SUM OF HISTORIES by Lukas Bossuyt will be presented at the 2015 Montreal World Film Festival in the Best First Fiction Feature Film category. The director Lukas Bossuyt, the producer Ivy Vanhaecke and the main actor, Koen de Graeve, will be in attendance.
Despite a tragic accident that occurred during their youth, the famous scientist Viktor lives a happy life with Lena. Along with his enthusiastic assistant, Titus, he has a groundbreaking discovery at the university : they can send e-mails to the past. Viktor’s desire to change Lena and his own past compels him to send an e-mail. But no matter how small the change, tampering with the past comes with certain risk.
Lukas Bossuyt, a graduate of the London Film School, directed two short films Strawberry Flavour and Elizabeth, both got awards for advertising purposes. In addition, he has two scripted television series : Aspe and De Rodenburgs. Sum of histories is his first feature film.
The actor in the role of Viktor, Koen de Graeve, was honored for his work in 2010 in the category Best Actor at the Star of Flemish TV and the Flemish Film Prize.
Sum of stories also stars Matteo Simoni (Safety First – The Movie), Karina Smulders (Bride Flight), Charlotte Anne Bongaerts (De Behandeling) and Robrecht Vanden Thoren (De Laatste Zomer).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39nlqnphK6EMontreal World Film Festival
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SUM OF HISTORIES by Lukas Bossuyt to Screen at 2015 Montreal World Film Festival | TRAILER
SUM OF HISTORIES by Lukas Bossuyt will be presented at the 2015 Montreal World Film Festival in the Best First Fiction Feature Film category. The director Lukas Bossuyt, the producer Ivy Vanhaecke and the main actor, Koen de Graeve, will be in attendance.
Despite a tragic accident that occurred during their youth, the famous scientist Viktor lives a happy life with Lena. Along with his enthusiastic assistant, Titus, he has a groundbreaking discovery at the university : they can send e-mails to the past. Viktor’s desire to change Lena and his own past compels him to send an e-mail. But no matter how small the change, tampering with the past comes with certain risk.
Lukas Bossuyt, a graduate of the London Film School, directed two short films Strawberry Flavour and Elizabeth, both got awards for advertising purposes. In addition, he has two scripted television series : Aspe and De Rodenburgs. Sum of histories is his first feature film.
The actor in the role of Viktor, Koen de Graeve, was honored for his work in 2010 in the category Best Actor at the Star of Flemish TV and the Flemish Film Prize.
Sum of stories also stars Matteo Simoni (Safety First – The Movie), Karina Smulders (Bride Flight), Charlotte Anne Bongaerts (De Behandeling) and Robrecht Vanden Thoren (De Laatste Zomer).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39nlqnphK6E
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World Premiere of Mika Kaurismäki’s THE GIRL KING Added to 2015 Montreal World Film Festival | TRAILER
The Montreal World Film Festival has added the world premiere of The Girl King, directed by Mika Kaurismäki to its official competition. “I was seduced by Michel-Marc Bouchard’s script,” says producer Arnie Gelbart. “It’s an unusual story of an extraordinary woman. The characters are very contemporary, young, ambitious and full of passion, torn between duty and desire, and it’s all been brought to the screen by a great director.” The international cast features Swedish stars Malin Buska and Michael Nyqvist, Canadians Sarah Gadon and Lucas Bryant, Finnish actress Laura Birn, French actor Hippolyte Girardot, veteran Belgian actor Patrick Bauchau and German actors Peter Lohmayer and Martina Gedeck. The Quebecer François Arnaud is also part of the cast and Guy Dufaux was the director of photography. The English version of the script has been written by awarded Linda Gaboriau.
The Girl King was scripted by Quebec playwright Michel-Marc Bouchard who had great success in 2012 with his play on the life of Queen Christina of Sweden when it was staged in Montreal TNM and later at the Stratford Festival.
It’s the 1600s and Queen Christina is set on making Sweden the most sophisticated country in Europe. Having been raised as a prince under strict Lutheran control, the enigmatic, flamboyant, and unpredictable queen faces powerful resistance in her quest to educate her subjects and end the bloody Thirty Years War between the Protestants and Catholics. Amidst all this, Christina struggles to come to terms with an irresistible passion for her lady in waiting, the stunning Countess Ebba Sparre. Her quest to understand love runs parallel with her quest to understand humanity and the violent and restrictive forces conspiring against her. Torn between the conflict of political and personal aspirations, Christina chooses to make one of the most controversial decisions in history.
