MWFF 2018: Closing Night Photo Highlights

Montreal World Film Festival 2018 Award Winners

Montreal World Film Festival 2018
September 3, 2018

Red Carpet Closing Night

Award Ceremony

  
Click on Images to Enlarge Them.

For more information on the festival visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website.

RIDM 2017 Award Winners

Award winners of the 20^th Montreal International Documentary Festival
(RIDM)

November 18, 2017 

Regardless of the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) ending on November EATURE19, 2017 the award winners for this 20^th annual RIDM were announced  the day before, on November 18, 2017, during the closing ceremony at Concordia University’s Alumni Auditorium (H110).

GRAND PRIZE FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL F

The grand prize for best international feature, presented by Bell Media, went to Room for a Man by Anthony Chidiac. “The film opens doors and windows to an inner world that contains an entire private universe of deep meaning, broaching serious issues with wry humour and an irresistible rebellious spirit.”

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE – INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

“For its bold artistic vision that seeks ways to involve film in social and political realities, its original creative approach and its exploration of the dark corners of exile”, the special jury prize went to Taste of Cement by Ziad Kalthoum.

The jury for the international feature competition was composed of Daniel Kasman, Damien Detcheberry, Leena Pasanen, Marie-Ève Juste and Neil Young.

GRAND PRIZE FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE

Citing “the fluid and original structure the filmmaker created for his portrait of a complex protagonist,” the Canadian feature jury named Taming the Horse by Tao Gu as best Canadian feature.

The jury also awarded a special mention to Primas by Laura Bari.

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE – CANADIAN FEATURE

The special jury prize went to Jean-François Lesage for La rivière cachée, “for making a natural phenomenon a protagonist, and for the precision and elegance with which the film describes even ordinary existential issues.”

BEST NEW TALENT FROM QUÉBEC / CANADA

Presented by Post-Moderne, the award for best new talent from Quebec/Canada is presented to the maker of the best first Canadian documentary in the official selection. This year’s award went to Emilie B. Guérette for L’autre Rio. “The filmmaker ventured into the interstices of a major international event, where she achieved remarkable proximity to her protagonists.”

The Canadian feature competition jury was composed of Emilie Bujès, Pablo Alvarez Mesa and Robert Gray.

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT OR MEDIUM-LENGTH FILM

The jury selected Ico Costa’s Nyo Vweta Nafta as this year’s best international short or medium-length film. “This magnificent film, shot in 16mm, is grounded in the political and economic realities of Mozambique. Its artistic vision serves its contemplation of the world and helps us understand important issues.”

BEST CANADIAN SHORT OR MEDIUM-LENGTH FILM

The award for best Canadian short or medium-length film was presented to Jacquelyn Mills for In the Waves. The film “is a touching meditation that transcends the personal, elegantly steering a course from the banal to the deeply philosophical, without ever losing sight of the materiality of everyday routine.”

The jury for the Canadian and international short and medium-length competitions was composed of Adam Cook, Amandine Gay and Lisa Jackson.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Presented by TV5, this award recognizes festivalgoers’ favourite film in the official competition and Panorama sections. This year’s audience pick was Amandine Gay for Ouvrir La Voix.

MAGNUS ISACSSON AWARD

The Magnus Isacsson award was created in honour of the late, much-loved Montreal documentary filmmaker Magnus Isacsson. It is presented to an up-and-coming Canadian director who demonstrates social conscience. Presented by the ARRQ, Cinema Politica, DOC Québec and Main Film, this year’s award went to Jason O’Hara for State of Exception, “a film that reveals its director’s exceptional commitment. An activist, passionate, necessary film, made entirely independently over many years.”

The jury for the Magnus Isacsson Award was composed of Jocelyne Clarke, Ezra Winton (Cinema Politica), Richard Brouillette (Main Film), Sophie Bissonnette (ARRQ) and Steve Patry (DOC Québec).

STUDENT AWARD

This award recognizes a documentary selected by the student jury from among the films in the Canadian competition. It is part of the RIDM’s youth outreach and awareness program and is presented with the support of the CSN and Telefilm Canada. This year’s student award was presented to Tasha Hubbard for Birth of a Family, a film notable for “the urgency and authenticity of its subject, majestic landscapes that echo the intense emotions the film inspires, and its frank documentation of the alienation of a people. It is a clear reminder that we are on unceded indigenous land.”

The jury for the student award was composed of Florence Côté-Lagacé (Cégep Édouard-Montpetit), Antoine Harvey (Collège Montmorency), Charles-Édouard Martel-Marquis (Cégep de Saint-Laurent), Sarah Mederos Bernia (Cégep André-Laurendeau), Adriana Paquette, (Cégep Marie-Victorin), Chloé Simard (Collège de Maisonneuve).

