51st Festival du Nouveau Cinéma: The complete program

OCTOBER 5-16, 2022

RADIANT PROGRAMMING

WHICH CELEBRATES CINEMA IN ALL ITS FORMS

The Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal (FNC) has unveiled the programming for its 51st edition: from October 5 to 16, the FNC invites festival-goers to celebrate the festival in theatres. For its 2022 edition, the oldest film festival in Canada offers a selection in its image: independent, irreverent, brilliant and unifying. For 11 days, film lovers will be able to discover the works of confirmed talents, who have marked or continue to mark the history of the seventh art, but also young filmmakers from here and elsewhere whose achievements have distinguished themselves in recent months in international festivals. This year, it’s no less than 291 films from 49 countries that festival-goers will be able to discover at the Imperial Cinema, Cineplex Odéon Quartier Latin, Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma du Musée, Cinémathèque québécoise, Cinéma Moderne, and the PHI Centre.

“The entire team of the largest general film festival in Quebec has set out to prepare a rich and varied edition that celebrates the pleasure of the collective experience in theatres. We invite the public, artists and professionals – local and international – to exchange and party in Montreal cinemas and at our headquarters, back after too long a break. We look forward to seeing you at the 51st FNC, to find the best of current cinema!” – says Nicolas Girard-Deltruc, Director General of the Festival du nouveau cinéma.

“Deeply committed to the vitality of Quebec culture and the influence of the 7th art, Quebecor has been pleased to partner with the FNC for 14 years now. For this edition, we are pleased to contribute to the program by presenting in premiere, the version restored by our team of Éléphant: mémoire du cinéma québécois of the film LE SEXE DES ÉTOILES by Paule Baillargeon (1993). A Quebec feature film written and directed by women of great talent and adapted from the novel of the same name by Monique Proulx, published in 1987. A great way to make a significant film of our culture known to as many people as possible,” said President and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau, adding that Quebecor is proud to support hundreds of organizations annually throughout Quebec through its social engagement initiative La culture du possible. ” – said Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quebecor, official presenter of the Festival.

Opening and closing film

FALCON LAKECharlotte Le Bon’s first feature film, will kick off this 51st edition on October 5 at the Imperial Cinema before opening in theatres on October 14. Presented as a world premiere at the 54th Directors’ Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival, this free adaptation of the graphic novel A Sister by Bastien Vivès stars Sara Montpetit, Karine Gonthier-Hyndman, Monia Chokri, and young French comedian Joseph Engel.

Bastien and Chloé spend their family holidays by a lake inhabited by a ghost legend. Despite the three years that separate them, a singular connection is established between them. Ready to overcome his worst fears to exist in Chloe’s eyes, summer becomes a troubled pivotal moment for the young boy.

To close the festival, Léa Mysius, who received the Louve D’or in 2017 for Ava, returns to the FNC with THE FIVE DEVILS, also presented at the Directors’ Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival last May. Led by Adèle Exarchopoulos and the young Sally Dramé, the film portrays Vicky, a little girl who has an exceptional gift and who possesses an unconditional love for her mother.

Vicky, a strange and lonely little girl, has a gift: she can smell and reproduce all the smells of her choice that she collects in jars labelled with care. She has secretly extracted the smell of her mother, Joanne, to whom she has a crazy and exclusive love, almost sickly. One day Julia, her father’s sister, bursts into their lives. Vicky embarks on the elaboration of its smell. She is then transported into dark and magical memories where she will discover the secrets of her village, her family and her own existence.

A Wolf of Honor for Walter Hill

After Jane Campion last year, it is the turn of the legendary Walter Hill (48Hrs.The WarriorsThe Long Riders) to visit Montreal as part of the FNC. With pride, the festival will present him with his Louve d’honneur during the screening of his new film DEAD FOR A DOLLAR, presented at the Venice Film Festival this year. On this occasion, the FNC will present three more of his films: EXTREME PREJUDICETHE WARRIORS and THE DRIVER during the event La grande nuit des chauffeurs de feu during which the director will be present to talk to the public.

International Competition: Louve d’or presented by Quebecor

The festival’s flagship category, the International Competition highlights emerging filmmakers bringing new life to the global film landscape. Ten bold, inventive and challenging first and second feature films are in competition for the Louve D’or: A PIECE OF SKYMichael Koch (Switzerland); AFTERSUNCharlotte Wells (United Kingdom); CETTE MAISONMiryam Charles (Quebec/Canada); DALVAEmmanuelle Nicot (Belgium, France); HOW TO SAVE A DEAD FRIENDMarusya Syroechkovskaya (Sweden, Norway, France, Germany); MUTZENBACHERRuth Beckermann (Austria); LES PIRESLise Akoka, Romane Gueret (France); STONE TURTLEMing Jin Woo (Malaysia, Indonesia); and WILL-O’-THE-WISPJõao Pedro Rodrigues (Portugal).

