News

Today, Montreal's Festival du nouveau cinéma (Fnc), which will take place between October 12 to 23. Here's the complete line-up of feature films according to the press release we received.

Opening and closing

The 40th edition of the Fnc kicks off on Wednesday, October 12, with Declaration of War by Valérie Donzelli (France) at Cinéma Impérial (Centre Sandra & Leo Kolber, Salle Lucie & André Chagnon). This critically-acclaimed second feature by Valérie Donzelli (The Queen of Hearts) tells the love story of Roméo and Juliette who are battling to save their sick child. The director and her producer Edouard Weil will be in attendance.

Ten days later, on Saturday, October 22, Monsieur Lazhar (Quebec/Canada) by Philippe Falardeau will close the Festival. Selected to represent Canada at the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, Monsieur Lahzar shows the efforts of an Algerian schoolteacher to help his Grade 6 students come to terms with their teacher’s death.

I will soon post a list of films I have already seen that I highly recommend as well as a list of my most anticipated films screening at this year’s Festival du Nouveau Cinema. For now here is the press release from the festival. Make sure you read carefully because there are a ton of great films to check out.

Montreal, Tuesday September 27, 2011– Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma will be celebrating its 40th edition from October 12 to 23. For the past 40 years, Canada’s oldest film festival has offered film buffs a selection of the year’s most exciting new films — a bold lineup with plenty of whimsical and surprising elements, but one that also turns its lens on social realities and the evolution of film and new technologies. Over the course of this year’s 11-day Festival, audiences of all ages can take in features and shorts, fiction films and documentaries,...

The nominees for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, Canada’s answer to the Oscars, were unveiled at simultaneous press conferences in Montreal and Toronto yeseterday. After being snubbed by the major Hollywood awards, only receiving 1 nomination and win for Paul Giamatti at the Golden Globes, Barney’s Version has been highly recognized by Canadian audiences. This is no surprise as its source material is a novel from beloved Canadian treasure Mordecai Richler and the film was partially shot in Montreal. Barney’s VersionIncendies leads the pack with 11 nominations including Best Motion Picture and populating most of the acting categories including one for Paul Giamatti for a Performace by an Actor in a Leading Role and Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Dustin Hoffman. Following closely is the other Canadian darling this year, Incendies , which garnered 10 nominations such as Adapted Screenplay (Denis Villeneuve) and Performance by an Actress...

Richard J. Lewis’ “Barney’s Version,” a festival favorite and big-screen version of the Mordecai Richler, garnered 11 nominations — including Best Motion Picture and Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti) — to lead the way for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” a contender this year for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, was next with 10 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction.

The Genies will be handed out on Thursday, March 10, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The following is a list of nominees in some of the major categories.

Best Motion Picture

“10 ½”

Pierre Gendron

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Xavier Dolan, Carole Mondello, Daniel Morin

“Barney’s Version”

Robert Lantos

“Incendies”

Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Splice

Steven Hoban

Achievement in Direction

Podz

“10 ½”

Xavier Dolan

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Denis Villeneuve

“Incendies”

Vincenzo Natali...

Richard J. Lewis’ “Barney’s Version,” a festival favorite and big-screen version of the Mordecai Richler, garnered 11 nominations — including Best Motion Picture and Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti) — to lead the way for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” a contender this year for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, was next with 10 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction.

The Genies will be handed out on Thursday, March 10, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The following is a list of nominees in some of the major categories.

Best Motion Picture

“10 ½”

Pierre Gendron

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Xavier Dolan, Carole Mondello, Daniel Morin

“Barney’s Version”

Robert Lantos

“Incendies”

Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Splice

Steven Hoban

Achievement in Direction

Podz

“10 ½”

Xavier Dolan

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Denis Villeneuve

“Incendies”

Vincenzo Natali...

Yesterday, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Acct) announced the nominees for the 31rst Genie Awards, Canada's own Oscars.