WOMEN INMATES’ AWARD

The women inmates’ jury is composed of five inmates of the Joliette Institution. They chose a winner from a selection of eight films from the official competition and Panorama. Daisy, Mélanie, Jackie, Roxanne and Julie named Bagages by Paul Tom for “its original approach that opens a window on the other and introduces us to young people who reveal themselves frankly and unreservedly, and because we believe this is a touching and necessary film.” This initiative is carried out in partnership with Telefilm Canada, the Quebec chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society and the Entente sur le développement culturel de Montréal. The project is supported by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and the Ville de Montréal.

Information: www.ridm.ca / info@ridm.ca

Cinemania 2016 Awards

CINEMANIA

November  3 - 13, 2016

CINEMANIA’s 22nd edition of French films with English subtitles  ended on Sunday evening, November 13, 2016.

And the winners are:

GRAND PRIX MEL HOPPENHEIM

(The main CINEMANIA prize that has been awarded since 1998)
A KID | LE FILS DE JEAN

Filmed in Quebec, LE FILS DE JEAN by Philippe Lioret received the GRAND PRIX MEL HOPPENHEIM, the top CINEMANIA prize awarded since 1998. The winning film, a North American premiere, is a France-Quebec co-production starring Quebec actors Gabriel Arcand, Marie-Therese Fortin, Catherine De Lean, Pierre-Yves Cardinal and Patrick Hivon. The film follows the story of Mathieu (Pierre Deladonchamps), a 33-year-old Parisian who never knew his father. One morning in Paris he receives a surprising phone call that his birth father, a Quebecois, has just passed away. He also discovers that he has two half-brothers and he quickly decides to depart for Montreal to meet them, and attend his father’s funeral. Upon arrival, Mathieu begins to realize that they never knew he existed and what’s more, don’t care to get to know him! And, to complicate matters, his father’s oldest friend, a taciturn old guy, throws a further monkey-wrench into the works.
 
LE FILS DE JEAN formed part of the program that CINEMANIA co-sponsored and co-hosted in welcoming the RCF conference (Rencontres de Coproductions Francophone), held for the first time in Montreal simultaneously with CINEMANIA. Over 200 film industry professionals attended the 13th annual RCF conference at workshops and meetings at the Hotel Sofitel Golden Mile and at La Cinematheque Quebecoise from Novenber 8-11. Attendees had the opportunity to screen the premiere of the Quebec-France coproduction LE FILS DE JEAN (by Philippe Lioret and Marielle Duigou of Fin Aout Productions from France, and Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even of Even de Item 7 from Quebec).

You can read more about this film here.
TFO Prix du Public for the Best First Feature Film

THE DANCER | LA DANSEUSE

There were 8 debut feature films eligible for the TFO Prize, with THE DANCER audience favourite by popular vote.

THE DANCER, an historical biopic, was presented in its North American premiere at CINEMANIA – based on a true story that recounts the life of the American creative visionary, dancer/choreographer/lighting pioneer Loie Fuller at the turn of the 19th century at the Folies Bergere where she mixed with such luminaries as Toulouse-Lautrec, Rodin, and Isadora Duncan. Talented actress SOKO plays Loie Fuller, a dancer who truly influenced the artistic and then emerging world of modern dance. Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis) portrays the legendary Isadora Duncan, lover of Loie Fuller.

For more information about the festival, viisit the CINEMANIA website.

MWFF 2014: Cape Nostalgia - Prizes

Cape Nostalgia
Awards

Ecumenical Prize

Japanese film Cape Nostalgia won two prestigious prizes at the Montreal World Film Festival 2014. In the afternoon of the festival's last day, the film was awarded the Ecumenical Prize.  Three members of the film's production team accepted the price, as seen on the picture below.

Special Grand Prix of the Jury

In the evening of the same day, at the MMFA Closing Ceremony, the film was awarded the Special Grand prize of the Jury. The prize was accepted by the two lead actors Sayuri Yoshinaga and Hiroshi Abe.

Each actor delivered a short thank you message.

At the end of the Award Presentation Ceremonies, Cape Nostalgia lead actors posed for a group photo with all those who won special recognition and received a prize at the Montreal World Film Festival 2014 closing night.

Before the Closing Ceremonies, the film's lead actors posed for the photo-taking session on the red carpet in front of the the Imperial Theatre as they arrived for the Awards Winning Ceremony.

Earlier that day, they briefly appeared at the pre-award closing night reception on the open terrace at the Montreal's Hyatt Hotel. 

Click on any image to enlarge it.

