in Quebec” – November 12 and 13
In collaboration with the Consulate General of France in Quebec, CINEMANIA and Mediafilm are teaming up to offer two days of workshops in image education, on November 12 and 13, designed specifically for secondary school teachers wishing to exploit the educational potential in cinema. Each of the two days will begin with the viewing of a feature film and will be followed by a discussion led by a specialized mediator. Finally, on November 14th, a round table bringing together French and Quebec actors and decision-makers will allow a discussion on the formulation of recommendations on image education in the digital age.
Prizes:
A youth jury chaired by actor and director Guillaume Lambert will be responsible for awarding the Francophone Youth Award. The jury will award its prize to one of the 7 films in competition selected for the strong and original look of emerging filmmakers making films based in the current concerns of the countries, regions and cultures that make up the great mosaic of the Francophonie. The jury is made up of young Francophone professionals. In addition, the public will also vote for the Mel Hoppenheim Public Prize.
Tickets:
Tickets for all screenings, as well as passports are now on sale online at festivalcinemania.com as well as at lavitrine.com. The main box office will be located at the Imperial Cinema and will be the only place to pick up passports and 6 film packages from the 8th to 17th of November. Passports purchased by festival attendees will give access to all the screenings in the various venues of the festival (except special events).
The partner theaters, the Outremont Theater, the Cinéma du Musée, the Cinéma du Parc and the Cinémathèque québécoise, will offer on-site and on-line ticketing services on their respective sites for the screenings they will host only.
About CINEMANIA
CINEMANIA, a Montreal-based French-language film festival founded in 1995, is the only event devoted to French-language cinema of this scale in Canada. Every year for 11 days, more than 50 films from the biggest international festivals (Cannes Film Festival, TIFF, Berlinale, etc.) are presented and screened in the original version with English subtitles. The event brings together more than 29,000 spectators each year.
Website: www.festivalcinemania.com