Best Motion picture:

* 10 1/2

* Les amours imaginaires

* Barney's Version

* Incendies

* Splice

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

* Jay Baruchel in The Trotsky

* Paul Giamatti in Barney's Version

* Robert Naylor in 10 1/2

* Timothy Olyphant in High Life

* François Papineau in Route 132

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

* Martin Dubreuil in 10 1/2

* Dustin Hoffman in Barney's Version

* Alexis Martin in Route 132

* Callum Keith Rennie in Gunless

* Rossif Sutherland in High Life

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

* Lubna Azabal in Incendies

* Tatiana Maslany in Grown Up Movie Star

* Molly Parker in Trigger

* Rosamund Pike in Barney's Version

* Tracy Wright in Trigger

Best Actress In a Supporting Role:

* Sonja Bennett in Cole

* Anne-Élizabeth Bossé in Les amours imaginaires

* Minnie Driver in Barney's Version

* Terra Hazelton in Fubar 2

* Mary Walsh in Crackie

Best Adapted Screenplay:

* Michael Konyves...

A group of Quebecker films have been presented at Paris at the Forum des images for four days.

Until November 28, Parisians and also possible French distributors can see 14 Quebecker feature films.

These films are:

* Une vie qui commence, by Michel Monty.

* L'enfant prodige, by Luc Dionne.

* À l'origine d'un cri, by Robin Aubert.

* Route 132, by Louis Bélanger.

* Piché: entre ciel et terre, by Sylvain Archambault.

* Journal d'un Coopérant, by Robert Morin.

* 10 ½, by Daniel Grou.

* Filière 13, by Patrick Huard.

* The Trotsky, by Jacob Tierney.

* Jo pour Jonathan, by Maxime Giroux.

* Les 7 jours du talion, by Daniel Grou.

* Trois temps après la mort d'Anna, by Catherine Martin.

* Curling, by Denis Côté.

* Incendies, de Denis Villeneuve.

Finally, of all these 14 films, only Incendies has a planned released in France, which will be on January 12, 2011.

Hans Van Nuffel's Oxygen. The Montreal World Film Festival winners were announced on Sept. 7. Feature Films Grand prix des Americas: Oxygen (Adem) by Hans Van Nuffel (Belgium/Netherlands) Special Grand Prix of the jury : Dalla Vita In Poi (From The Waist On) by Gianfrancesco Lazotti (Italy) Best Director ex-aequo: Limbo by Maria Sødahl (Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Trinidad and Tobago) TÊTE De Turc by Pascal Elbé (France) Best Actress : Eri Fukatsu for the film Akunin (Villain) by Lee Sang-Il (Japan) Best Actor : FRANÇOIS Papineau for the film Route 132 by Louis Bélanger (Canada) Best Screenplay: De La Infancia (From Childhood) by Carlos Carrera, screenplay by Silvia Pasternac, Fernando Leon, Carlos Carrera (Mexico) Best Artistic Contribution : Venice (Wenecja) by Jan Jakub Kolski (Poland) Innovation Award: Tromper Le Silence (Silence Lies) by Julie Hivon (Canada)   Short Films : 1st prize : El Vendedor Del AÑO (Salesman Of The...

The Vancouver International Film Festival, which will take place from September 30 to October 15, is known for bringing the world to people in and around Vancouver. Moreover, it also has Canadian films in its line-up. All in all, expect to see some Canadian films that are currently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The opening film will be the Canadian-Italian co-production Barney's Version. Other Canadian films include:

* A Drummer's Dream, by John Walker

* A Night for Dying Tigers, by Terry Miles

* A Simple Rhythm, by Tess Girard

* Altitude, by Kaare Andrews

* Amazon Falls, by Katrin Bowen

* An Ecology of Mind, by Nora Bateson

* Barney's Version, by Richard J. Lewis

* Breaking the Silence: Burma's Resistance, by Pierre Mignault and Hélène Magny

* Curling, by Denis Côté

* Everywhere, by Alexis Durand-Brault

* Father & Sons, by Carl Bessai

* Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, by Sturla Gunnarsson

* Guido Superstar: The Rise of Guido, by Silvio Pollio

* Les amours imaginaires,...

