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.

MWFF 2018: 49th Student Films Awards

The Montreal World Film festival once again presented this year the Student Film Competition as those two previously independent film festivals had joined forces in the past. Here are the winners:

AWARDS: 49TH STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

Monday, September 3, 2018

NATIONAL COMPETITION (CANADA)

NORMAN McLAREN AWARD (Best Film):

MY THESIS FILM: a thesis film by Erik Anderson by Erik Anderson (York University, Toronto, Ontario)

BEST ANIMATION FILM:

Salmiak by Aurélia Morin-Clarke (Cégep de vieux-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec)

BEST FICTION FILM (ex-aequo) :

The Canadian Carver by MacKenzie Brown, Canada

Insert Your Title by Ji Won Jeong, Canada (Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec)

  

CHINESE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL AT THE MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL

BEST FILM:

Spring Flowerby Tong Hua, China (California Film Academy, USA)

BEST ANIMATION FILM:

Harryby Zhou Haoran (Tongji University, Shanghai, China)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:

The Water Bird and Manby Gao Yang & Zhou Pu (Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China)

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM:

Brainby Ma Chunxin (Zhejiang University of Media and Communications, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Chine)

BEST FICTION FILM:

Oasis by Lin Qinqin ((Beijing Normal University International College of Hong Kong Baptist University, China) 

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

BEST FILM:

MEET ME IN THE WOODS by Isa Micklitza (University for Television and Film Munich, Germany)

BEST ANIMATION FILM:

Achoo by Lucas Boutrot, Elise Carret, Maoris Creantor, Pierre Hubert, Camille Lacroix, Charlotte Perroux (ESMA, Montpellier, France)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM:

Nomadic Doctor by Mart Bira (University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Royaume-Uni)

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM:

THE RITA G, AFFAIR / SPRAWA RITY G by Daria Kopiec (The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw, Poland)

BEST FICTION FILM:

The Word / Slovo by Yhor Vysnevskyi ( Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Televisin University, Kiev, Ukraine)

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

MWFF 2018: Awards

42ND MONTREAL'S WORLD FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

Monday, September 3, 2018

WORLD COMPETITON

FEATURE FILMS

Grand Prize of the Americas (Best Film):

CURTIZ by Tamas Yvan Topolánszky, Hungary

Special Grand Prix of the Jury (ex-aequo):

SAMURAI'S PROMISE / CHIRITSUBAKI by Daisaku Kimura, Japan

THE ETRUSCAN SMILE by Mihal Brezis, Oded  Binnun, Switzerland - Germany - United States – United Kingdom

Best Director:

Attila Szász for ETERNAL WINTER / ÖRÖK TÉL by Attila Szász, Hungary

Best Actress:

Maya Szopa in STRANGERS OF PATIENCE / STRANNIKI TERPENIYA by Vladimir Alenikov, Russia

Best Actor:

Hiroshi Tachi in LIFE IN OVERTIME / OWATTA HITO by Hideo Nakata, Japan

Best Screenplay (ex-aequo):

Jianv Han, Wei Zhong and Muye Wen for DYING TO SURVIVEbyMuye Wen, China

Mirko Locatelli and Giuditta Tarantelli for ISABELLEbyMirko Locatelli, Italy – France

Best Artistic Contribution:

THE LORD EAGLE / TOYON KYYL by Eduard Novikov, Russia

Innovation Award:

MOCKING OF CHRIST / RUGANJE SO HRISTOS by Jani Bojadzi, Republic of Macedonia

WORLD COMPETITON

SHORT FILMS

  

1st prize

Vagabonds by Amartei Armar, Ghana

Jury Award

All My Guardian Angels / Todos mis padres by Bernabé Rico, Spain

FIRST FICTION FILMS COMPETITION

Golden Zenith

THE GAZELLE'S DANCE / EL BAILE DE LA GACELA  by Iván Porras Meléndez, Costa Rica – Mexico

Silver Zenith

KILL ME TODAY, TOMORROW I`M SICK! by Joachim Schroeder and Tobias Streck, Germany

Bronze Zenith

HAVE YOUR NAME CARVED by Lei Xu, China

Special mention for quality

JIM SHOE by Peter Sutton, United States

  

CHINESE FILM FESTIVAL

1st Prize

DESTINIESby Zhang Pu, China

2nd Prize

FATHER TO SON / VAN PAO TE by Ya-Chuan Hsiao, Taiwan

3rd Prize

SNOW FALL / XUE ZANG by Gao Chenggang, China

DOCUMENTARIES OF THE WORLD

1st Prize

DYING TO TELL / MORIR PARA CONTAR by Hernán Zin, Spain

2nd Prize

ICELANDER by Nils Oliveto, Canada

3rd Prize

FAHAVALO, MADAGASCAR 1947 / FAHAVALO by Marie Clémence Andriamonta Paes, France - Madagascar - Belgium - Cape Verde - Qatar

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

MWFF 2018: Curtis

CURTIZ

WORLD COMPETITION

Montreal World Film Festival / FFM

Hungary / 2018 / black & white  / 93 min.