Cape Nostalgia has truly merited awards it received. Read more about this film here.

You can also read about the Special Event the Cape Nostalgia Production Team hosted at the MWFF 2014 festival here.

Click on images to enlarge them.

All photos in this article by Nadia Slejskova.

©2014 Nadia Slejskova

MWFF 2013: Tribute to Kathleen Turner

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Ttribute TO KATHLEEN TURNER AT THE Montreal World Film Festival 2013

The celebrated American star of the screen and stage Kathleen Turner was honoured by the Montreal World Film Festival this year. Ms Turner received a Special Grand Prix (Prize) of the Americas.

The honour included a prestigious Award presentation preceded by an onstage interview covering her illustrious career. Screenings of several of her films also took place during the course of the Festival. "We are very pleased to welcome Kathleen Turner to Montreal,” said Serge Losique, president of the MWFF. “Her presence here honours us and reflects the Festival’s reputation in the international film community.”

The photos below show the American Actress Kathleen Turner posing in front of the official Montreal World Film Festival poster alone and also with her daughter Rebecca just before the Press Conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Montreal on August 29, 2013.

The two photos below show Kathleen Turner at the cocktail party on the terrace of the Hyatt Hotel. This event preceded the Closing Ceremony of the Montreal World Film Festival 2013.

Click on images to enlarge them.

All photos in this article by Nadia Slejskova.

©2014 Nadia Slejskova

Art FIFA 2013: Grand Prix

Helsinki Music Centre – Prelude

Finland | 2012 | colour | 93 min. | Finnish with English subtitles

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director(s): Matti Reinikka, Miisa Latikka 
Screenplay: Matti Reinikka, Miisa Latikka 
Cinematography: Matti Reinikka, Pentti Pällijeff 
Sound: Juha Hakanen, Lauri Vänskä, Ville Jankeri, Tero Suvilammi, Kimmo Vänttinen 
Editing: Matti Reinikka 
Music: Jussi Latikka 
Participation: Helena Hiilivirta, Marko Kivistö, Dalia Stasevska, Santtu-Matias Rouvali 
Producer(s): Matti Reinikka 
Production: Elokuvaosuuskunta Siperia 
Distribution: Elokuvaosuuskunta Siperia

Official description of the film:

August 2011 saw the opening of the Helsinki Music Centre in Finland. In addition to a 1,700-seat concert hall that can accommodate Helsinki’s two excellent classical music orchestras, the Finnish Radio Symphony and the Helsinki Philharmonic, it also has five smaller concert halls, the Sibelius Academy, which trains promising Finnish musicians for the future, a media library and a café-restaurant. The architects had two main objectives: to create, in the heart of the Finnish capital, a building in harmony with its urban surroundings, and a concert hall with outstanding acoustics. This documentary provides an overview of the history of the creation of the Helsinki Music Centre, a project that sparked a vast debate over its high cost, and features comments by its four main players: its director, Helena Hiilivirta, chief architect Marko Kivistö, and two young conductors, Dalia Stasevska and Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

This film received the prestigious Grand Prix at the Montreal's annual International Festival of Films on Art 2013. I have to commend the jury for their choice of awarding this prize. The film epitomizes the struggle that the world of art has to endure in our present commercialized world to be able to get a funding for a cultural project, even for such a prestigious institution as a country's principal music centre. The film documents the veritable battle required so that Helsinki and the entire Finland could have a national monument - the Helsinki Music Centre - of which the whole country could be proud.

The problem was not only the lack of funding and of finding the money needed for such a grand undertaking, but also a public scrutiny and questioning whether Helsinki needs a music centre at all, especially in view of the sharp falling interest in classical arts like music and opera, and whether an old warehouse that occupied the terrain should be demolished for this project. It was only because of the steel-like dedication of a small group of people, with Helena Hiilivirta as a driving force and the project's spokesman (or rather a spokeswoman), that the project not only got off the ground but came to a successful fruition, to the obvious delight of the Finish people.

Ms. Hiilivirta, now the Helsinki Music Centre's director, is the main character of this film, if one could refer to a real person in a documentary film as a character. She is the principal person who helps the film crew to unfold the story line of this film. And it is through her efforts, thoughts, and emotions that one gets to appreciate the tremendous energy required from her and several other people to accomplish and bring to life the great vision for their country.

The film makes a a strong statement that to create something of value one should not rash. Most importantly, only that which is true counts and will survive, it will endure into the future and for the future generations, regardless of present momentary fads. And additionally: if you build a national cultural centre, a music centre, the people will come, even youth and small children will come, regardless of the fad of the day. 

Photo above courtesy of FIFA.