The sophomore film from the director of Ex Drummer, Swedish thriller Bad Faith, Pablo Trapero's Carancho (my personal favorite film from Cannes 2010), Tsui Hark's Detective Dee, Tom Tykwer's Three and a host of others populate one of the more exciting lineups for the Tiff Contemporary World Cinema Program in recent years. Here's the complete lineup:

22nd of May Koen Mortier, Belgium World Premiere

The director of Ex-Drummer returns with an artful meditation on political violence. A security guard fails to prevent a horrific explosion in a shopping mall, then lives through the aftermath as a series of overlapping what-ifs.

Africa United Debs Gardner-Paterson, United Kingdom World Premiere

Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their lifelong dream - to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.

Aftershock Feng Xiaogang, China North American Premiere...

Despite not being what it used to be in the 1990s, the Montreal World Film Festival - which will be held from August 26 to September 6 - is trying to make a name for itself. In fact, yesterday, it has revealed its line up of Canadian feature films.

World Competition

First Films World Competition

* Route 132 (opening film) - Directed by Louis Bélanger.

* Trois temps après la mort d'Anna - Directed by Catherine Martin.

First Films World Competition

* The Neighbor (Hamseyeh) – Naghmeh Shirkhan (coproduction with USA).

Focus on World Cinema

* I Heart Regina - N/A

* I Was Once Told – Directed by Aliaa Khachouck

* Mary - Directed by Andrey Petrusha

* New Year - Directed by Phil Borg

Documentaries of the World

* Turning 32 (Avoir 32 ans) – Robbie Hart and Luc Côté.

* Corpus – Connie Diletti.

* Children of Soldiers (Enfants de soldats) – Claire Corriveau.

* Funeral Season (La saison des funérailles) – Matthew Lancit (coproduction with Cameroun...

As usual, the Toronto International Film Festival sticks to one of its mission: promoting Canadian films to the world. In fact, the complete line-up of Canadian films has been revealed today. Moreover, the festival will be held from September 9 to 19.

Galas

A Beginners Guide to Endings (Jonathan Sobol) World Premiere

Previously announced Canadian Galas include: The Bang Bang Club (Steven Silver), Barney’s Version (Richard J. Lewis), Casino Jack (George Hickenlooper), and Score: A Hockey Musical (Michael McGowan).

Special Presentations

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie (Sturla Gunnarsson) World Premiere

Good Neighbours (Jacob Tierney) World Premiere

Incendies (Denis Villeneuve) North American Premiere

Les amours imaginaires (Heartbeats) (Xavier Dolan) English Canadian Premiere

Repeaters (Carl Bessai) World Premiere

Trigger (Bruce McDonald) World Premiere

Canada First

Daydream Nation (Mike Goldbach) World Premiere

Amazon Falls (Katrin Bowen) World Premiere

High Cost of Living (Deborah Chow) World Premiere

Jaloux (Patrick Demers) World Premiere...

The Toronto International Film Festival announced their complete slate of Canadian titles today, including the first announced midnight title in Michael Dowse's Fubar II. The Canadian slate this year looks to be a pretty compelling slate of newcomers and familiar names. Check all the news below!

Galas

A Beginners Guide to Endings  Jonathan Sobol, Canada World Premiere

Raucous, charming and very funny, Jonathan Sobol's comedy A Beginners Guide to Endings follows three sons as they deal with their gambler father's somewhat complicated legacy. Featuring the legendary Harvey Keitel, the film also stars Scott Caan, Paolo Costanzo, Wendy Crewson, Tricia Helfer, Jason Jones, and J.K. Simmons.