National competition

The FNC has always been committed to the creation made here. Essentially, the National Competition brings together the authors of the new Quebec and Canadian cinema. A cinema that resembles us, giving pride of place to diversity and breaks in tone. With 9 works selected, the Competition travels with filmmakers from Alberta to Manitoba via Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The public will be able to discover: BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND by Trevor Anderson (Alberta) who will also give a master class on October 8 at cinéma Moderne as part of the festival; THE COYOTE by Katherine Jerkovic (Quebec); DESVÍO DE NOCHE (NIGHT DETOUR) by Ariane Falardeau St-Amour and Paul Chotel (Quebec); DIASPORA by Deco Dawson, Manitoba; THE MAIDEN by Graham Foy (Ontario); PROMENADES NOCTURNES by Ryan McKenna (Quebec); QUEENS OF THE QING DYNASTY by Ashley McKenzie, Nova Scotia; SO MUCH TENDERNESS by Lina Rodriguez (Ontario) and SOFT by Joseph Amenta (Ontario).

The essentials

As every year, the Montreal public has been able to discover at the Festival the films of the great names of world cinema. The strong line-up includes: WHITE NOISE by Noah Baumbach (US, UK),” opening film at this year’s Venice Film Festival; WOMEN TALKING by Sarah Polley (USA) with Claire Foy, Rooney Mara and Jessie Buckley; TORI ET LOKITA by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Belgium, France), Prix du 75e anniversaire du festival de Cannes; THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN by Martin McDonagh (Ireland, USA, UK) Best Actor Award was awarded to Colin Farell in Venice; COMABertrand Bonello (France); DECISION TO LEAVEPark Chan-Wook (Korea), Best Director Award at Cannes; CONTINENTAL DRIFTLionel Baier (France, Switzerland); EOJerzy Skolimowski (Poland, Italy), Jury Prize at the last Cannes Film Festival; NO BEARSJafar Panahi (Iran); THE NOVELIST’S FILMHong Sang-so (South Korea), Silver Bear at the Berlinale; PACIFICTIONAlbert Serra (France, Spain, Germany, Portugal) as well as Ulrich Seidl’s last two filmsRIMINI and SPARTA, and Kiril Serebrennikov’s last two films, TCHAIKOVSKY’S WIFE and PETROV’S FEVER.

Temps Ø

Temps Ø shakes up genres and categories. This year will be no exception with: FUMER FAIT TOUSSER, a choral film by Quentin Dupieux (France) or LES NUITS DE MASHHAD (HOLY SPIDER) by Ali Abbasi (Denmark, Germany, Sweden, France) winner of the Best Actress Award for Zahra Amir Ebrahimi at the last Cannes Film Festival; 2012/DANS LE COEUR, a documentary by Rodrigue Jean on the 2012 student protests in Quebec; NOVEMBRECédric Jimenez (France); EVERYTHING WILL BE OKRithy Panh (France, Cambodia); EN MÊME TEMPS, by Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern (France); GRAND PARISMartin Jauvat (France); INEXORABLEFabrice Du Welz (France, Belgium); JERK, staged for the cinema of the show by choreographer Gisèle Vienne (France); LOVE IS A DOG FROM HELL by Khavn (Philippines, Germany) as well as two presentations as part of Midnight at the Park: the animated film UNICORN WARS by Alberto Vasquez (Spain, France) and MADE IN UGANA: THE VERY SPECIAL SEANCE set of short films by Kenichi Ugana (Japan).

The New Alchemists

Exploring the multiple modes of expression offered by the 7th art, the feature films in this section come from the work of artists from different disciplines (cinema, theatre, photography or visual arts among others), from fiction to documentary, through hybrid forms. Within the program, we find: PHI 1.618, the first live-action feature film by Theodore Ushev (Quebec/Canada) to whom filmmaker Borislav Kolev dedicates his documentary THEODORE USHEV: THE INVISIBLE LINKS (Canada, Bulgaria); DE HUMANIS CORPORIS FABRICA by Verena  Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor (France, Switzerland) presented at the Directors’ Fortnight and the Toronto Film Festival; A WOMAN ESCAPES, Sofia Bohdanowicz, Blake Williams and Burak Çevik (Canada, Turkey); ANYOX, Ryan Ermacora, Jessica Johnson, British Columbia; HUMAN FLOWERS OF FLESHHelena Wittman (France, Germany); LE MEURTRE DE L’EUNUQUE KHANAbed Abest (Iran); SUPER NATURALJorge Jácome (Portugal); and WAnna Eriksson (Finland).

