A word of welcome
CINEMANIA’s 26th edition has been prepared with a great deal of enthusiasm and energy, all the more so, in this difficult year. The crisis we are going through has shown to what extent we all need art and culture to escape, dream and remain hopeful. New films have come along and with them have emerged creators with an innovative gaze on the world. Their works must continue to move freely among countries, and to be promoted to allow the public to have access to them.
This is why CINEMANIA has reinvented itself and decided to set up an online screening platform for the duration of the Festival enabling audiences not only in Montreal but also in the rest of Quebec and Canada to watch films from our selection in the comfort of their home. From the 4th to the 22nd of November, this online version will be made up of a 90 international films, the majority of which are North American premieres.
Additionally, the Festival opens a new chapter in its history by offering 34 short films, an original selection with an emphasis on creativity and diversity. For the very first time, the Festival is launching a short-film competition with a specialized jury. The Nespresso-AQCC Jury Prize has been created for this purpose. Further, our association with REGARD – The Saguenay International Short Film Festival, whose 24th edition was abruptly interrupted by the quarantine, is indicative of the strong ties we maintain with our colleagues. An anthology of key films shown since 2014 at REGARD will be made available free of charge to CINEMANIA viewers.
This 26th edition also highlights the vital forces of Québécois cinema, from Kim Obomsawin’s moving CALL ME HUMAN to Neegan Trudel’s first feature film VACARME, as well as Philippe Lacôte’s co-production NIGHT OF THE KINGS and, of course, Valérie Lemercier’s ALINE, inspired by the life of Céline Dion. It is also a great pleasure to celebrate the career of the director Louis Bélanger, our guest of honour and the subject of a documentary portrait, produced and directed by CINEMANIA.
As the “Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie” (OIF) celebrates its 50th anniversary, our film selection takes another step toward a greater Francophonie, vibrant and creative, with new feature films from the Ivory-Coast, Morocco, France, Luxembourg, Rwanda and Belgium. The actress Juliette Gosselin whom we saw on screen in FABULOUS, 1991, and TADOUSSAC will preside over the Youth Jury. Ten feature films that speak to political and social concerns of the world today are eligible for the TV5 Francophone Youth Prize for the Best Feature Film.
CINEMANIA’s vitality is due to the efforts and devotion of its team to whom I owe a great thanks. Supported by our institutional and private partners, we continue to push forward with passion. Dear viewers, may the films of this 26th edition move you, and today more than ever, transport you and bring you closer together.
Have a great Festival!
GUILHEM CAILLARD
Directeur général