Born in Orimattila, Finland in 1955, Mika Kaurismäki studied film in Germany and his first film, his graduation production, THE LIAR (1980), was an overnight sensation; it marked the beginning of the cinema of the Kaurismäki brothers and started a new era in the Finnish cinema. Eventually, Mika established a base and second home in Brazil and concentrated on international co-productions, among them, CONDITION RED (1995), L.A. WITHOUT A MAP (1998), HONEY BABY (2004), BRASILEIRINHO (2005, shown at the MWFF), THREE WISE MEN (2008), BROTHERS (2011) and ROAD NORTH (2012).
The MWFF runs from August 27 to September 7, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ags39i275ro
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BELGIAN RHAPSODY by Vincent Bal will close the 39th Montreal World Film Festival | TRAILER
The North American premiere of the comedy film Belgian Rhapsody directed by Vincent Bal will close the 39th Montreal World Film Festival in Out of Competition. Produced by Peter Bouckaert for Eyeworks (Ben X, The Verdict, Marina presented and awarded at the MWFF) this comedy stars Amaryllis Ouitterlinden, Arthur Dupont, Jos Verbist, Marc Weiss, Koen Van Impe, Philippe Résimont.
Two Belgian brass bands, the Flemish “Sint Cecilia” and the Walloon “En Avant”, have both been selected for the great European final. The Walloons are blown into the final by Hugues, their exceptionally talented and handsome trumpet player. When Sint Cecilia’s soloist drops dead on stage, Elke, daughter of the band’s conductor Joseph, has the solution: let’s buy that Walloon super talent out. BELGIAN RHAPSODY is a musical comedy about Belgium where anything goes when the two dominant communities compete: double-crossing, schmaltzy songs and even love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zoUYll9Ft8
Born in Ghent, Belgium in 1971, Vincent Bal began his career at the age of six appearing in musicals, films and television series. However, he quickly realized that he was far more comfortable behind the camera and enrolled at the LUCA School of Art in Brussels, after which he directed a number of film shorts and TV commercials, notably The Bloody Olive (1996), adapted from a graphic novel by Lewis Trondheim. His best known feature, THE ZIGZAG KID (2012), based on David Grossman’s novel, won the European Film Academy’s Young Audience Award. Together with Colette Bothof, he wrote and directed 26 episodes of the animated series Kika & Bob.
The MWFF will take place from August 27th to September 7th
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A WALK IN THE WOODS + Films by Notable Filmmakers on World Greats Program of 2015 Montreal World Film Festival
Twenty-four feature films from a score of countries are being shown in the World Greats (out of competition) section of the 2015 Montreal World Film Festival (MWFF). Notable among the filmmakers included are Majid Majidi whose Muhammad will be getting its world premiere, Jean-Jacques Annaud, who will be showing the North-American premiere of his latest film, Wolf Totem, Cristina Commencini (Latin Lover), Ventura Pons (The Virus of Fear), Ermanno Olmi (Greenery Will Bloom Again), Vincent Bal (Belgian Rhapsody), Ken Kwapis (A Walk in the Woods, with Robert Redford) and Sergio Castellitto (You Can`t Save Yourself Alone), among others.
MWFF will take place from August 27th to September 7th.
A WALK IN THE WOODS by Ken Kwapis. 2015 / Color / 98 min USA (pictured above)
After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson returns to the US, where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends.
AN ITALIAN NAME (IL NOME DEL FIGLIO) by Francesca Archibugi. 2015 / Color / 94 min, Italy
Paolo and Simona are expecting. At a dinner with guests one question will lead to an argument that will disturb the entire evening: the name of Paolo and Simonaís son.
BEFORE SPRING (ABL AL RABIE) by Ahmed Atef. 2015 / Color / 92 min, Egypt
A young blogger who lost both eyes during the Egyptian Revolution recounts in flashback the events of the Spring that eventually came to his country.
BELGIAN RHAPSODY (LA BRABANÇONNE) by Vincent Bal. 2014 / Color / 100 min, Belgium – Luxembourg
Two Belgian brass bands, the Flemish ‘St. Cecilia’ and Walloon ‘En Avant’, have both been selected for the great European final. It is a competition with no holds barred.
BLOOD BEAD (AKAI TAMA) by Banmei Takahashi. 2015 / Color / 108 min, Japan
Tokita would rather be making movies than teaching about them in film school. But it pays the bills and thereís always Yui, the pretty school secretary. Then Ritsuko enters his life…
CHRIEG by Simon Jacquemet. 2014 / Color / 106 min, Switzerland
Matteo, a rebellious 15-year old is sent to a remote farm for rehabilitation. But the farm is run by the inmates. Matteo must quickly learn to run with the pack.