This film won the Grand Prize of the Americas (Best Film) at the Montreal World Film festival 2018 Closing Ceremony. See all the winners here.

Those interested in the history of cinema, and especially in the production of the iconic American classic CASABLANCA, will especially appreciate this Hungarian production about the famous director MIchael Curtiz, an eccentric and talented director and a winner of an Oscar. The film is largely inspired by his life. It details all the intriguing twists and turns in the creation of CASABLANCA, all political, Warld War II implications and intrigues that affect the production of the film, as well as his personal life and his relationship with his daughter Kitty.

When he leaves Europe for America, Michael Curtiz leaves his family behind in Budapest. He worries about his sister and tries to get her to the USA by all means, but there are many obstacles. In Hollywood, Curtiz is powerful, arrogant and preparing to shoot CASABLANCA with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. But it is 1942, and the United States is getting ready for World War II. While the director is struggling with production problems, his abandoned daughter Kitty appears on the set and confronts him. The meeting with his daughter and the conflicts that arise directly influence Curtiz's creative resolution of CASABLANCA's ending, thus gelling together his great iconic masterpiece.

In CURTIZ, Rick's famous cafe and the piano featured in CASABLANCA film were faithfully reproduced for the filming purposes.

SYNOPSES

1942. America is on the edge of war. Hungarian-born film director Michael Curtiz, under government pressure, gets a chance to influence public opinion about war, thus gaining international recognition by directing a new propaganda film: Casablanca. It does not comeat the best time though. Curtiz is working on helping his Jewish sister emigrate from Hungary before the Nazis get to her also, his daughter appears on set with the purpose of getting answers why Curtiz had abandoned her as a child. Can Curtiz overcome his famously arrogant and cynical personality? What sacrifices make a man a patriot in a foreign country, a good brother and an honest father at the same time? What should his main character, Rick, choose in the end of Casablanca?

Left to right: actress Evelin Dobos (Kitty), screenwriter Zsuzanna Bak,
producers Judit Romwalter and Claudia Sumeghuy, and actress Lili Bordan

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Tamas Yvan Topolánszky.

Script: Zsuzsanna Bak, Tamás Yvan Topolánszky.

Photography: Zoltán Dévényu.

Editor: Eszter Bodoky.

Music: Gábor Subicz.

Cast: Ferenc Lengyel, Evelin Dobos, Declan Hannigan, Yan Feldman, Rafael Feldman, Lili Bordan, Caroline Boulton, Scott Alexander Young.

Producers: Claudia Süneghy, Halluci-Nation Ltd., Budapest (Hongrie), cell.: +36 302 488 239, sumeghy.claudiabernadett@gmail.com / SPARK, Camera and Lighting Ltd., Budapest (Hongrie), judit@sparks.hu.

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

MWFF 2018: In This Land Nobody Knew How to Cry

IN THIS LAND NOBODY KNEW HOW TO CRY

WORLD COMPETITION

Montreal World Film Festival / FFM
Greece, France / 2018 / 90 min. / English subtitles

The acclaimed Greek director Giorgos Panousopoulos returns after 14 years hiatus back to the cinematographic scene with his eighth feature film In This Land Nobody Knew How to Cry, for which he also wrote the screenplay. Although at a first glance it might appear that this film is only an off-beat comedy, it actually examines some fundamental issues how our modern world functions, and presents a viable alternative established by a small Greek island inhabitants, deeply based on historical traditions.

It was filmed exclusively on the idyllic island of Ikaria, which is well known for the exceptionally high life expectancy of its inhabitants and their relaxed philosophy of life. It becomes a setting for the imaginary island of Armenaki where people declared NO to money, banks, the usual monetary way of living, and establish their own simple system of paying taxes, solving disputes, educating theur children, and conducting the everyday life duties and transactions. The film introduces the Greek perspective, the way of thinking, and how it has been altered before and after the financial crisis. The islanders cope remarkably well within their simple rules, and their own understanding as what represents abundance, happiness, love and freedom. Their lifestyle is both remarkable and very seductive. 

