Cinemania, now an annual event not to be missed by Montreal fans of French film, will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Created in 1995, in Canada, it is the only event of its scale specifically dedicated to French cinema. Each year, in November, around 50 films, subtitled in English, receive North American, Canadian, and Quebec premieres.
Gemma Bovery by Anne Fontaine (releasing in Quebec on 7/11) will open the festival, in the presence of the film's director. The festival will close with Party Girl (releasing in Quebec on 21/11), in the presence of one of its 3 directors, Samuel Theis, and his mother and star of the film, Angélique Litzenburger
A gala evening will be held for Saint Laurent (releasing in the spring of 2015) by Bertrand Bonello, which will have its Quebec premiere at the festival.
In all, 33 films will have premiere screenings, seven of which featured in the Cannes International Film Festival, among which Two Days, One Night by the Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, and Clouds of Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas. And this is not forgetting the latest films by the great names of French cinema: 3 Hearts by Benoit Jacquot, The New Girlfriend by François Ozon, The Price of Fame by Xavier Beauvois, The Gate by Régis Wargnier, Diplomacy by Volker Schlöndorff, Going Away by Nicole Garcia, Abuse of Weakness by Catherine Breillat, and Bird People by Pascale Ferran.
Actor Laurent Lafitte will be present for the screenings of Elle l'adore by Jeanne Herry and Fool Circle by Vincent Mariette.
A retrospective of nine films, presented at the Quebec Cinémathèque, will focus on actor Lambert Wilson, the festival's guest of honor. He will attend the screenings and give a masterclass.
Newcomers will also have pride of place, with Breathe by Mélanie Laurent, and Hippocrates, in the presence of its director Thomas Lilti.
The Quebec Cinémathèque will also throw a spotlight on rising star Adèle Haenel, with screenings of Devils by Christophe Ruggia, and Jellyfish by Céline Sciamma. The young actress will also present the popular hit of this year's Directors' Fortnight, Love at First Fight, with its director Thomas Cailley.
The Mel Hoppenheim Audience Award will be given to the film that receives the most votes, all sections combined, while the TFO Audience Award (a cash grant) will be given to the director of a debut feature. Seven films are eligible for this prize: SK1 by Frédéric Tellier, La Belle Vie by Jean Denizot, Love at First Fight by Thomas Cailley, Elle l'adore by Jeanne Herry, Nice and Easy by Benjamin Guedj, Party Girl by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, and Samuel Theis, and Fool Circle by Vincent Mariette.
Cinémania's official website.