CORPSE COLLECTOR (SUBIRACH NA TRUPOVE) by Dimitar Dimitrov. 2015 / Color / 116 min, Bulgaria
Itzo, who drives a morgue wagon, is loved by young, innocent Mimmy, but prefers tough, experienced Katya who mistreats him. Itzo’s assistant, Buddy, tells him he’s got things all wrong.
EISENSTEIN IN GUANAJUATO by Peter Greenaway. 2015 / Color / 105 min, Netherlands – Mexico – Finland – Belgium
In 1931, at the height of his artistic powers, Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein travels to Mexico to shoot a new film to be titled Que Viva Mexico!
GITEL by Robert Mullan. 2014 / Color / 115 min, United Kingdom – Lithuania
September, 5 1969, and Gitel Bargman is about to attend a party to celebrate her 33rd birthday. Racked by guilt simply for being alive, for her it is hardly cause for celebration.
GREENERY WILL BLOOM AGAIN (TORNERANNO I PRATI) by Ermanno Olmi. 2014 / Color / 95 min, ItalyDedicated to his father who told him stories of the Great War, Ermanno Olmiís film is a touching slice of life in the First World War trenches on the Italian front.
IT’S REALLY KIND OF YOU by So Jae-ick. 2015 / Color / 92 min, South Korea
It is late night and raining hard when a strange woman clad only in underwear rushes up to a man who is fishing at the lake, asking for help. Help to do what ?
LATIN LOVER by Cristina Comencini. 2014 / Color / 104 min, Italy
On the 10th anniversary of the death of Saverio Crispo, Italy’s most famous actor, his 5 daughters, born from different mothers and in different countries, are brought together and get to know each other.
MUHAMMAD (Opening Film) by Majid Majidi. 2015 / Color / 171 min, Iran
The film does not depict Muhammad himself but his world, the pagan age with all its tyranny and oppression as seen through the eyes of young Muhammad from birth to the age of 13.
MY SISTER, THE PIG LADY (DWAEJI GATEUN YEOJA) by Jan Moon-il. 2015 / Color / 104 min, South Korea
In a small seaside village where all the young men left for the city, three young women scheme to catch the eye of the only bachelor left in town.
NECKAN by Gonzalo Tapia. 2015 / Color / 92 min, Spain
In 1956, a young Spaniard arrives in Morocco, soon to be independent, to find out what happened years ago to his family. If he discovers the truth, will it be worth the effort ?
SILVER SKIES by Rosemary Rodriguez. 2015 / Color / 96 min, USA
A group of eccentric retirees’ lives are turned upside down when their beloved apartment complex is suddenly sold out from under them. But you can never be too old for new beginnings.
SIMON by Éric Martin, Emmanuel Causse. 2015 / Color / 96 min, France
Simon, a seventeen-year-old boy is diagnosed with cancer — Ewing’s sarcoma. But he’s not about to bow out without leaving his mark on the world.
SISKA DELUXE by Ian Cvitkovic. 2015 / Color / 108 min, Slovenia – Czech Republic – Macedonia Longtime friends and losers, Mile, Fedr and Zekir need to rescue their calamitous professional and personal lives. An innovative pizzeria comes to the rescue.
THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR – TOKYO WAR Mamoru Oshii. 2015 / Color / 93 min Japan / Japan In a world where giant robots are built and used for labour, a special police force of robots is created to handle crimes relating to these machines.
THE SECRET OF ITALIA (IL SEGRETO DI ITALIA) by Antonello Belluco. 2014 / Color / 98 min, Italy
Italy, May 1945. The war is over. But for a 15-year-old girl called Italia in a small town in the region of Venice, the tragedy has just begun.
VIRUS OF FEAR (EL VIRUS DE LA POR) by Ventura Pons. 2015 / Color / 76 min, Spain
A small boy is being taught to swim at a Barcelona municipal pool. He he terrified of the water and the swimming instructor tries to calm him with a kiss. He is immediately accused of abuse.
WINTER by Heidi Greensmith. 2015 / Color / 95 min, United Kingdom
Devastated by the death of his beloved wife, Woods, a successful artist can no longer connect with his two sons. Motherless, will they have to take of him as well ?