Previously announced Canadian Galas include: The Bang Bang Club, Steven Silver; Barney's Version, Richard J. Lewis; Casino Jack, George Hickenlooper; Score: A Hockey Musical, Mike McGowan.

Special Presentations

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie Sturla Gunnarsson, Canada World Premiere

At 75 years old,...

The Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday announced a number of Canadian features. Included are highly anticipated new works by acclaimed local filmmakers such as Denis Villeneuve, Bruce McDonald, Xavier Dolan, Jacob Tierney, Louis Bélanger and William D. MacGillivray, Sturla Gunnarsson, Ingrid Veninger, and Carl Bessai.

“It’s a testament to the creative minds and incredible talent in this country that we have such a diverse and exciting offering of Canadian films across all programs in this year’s Festival,” said Tiff programmer Steve Gravestock in a statement. “It’s an exciting time for Canadian cinema and we’re proud to bring audiences this line-up of films which includes documentaries profiling some of our beloved national figures, powerful and unsettling dramas, thrillers, comedies, romances and a record number of dysfunctional families.”...

The Toronto Int Film Festival have added tons of Canadian content sprawling across several sections and this year's Midnight Madness opener will be a rowdy one in Michael Dowse's Fubar II. Among the notable world premieres we have Jonathan Sobol's A Beginners Guide to Endings grabing a Gala screening and in the Special Presentations we'll have a green carpet premiere for Sturla Gunnarsson's Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie - she follows the 75 year-old environmentalist during his time outs, and Jacob Tierney will make it a back to back years of preeming at Tiff, after The Trotsky he'll show off Good Neighbours which stars Scott Speedman, Emily Hampshire and Jay Baruchel. Other world preems come from Carl Bessai, Bruce McDonald, Robin Aubert, Ingrid Veninger and Terry Miles, while French Canada is well-repped by the likes of films that have been presented elsewhere: Denis Villeneuve's...

One of the largest international film festivals, the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival will run from August 26 to September 6, and will feature 430 films from 80 countries. Louis Bélanger's World Competition title "Route 132" will kick off the festival. The fest will close with Bertrand Tavernier's World Greats out-of-competition selection "Princess of Montpensier." In addition to the World Competition, the festival will spotlight first-time filmmakers in its First Films ...

MONTREAL -- Gaz Bar Blues director Louis Belanger was joined by members of the movie's cast Wednesday night as the 27th Montreal World Film Festival kicked off with the film's world premiere. Belanger was met on the red carpet by Serge Theriault and Maxime Dumontier in front of a battery of paparazzi and onlookers. "The last time I was at this festival, I was a little hidden," Belanger said. "No one asked for me, and I ended up winning the best director's prize." The Quebec director's debut feature, Post Mortem, won the director prize and a special mention by the festival jury when it bowed at the 1999 Montreal fest. Gaz Bar centers on a gas station that is repeatedly held up and frequented by locals trading stories and laughs. Earlier Wednesday, Belanger reflected on being the festival's opening act. "I know an opening film should set the stage for what's coming up at the festival," he said, "and I'm comfortable with the movie I've written and directed."...

TORONTO -- Shannen Doherty, Michel Francoeur and Jayne Heitmeyer lead the cast of the telefilm Nightlight, which began shooting in Montreal on Wednesday. The film, helmed by Louis Belanger (Post Mortem), is Montreal-based JB Media's third telefilm this year. Doherty stars as a young woman who unwittingly becomes the victim of a stalker and voyeur. Hearst Entertainment holds international rights, while Incendo Media is the distributor in Canada, the United States and all French-speaking European and African territories. Producer credits on Nightlight go to Jean Bureau, Josee Mauffette and Serge Denis. Stephen Greenberg, Jean Bureau and Jodi Ticknor are executive producing the project. JB Media produced an earlier telefilm starring Doherty, entitled The Rendering.