Panorama international

The section highlights engaged voices and trajectories of intimacy and sensitivity. Spectators will be invited to experience profound human encounters thanks to the 16 selected international feature films including ALCARRÀS by Carla Simón (Spain, Italy), Golden Bear at the Berlinale in 2022; RULE 34 by Julia Murat (Brazil, France), Golden Leopard of the Locarno Festival; KITE ZO A (LAISSE LES OS), Kaveh Nabatian’s latest film in Haiti. Ukraine will also be in the spotlight within the section with three films: BUTTERFLY VISION by Maksym Nakonechnyi; KLONDIKE by Maryna Er Gorbach and PAMFIR by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuck. Also in the ALMA VIVA program, Cristèle Alves Meira (France, Portugal, Belgium); BROADWAY, Christos Massalas (Greece, France, Romania);  DOS ESTACIONES, Juan Pablo González (Mexico, France); LA EDAD MEDIA,  Alejo Moguillansky, Luciana Acuña (Argentina); JACKY CAILLOU, Lucas Delangle (France); LEILA AND HER BROTHERS, Saeed Roustaee (Iran); LA MONTAGNE, Thomas Salvador (France); PLAN 75, Chie Hayakawa (Japan, Philippines, France, Qatar);  SHALL I COMPARE YOU TO A SUMMER’S DAY?, Mohammad Shawky Hassan (Egypt, Lebanon, Germany) and SMALL, SLOW BUT STEADYShô Miyake (Japan, France).

Event and retrospective projections

True to its reputation as a festive and unifying event, the FNC invites festival-goers to celebrate during event screenings.

The grande nuit des chauffeurs de feu

On October 8, the FNC invites engine and adrenaline enthusiasts to (re)discover great classics of the genre at the Imperial Cinema during a sleepless night, with food included, where moviegoers can see THE DRIVER by Walter Hill (United States), DRIVE by Nicolas Winding Refn (United States) and BABY DRIVER by Edgar Wright (United States, United Kingdom).

Three series presented for the first time

This year, the FNC offers a showcase of choice in new formats. Festival-goers will be able to discover three television series for the first time: the first two episodes of MOTEL PARADIS by Sophie Deraspe (Québec/Canada) starring Nahéma Ricci and Stéphane Gagnon as well as the first three episodes of SOMEWHERE BOY by Pete Jackson (United Kingdom) and CHAIR TENDRE by Jérémy Mainguy and Yaël Langmann (France), both presented in collaboration with the Séries Mania festival.

Bruce LaBruce Retrospective

Canadian director Bruce LaBruce will be the subject of a major retrospective at the Cinémathèque québécoise. Entitled Bruce LaBruce, tender and transgressive, this section celebrates the bold and exuberant work of the Toronto filmmaker. The program includes more than 20 films, including his most recent feature film, THE AFFAIRS OF LIDIA (Canada), which will be presented at this 51st edition. A discussion between Éric Falardeau and Bruce LaBruce on eroticism and pornography from an author’s perspective will also take place on October 12 at the Cinémathèque québécoise. It will be moderated by Julie Lavigne, a full professor in the Department of Sexology at UQÀM.

Projection of THE SNOW LEOPARD

The FNC is committed to greater inclusion and accessibility, and offers several initiatives for audiences traditionally far from culture and our venues. Thus, on October 15 at the Cinéma Moderne, the FNC will offer a relaxed screening of LA PANTHÈRE DES NEIGES (France), a documentary quest by Marie Amiguet and Vincent Meunier. In a reassuring and adapted environment, this session is open to all, and especially to neuroatypical people.

The issue of abortion at the heart of WE ARE JANE by Phyllis Nagy

In the United States of the 60s, Joy (Elizabeth Banks) learns that her life is endangered by her pregnancy. The anti-abortion law was then strict and the medical committee, exclusively male, refused to intervene. At the end of her options, she communicates with “Jane”, Virginia’s clandestine organization (Sigourney Weaver). With WE ARE JANE (USA), Carol’s screenwriter Phyllis Nagy traces the battles fought by women for the fundamental right to control their bodies. At a time when abortion is in danger in more than twenty American states, this female solidarity is timely. A discussion around film and abortion led by researchers will take place following the screening.

EVER DEADLY by Tanya Tagaq and Chelsea McMullan

The FNC will present EVER DEADLY (Nunavut/Canada) which looks back at the life of Inuit musician, author and activist Tanya Tagaq. This feverish foray into the artist’s universe traces her inventive and avant-garde approach to throat singing, where she transforms both her body and her voice and plunges the audience into a form of trance. Thrilling concert sequences are coupled with intimate moments filmed in Nunavut, revealing a committed woman and protector of her family and a creator whose relationship to music is as powerful as her connection to the Nuna – the land.