WOLF TOTEM by Jean-Jacques Annaud. 2015 / Color / 98 min, France – China
The story of young Beijing intellectual’s fascination with the wolves he encounters when he’s sent to teach Mandarin to minority nomadic herders in the majestic, scenic grasslands of Inner Mongolia.
YOU CAN’T SAVE YOURSELF ALONE (NESSUNO SI SALVA DA SOLO) Sergio Castellitto. 2015 / Color / 103 min, Italy
When a separated couple meet to discuss the terms of their children’s holidays, the meal immediately becomes a wide reflection on their past ten years.
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39th Montreal World Film Festival Unveils World Competition and First Feature Competition Lineup
The 39th Montreal World Film Festival taking place from August 27th to September 7th 2015, announced the line-up of its World Competition as well as First Feature Competition. Members of both Juries are also public as of today. “Over the decades, the MWFF has achieved its cultural and an economic mission by offering audiences and professionals a multitude of films, of all genres and provenances,” stated Serge Losique who added “An institution recognized by cineastes the world over, this great cinematic institution has always worked hard to assure its perenniality. It has always been about bringing to Montreal screens the new and interesting films that constitute the best showcase of essential cinema culture.”
This year the number of entries to the MWFF sections has overtaken those of previous years : over 2000 feature and short films (in equal proportion) have been screened by the selection committee not mentioning the other films viewed during festivals abroad. The number of countries within the selection highlights this increase as 86 countries will be represented during the 39th edition of the Festival. There are 36 World Premieres in those competitions
World Competition
26 Feature films will compete for the Grand Prize of the Americas.
2 Nights Till Morning by Mikko Kuparinen (Finland-Lithuania) 84 mins
A Havana Moment by Guillermo Ivàn Duenas (USA – Cuba – Mexico – Colombia)
A Matter of Courage by Roberto Gervitz (Brazil – Uruguay) 90 mins
Chucks by Sabine Hiebler, Gerhard Ertl (Austria) 93 mins
Demimonde by Attila Szàsz (Hungary) 88 mins
Gassoh by Tatsuo Kobayashi (Japan) 87 mins
Getaway of Love by Tonino Zangardi (Italy) 90 mins
Grey and Black by Luís Filipe Rocha (Portugal – Brazil)
Happy 140 by Gracia Querejeta (Spain) 98 mins
John Hron by Jon Pettersson (Sweden) 127 mins
L’Accabadora by Enrico Pau (Italy – Ireland) 97 mins
Mad Love by Philippe Ramos (France) 96 mins
Memories of the Wind by Özcan Alper (Turkey – Germany – France – Georgia) 140 mins
My Enemies by Stéphane Géhami (Canada) 106 mins
On the Road to Berlin by Sergei Popov (Russia) 82 mins
Outliving Emily by Eric Weber (USA) 88 mins
Rider Jack by This Lüscher (Switzerland) 90 mins
Secret by Selim Evci (Turkey) 102 mins
Seven Days by Xing Jian (China) 73 mins
Summer Solstice by Michal Rogalski (Poland – Germany) 95 mins
Taboo by Khosro Masoumi (Iran) 108 mins
The Invisible Artery by Pere Vilà Barcelo (Spain) 119 mins
The Midnight Orchestra by Jérôme Cohen Olivar (Morocco) 114 mins
The Petrov File by Georgi Balabanov (Bulgaria – Germany) 90 mins
The Soul of a Spy by Vladimir Bortko (Russia) 110 mins
The Visitor by Mehmet Erylimaz (Turkey) 127 mins
First Feature Competition
Beijing Carmen by Wang Fan (China) 95 mins
Closer by Mostafa Ahmadi (Iran) 90 mins
Crushed by Megan Riakos (Australia) 111 mins
Das Deckelbad by Kuno Bont (Switzerland) 97 mins
Dear Deer by Takeo Kikuchi (Japan) 107 mins
Fire Birds by Amir Wolf (Israel) 105 mins
Kagurame by Yassuo Okuaki (Japan) 112 mins
Legacy by Nemanja Cipranic (Serbia – Montenegro) 90 mins
Live by Vlad Paunescu (Romania) 107 mins
Lost and found by Show Yanagisawa (Japan) 111 mins
Maresia by Marcos Guttmann (Brazil) 90 mins
Neboke by Norihito Iki (Japan) 115 mins
Our Everyday Life by Ines Tanovic (Bosnia-Hezegovine – Slovenia – Croatia) (pictured above)
Rainbow Without Colours by Tuyen Quang Nguyen (Vietnam) 93 mins
Rosa Chumbe by Jonatan Relayze Chiang (Peru) 75 mins
Orage by Fabrice Camoin (France) 80 mins
Stubborn Boy by Moritz Kramer (Germany) 82 mins
The Funeral by Qi Wang (China) 115 mins
The Plastic Cardboard Sonata by Enrico Falcone, Piero Persello (Italy) 80 mins
The Sum of Histories by Lukas Bossuyt (Belgium – Netherlands) 85 mins
The Thin Yellow Line by Celso Garcia (Mexique) 95 mins
Three Days in September by Darijan Pejovski (Macedonia – Kosovo) 90 mins
Under Heaven by Dalmira Tilepbergen (Khirgizistan) 88 mins
