RENDEZ-VOUS QUÉBEC CINÉMA
36th Edition
February 21 - March 3, 2018
The Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma announced yesterday its program for 2018. This 36th edition has more than 300 films, including 90 premieres, as well as more than 30 free events.
The festival’s screenings and activities will take place at the Cinémathèque québécoise, Cinéplex Odeon Quartier Latin, the Auditorium de la Grande Bibliothèque (BAnQ), the Salon orange at Centre Pierre-Péladeau and Cinéma Impérial.
The Bistro SAQ, located in Norman McLaren Hall at the Cinémathèque
québécoise, returns as the festival’s hotspot for happy hours, fun evenings and great parties late into the night.
Espace Rendez-vous, now located in the heart of the Cinémathèque québécoise, will be home to the festival’s interactive section and an exclusive exhibition.
LES SOIRÉES TAPIS BLEU
Presented by Bell, the festival’s SOIRÉES TAPIS BLEU are a series of gala premieres, open to all, with the filmmakers present and available to meet the public.
The world premiere of Bernard Émond’s Pour vivre ici opens the festival on February 21. The film stars Élise Guilbault, Sophie Desmarais, Amena Ahmad, Danny Gilmore and Marie Bernier. The gala opening night, co-presented by MELS, will be held at Cinéma Impérial.
The Soirées Tapis bleu include two more world premieres:
- Isla Blanca, directed by Jeanne Leblanc
- Ce silence qui qui tue, a documentary by Kim O’Bomsawin
- Grand Cru by David Eng.
- Chien de garde, directed by Sophie Dupuis, will close the 36th Rendez-vous on March 3 at Cinéma Impérial, part of the closing festivities co-presented by Cinéplex. The film stars Jean-Simon Leduc, Théodore Pellerin, Maude Guérin, Claude Laberge, Paul Ahmarani and well-known singer Marjo.
FICTIONAL FEATURES
This year, the Rendez-vous will present a total of 46 FICTIONAL FEATURES, presented by Hydro-Québec. More than ever, the year’s new films run the full gamut of genres, appealing to moviegoers of every stripe.
4 SPECIAL SCREENINGS presented by La Presse + will include a restored print of Au clair de la lune, directed by André Forcier, in celebration of the film’s 35th anniversary. Blade Runner 2049, by Denis Villeneuve, and Chuck by Philippe Falardeau will also be screened.
As part of Black History Month, the Momentum collective will present a special program exploring an afro-centric vision of Quebec cinema.
With the aim of reaching every audience and in response to the enthusiasm for the screenings in this new section, the RVQC presents screenings for new immigrants, using film as a bridge to foster acculturation and
integration.
Another much appreciated annual activity is a special screening hosted by La Maison du Père; this year’s film is De père en flic 2, to be screened with director Émile Gaudreault as well as actors Patrice Robitaille and Mathieu Quesnel present; he will meet some of the institution’s clients.
DOCUMENTARIES
The 36th Rendez-vous includes 25 DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES – short, medium and feature length – presented by Télé-Québec.
Women directors are particularly prominent this year, with several films by women having world premieres:
- 1999 by Samara Grace Chadwick, Ce silence qui tue by Kim O’Bomsawin,
- Exil au Far West by Sophie Fortier
- La Maison des Syriens by Nadine Beaudet and Christian Mathieu Fournier.
- Louis! Louis! Louis! by Philippe Frenette-Roy will also have its world premiere.
Quebec and Canadian premieres include
- A Great Day in Paris by the late Michka Saäl (Canadian premiere)
- Comme un caillou dans la botte by Hélène Choquette (Quebec premiere)
- Modifié by Aube Giroux (Quebec premiere)
- Noshommes dans l’Ouest by Renée Blanchar (Quebec premiere).
The RVQC will also provide excellent opportunities to catch big-screen showings of documentaries that made their mark in 2017, including Esprit de cantine by Nicolas Paquet, Destierros by Hubert Caron-Guay, Combat
au bout de la nuit by Sylvain l’Espérance, and tLabrecque: une caméra pour la mémoire by Michel La Veaux.
SHORTS
With 215 films, including 73 premieres, 54 films in competition and 24 programs in every genre presented by Unis TV, the RVQC is the world’s biggest showcase of Quebec’s short films.
THE 2018 RVQC AWARDS
A total of 11 awards will be presented on February 28, for films in official competition at the Rendez-vous, including the prestigious Prix
Gilles-Carle for Best first or second fictional feature, presented by Bell, and the Prix Pierre et YolandePerrault for Best first or second documentary feature, presented by Hydro-Québec. The jury for 2018 is made up of 15 professionals from the cultural industry in Quebec and francophone communities across Canada, including 11 women active in the film industry.
VIRTUAL REALITY AND INTERACTIVE WORKS
The program features the latest practices and presents 7 works
available for free from February 22 to March 3 in the Espace Rendez-vous.
FREE EXHIBITION
While visiting the Espace Rendez-vous, the public will see the exclusive storyboard exhibition Les Affamés: décomposition en images, and learn all about the stunning new film by Robin Aubert. The storyboards are by illustrator Jean-Philippe Marcotte, an artist who has also worked with Denis Arcand and Xavier Dolan.
THE RENDEZ-VOUS IN YOUR HOME
From February 21 to March 3, Les Rendez-vous chez vous will allow audiences everywhere in Quebec to enjoya selection of films from this year’s festival on their computer or TV. Several fictional features will be available on-demand through Bell Fibe TV, including, among others, Les Affamés, Et au pire, on se mariera, Pieds nus dans l’aube, Le problème d’infiltration and Les rois mongols. A fine selection of shorts will also be available for free on ICI TOU.TV. Movie lovers can also catch several RVQC events, live or delayed, through Québec Cinéma’s Facebook page. It’s a chance to experience the festival anywhere, any time on your platform of choice!
HAPPY HOURS – THE PLACE TO MEET OUR FILMMAKERS
As it does every year, the festival will start each evening on a high note with a 5 p.m. rendezvous at the Bistro SAQ in the Cinémathèque québécoise, for a series of get-togethers, discussions and chats with artists and industry professionals.
PRIX COLLÉGIAL DU CINÉMA QUÉBÉCOIS (PCCQ) and Cegep
students from across Quebec.
The event, emceed by Marie-Louise Arsenault, will be live-streamed on Québec Cinéma’s Facebook page so that students from all 54 participating cegeps can join in the discussion wherever they are.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 36th annual Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma are now on sale, without service charges, at quebeccinema.ca!
Cinephiles can also purchase tickets from lavitrine.com.
Festival goers can view the 2018 program online and in hard copy at the Cinémathèque québécoise. It is possible to create a custom schedule on the RVQC website by creating an account or by signing in with Facebook.
For more information and programming, visit the RVQC festival website.