Movie Night for Peace

Produced by Forest Whitaker (founder of the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative), FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE by Christophe Castagne and Thomas Sametin (USA, France) follows peace initiatives in a South Sudan devastated by an internal war. The film will be presented by its directors and followed by a discussion on the mediation tools necessary for peace to be put in place in our societies. Evening presented by the Network for Peace and Social Harmony.

History(s) of cinema

Between self-reflective works, classics and restored works, the section presents feature films on cinema or that have marked the history of the seventh art. Spectators will be able to discover LA MAMAN ET LA PUTAIN by Jean Eustache (France) in a restored version but also ESCAPE TO THE SILVER GLOBE (Poland), a documentary by Kuba Mikurda on the disaster set of ON THE SILVER GLOBE by Andrzej Zulawski (Poland) also presented at the festival; ET J’AIME À LA FUREUR, a new feature film by André Bonzel (France), director of the cult C’EST ARRIVÉ PRÈS DE CHEZ VOUS (Belgium), also presented at the FNC and which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year in the presence of one of its directors; ITALIA, LE FEU LA CENDRE (France, Italy), a journey into early Italian cinema narrated by Fanny Ardant; two productions by Hideo Gosha SAMURAI WOLF (Japan) and VIOLENT STREETS (Japan); as well as THE SEX OF THE STARS by Paule Baillargeon (Québec), a pioneering film on the representation of transidentity, presented in collaboration with Éléphant, mémoire du cinéma québécois and followed by a discussion on transidentity in Quebec cinema. 

Short films

Canadian talent has stood out over the past year on the international festival circuit. The festival highlights their success. Among them, let us note Salomé Villeneuve who will present III, just after her being at the Venice Film Festival; also: À LA VIE À L’AMOR by Emilie Mannering and MUNICIPAL RELAXATION MODULE by Matthew Rankin, both presented at TIFF; AU CRÉPUSCULE by Miryam Charles, presented at the Locarno Festival. As for international filmmakers, the public will be able to see  SUR LE TRÔNE DE XERXÈS by Evi Kalogiropoulou, Best Short Film Award of La Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival last May; WE MUST WATCH THE FIRE OR BURN IN IT directed by Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel to whom the FNC had dedicated a retrospective in 2019. Finally, it should be noted that as part of its Cartes Blanches, two short films produced by the FNC and directed by local filmmakers will be presented alternately before the screening of several films of the festival: IMMUNE by Mike Hoolboom and SILENT NIGHT VISITS by Ariane Louis-Seize. The project is made possible thanks to the support of Telefilm Canada and Post-Moderne.

Les P’tits Loups

Les P’tits Loups is back! This year, in addition to its three short film programs, the section dedicated to young film lovers and their parents will present the feature film DOUNIA ET LA PRINCESSE D’ALEP by Marya Zarif and André Kadi in collaboration with the FIFEM. Finally, on October 10, La grande kermesse des p’tits loups will take place at the Maison Théâtre. On the program: activities to have fun, good things to eat, nice books to read, and short films to marvel at. A full day of movies and activities for families.

2nd edition of Nouveau Marché: 6-9 October

For its 2nd edition, to be held in Montreal from October 6 to 9 in parallel with the public activities of the FNC, the Nouveau Marché will welcome to Montreal the teams of 15 projects in development from Brazil, France, Ukraine, Senegal and the United States, among others. This cohort includes seven first films, four of which are directed by women. About 100 Canadian, American and European professionals are expected to attend meetings with the project leaders and networking sessions to develop new creative partnerships. The Nouveau Marché is organized in collaboration with CineMart, the co-production market of the Rotterdam International Film Festival, which will invite one of the selected projects for its 2023 edition. The complete list of projects can be found ici.

Awards and juries

At the end of the 51st edition of the FNC, several prizes will be awarded to the works presented in the different sections of the festival.

Ticketing and general information

Tickets are now on sale on the Festival website at www.nouveaucinema.ca. From October 6 to 15, from noon to 6 p.m., spectators will be able to go to the general box office located in the Agora of the Coeur des Sciences of UQÀM. Individual tickets will also be on sale from October 5 to 16 in the different Festival theatres: Cinéma Impérial, Cineplex Odéon Quartier Latin, Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma du Musée, Cinémathèque Québécoise, Cinéma Moderne (tickets for indoor screenings only). The box office will open one hour before the first screening in each theatre.

Passports will be on sale at the following rates: 6-ticket passport for $70, unlimited (regular rate) for $200, unlimited (students and seniors) for $175. CAL card: free for accompanying persons of card holders.

Single tickets are on sale at the following rates: $14 (regular), $12 (students and seniors).

Tickets for The Great Night of the Fire Drivers are $20.

Details and conditions available on the website of nouveaucinema.ca/en/ticketing

The Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal is presented by Québecor.