Vals by Anita Lakenberger (Austria) 120 mins
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French director Claude Lelouch Latest Film “We Love You, You Bastard” to Open 2014 Montreal World Film Festival
Salaud, on t’aime, (We Love You, You Bastard) the latest film by celebrated French director Claude Lelouch, will open the 38th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival on August 21, it was announced by the MWFF’s president Serge Losique and director-general Danièle Cauchard. “I am faithful to this great festival and I am very happy to return to Montreal to show Salaud, on t’aime,” declared Lelouch. “The Montreal World Film Festival has been an excellent platform for my films and I wish its 38th edition the greatest success.”
We Love You, You Bastard tells the story of Jacques Kaminsky (Johnny Hallyday), a war photographer and absent father who spends more time with his camera than his four daughters (played by Irène Jacob, Pauline Lefebvre, Sarah Kazemy and Jenna Thiam), lives happily in the Alps with his new girlfriend (Sandrine Bonnaire). This all changes the day his best friend Frederick (Eddy Mitchell) attempts to reconcile with his family by telling them a big lie.
The film’s Eddy Mitchell-Johnny Hallyday duo reflects the friendship the two have maintained off-screen for many years. As usual, Claude Lelouch, has painted a warm family portrait, surrounding himself with a host of actresses and actors who evoke the complexity of human relationships. Alongside the two principal male protagonists and the actresses impersonating Johnny Hallyday’s daughters, the cast includes Isabelle de Hertogh (whom Lelouch discovered at the MWFF in the film Hasta la Vista!, winner of the 2011 Grand Prize of the Americas as well as the festival’s Audience Award), Valerie Kaprisky, Rufus, Agnes Soral and, in her screen debut, Stella Lelouch, Claude’s daughter.
The 38th MWFF will be held August 21 to September 1, 2014.
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Official Poster Unveiled for 38th Montreal World Film Festival
The design of Bolivian artist Marco Tóxico was chosen by the public to be the official poster of the 38th Montreal World Film Festival taking place from August 21st to September 1st, 2014.
Tóxico’s work is known around the world, having appeared in publications in Argentina Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Venzuela, not to mention his numerous international exhibitions. He is the co-founder with Karen Gil of the La Ñatita Editions devoted to the publication of their graphic works.
Tóxico was named one of the ten best illustrators at the Cow International Design Festival in Ukraine and earned honorable mention at the 2013 Latin-American Design Conference in Buenos Aires.
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Documentary on Swedish director Ingmar Bergman to have North American Premiere at Montreal World Film Festival | TRAILER
TRESPASSING BERGMAN, described as a revealing new documentary on the great Swedish director, will have its North American premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival. The Montreal World Film Festival runs August 22 to September 2, 2013.
In the mid 1960s Swedish director Ingmar Bergman built a house on the remote island of Fårö in the Baltic Sea. Throughout his life, the exact location of the house was a well-guarded secret. Here Bergman lived and shot some of his seminal films until his death in 2007. In Trespassing Bergman the audience is taken to the house together with directors such as Alejandro González Iñárritu, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke and others, to tell the story of Bergman, his island and some of his most central films. The documentary includes previously unseen footage from the making of Bergman’s films and interviews with directors and actors shot at Fårö, and around the world. Filmmakers such as Ang Lee, Isabella Rossellini, Harriet Andersson, Zhang Yimou, Woody Allen, Laura Dern, Francis Ford Coppola, Takeshi Kitano, Holly Hunter, Wes Anderson, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Lars von Trier and Ridley Scott offer a fresh and intimate perspective on the life and work of the Swedish master, what his films have meant for them personally and for the history of cinema. Some have been touched, others are in awe, and some are annoyed. Others project personal issues on Bergman and have fantasies about him. Altogether a portrait of the Swedish master that has not been attempted before.
http://youtu.be/tgQxPWqargQ
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Montreal World Film Festival Announces 44th Student Film Festival Award Winners; THE CANDIDATE (DER KANDIDAT) by Yosef Baraki Wins Top Award
THE CANDIDATE (DER KANDIDAT) by Yosef Baraki The winners were announced for the 44th Student Film Festival, held from August 24 to 28, 2013, during the Montreal World Film Festival. THE CANDIDATE (DER KANDIDAT) by Yosef Baraki of Humber College, Toronto, won the NORMAN MCLAREN AWARD FOR THE OVERALL WINNER OFFERED BY CANON CANADA. In “THE CANDIDATE” (DER KANDIDAT), Elsa Strauss is summoned by an SS official to answer questions regarding her son’s candidacy for the Hitler Youth. When the boy’s poor health comes into question, Elsa is forced to lie.
NORMAN MCLAREN AWARD FOR THE OVERALL WINNER OFFERED BY CANON CANADA. The winner receives 5000$ in cash from Canon Canada plus technical and service support, the use of any Canon Cinema EOS camera, including the flagship C500 4K Cinema camera, and a wide variety of Canon Cinema lenses.
DER KANDIDAT by Yosef Baraki (Humber College, Toronto)AMAZON MOST PROMISING DIRECTOR PRIZE
Amazon.ca encourages the discovery of new cinema talents and started supporting the Canadian Student Film Festival three years ago.
GLORIA by Tamar Baruch (York University, Toronto)BEST ANIMATION FILM:
TEARS OF INGE by Alisi Telengut (Concordia University, Montréal)BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:
JUST AS I REMEMBER by Andrew Moir (Ryerson University, Toronto)BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM:
CONCEIVED by Eui Yong Zong (York University, Toronto)BEST FICTION FILM:
DOWN AND OUT by Adam Simopoulos (University of Windsor)Special mention:
DENTS DE LAIT by Julie Charette (Concordia University, Montréal)The members of the Student Film Festival Jury were:
André Bennett, film producer and distributor
Élie Castiel, film critic and cinema professor
Ivan Trujillo-Bolio, director of the Guadalajara Film Festival
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‘ANOTHER HOUSE’ to Open, ‘ADORE’ to Close 37th Montreal World Film Festival
L’AUTRE MAISON (ANOTHER HOUSE)L’AUTRE MAISON (ANOTHER HOUSE), the first fiction feature by Quebec director Mathieu Roy (Surviving Progress) will open the 37th Montreal World Film Festival on August 22, and ADORE the new film by French director Anne Fontaine, will close the festival on September 2. The Montreal World Film Festival will be held August 22 to September 2, 2013.
ANOTHER HOUSE stars Marcel Sabourin in the role of the father, Roy Dupuis in the role of Gabriel, the jet-setting reporter, Émile Proulx-Cloutier in the role of Eric, the pilot in training, and Florence Blain in the role of Maia. The film also features French actress Julie Gayet and the Senegalese musician Zal Sisshoko.
Henri Bernard, 86, suffers from memory loss and periodically escapes from his house in search of a more comfortable one. His two sons, Gabriel, a war reporter, and Éric, a pilot-in-training, disagree on how to deal with their father’s condition. However, the two brothers will have to renew the ties that bind them in order to accompany their father to the enigmatic destination he’s looking for.
ADORE Set in Australia and starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, James Frecheville and Xavier Samuel, ADORE was scripted by Christopher Hampton, winner of the best screenplay Oscar in 1988 for Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons.
Roz and Lil are the best of friends, and have been since childhood, growing up as neighbors in an idyllic beach town. As adults, their teenaged sons have developed a friendship as strong as that which binds their mothers. One perfect summer the boys, along with their mothers, are confronted by the simmering emotions that have been mounting between them… Afraid of facing the ire and judgment of their insular seaside community, they continue the relationships in secret over the years. Once the affairs are discovered, the revelation threatens to tear apart their lives and those of the young men, who must eventually choose between following a well-worn path or their true desires.
“The short novel (The Grandmothers) by Doris Lessing from which my film was adapted,” explained Ms. Fontaine, “contains everything I like to develop: an ambiguous and strange love story, a contained universe that is yet open to the world, and the opportunity to push exceptional actors to plumb their deepest personal truths… I hope Canadian audiences, who I know to be open minded, will be sensitive to this portrait of particular passions.”