The film tells a story of a European official, Felix (Serge Requet-Barville), who arrives to the island with the sole purpose of examining the island's "investment opportunities”. He is accompanied by his assistant Aura (Margarita Panousopoulou). There, he falls in love with an enigmatic widow Chrysa (Foteini Tsakiri), while Aura meets Vitorio (Babis Chatzidakis), the island's school teacher. A transformation takes place as the island has a magical ability to change people's lives.

SYNOPSES:

Something magical happens when a French member of the European Parliament and a young Greek economist come to Armenaki, a small Aegean island, to report on its investment potential. They are entranced by the subversive charm of a place without banks or even money, where there are no cars, streets, or rooms to let. In different ways, both visitors will allow themselves to be drawn into the island’s vortex of love. Giorgos Panousopoulos.

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

MWFF 2018: The Etruscan Smile

THE ETRUSCAN SMILE

WORLD COMPETITION

Montreal World Film Festival / FFM
Switzerland, Germany, UK, USA / 107 min. / English & French subtitles

This film won the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the Montreal World Film festival 2018 Closing Ceremony. See all the winners here.

The film is based on a bestselling novel by the Spanish economist and author José Luis Sampedro La sonrisa etrusca written in 1985. It was shot across two continents, with filming taking place on location in the iconic city of San Francisco as well as in Scotland's breath-taking Hebridean coast.

The Etruscan Smile is a remarkable film that deals with many modern men issues, especially how the big city life with its technically advanced but somewhat sterile, nature deprived ways that foster avant-guard theories and trends that tend to lead even to child-rearing or culinary disasters. It brings into focus the traditional ways of life values, the immediacy of feelings, freedoms, creativity, the family closeness and love. The open vistas and the ocean, the roaring waves and grass grazing sheep, become the cornerstone on which to recapture the basic human instincts and values, and to feel deeply at home. This is essentially the central message of the film.

The film has a number of interesting plot twists, as well as humour. The actor's acting is superb, and the intriguing story will not leave the audience indifferent. In fact, it is very easy to get involved with the reality that the film portrays, and even to start examining one's own life's circumstances and values.

Also, the technical aspects of the film are remarkable, as well as its photographic aspects. I highly recommend this film.

SYNOPSES

Due to a health problem, Rory, a gruff old man, reluctantly leaves his isolated island of Scotland to go to his son's home in San Francisco for medical treatment. His life takes on a new meaning when he meets his grandson with whom he develops a real bond.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Directors: Mihal Brezis, Oded  Binnun.

Script: Michael McGowan, Sarah Belwood, Michal Lali Kagan.

Photography: Javier Aguirresarobe.

Editing: Roberto Silvi.

Cast: Brian Cox, Rosanna Arquette, Thora Birch, JJ Feild.

Production / Sales: Arthur Cohn, Arthur Cohn Production,

Gellerstrasse 18, 4052 Bâle (Suisse), tél. : +41 613121242,

acohn@bluewin.ch

FILM TRAILER

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

MWFF 2018: Films in Competition

Montreal World Film Festival
42th Edition

August 23 - September 3, 2018

The 42th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival will open with a Japanese film by Daisaku Kimura SAMURAI’S PROMISE on Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 7 p.m. at the Cinema Imperial. This film will also compete in the WORLD COMPETITION – FEATURE FILMS category.

Competitions

WORLD COMPETITION
FEATURE FILMS 

There are 24 films in this competition.

CURTIZ by Tamas Yvan Topolánszky, Hungary

DYING TO SURVIVE by Muye Wen, China

EIGHT OUT OF TEN / OCHO DE CADA DIEZ by Sergio  Umansky, Mexico

ELEPHANTS CAN PLAY FOOTBALL by Mikhail Segal, Russia

ETERNAL WINTER / ÖRÖK TÉL by Attila Szász, Hungary

FLASH / MESO by Saša Hajdukovic, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Serbia

IN THIS LAND NOBODY KNEW HOW TO CRY / S’AFTI TI HORA KANEIS DEN IXERE NA KLEI by Giorgos Panousopoulos, Greece - France

ISABELLE by Mirko Locatelli, Italy - France

KAOS by Semir Aslanyürek, Turkey

KARMA by Wei-Heng Chung, Taiwan

KU DAMM 59 (Part 1) by Sven Bohse, Germany

LIFE IN OVERTIME / OWATTA HITO by Hideo Nakata, Japan

MOCKING OF CHRIST / RUGANJE SO HRISTOS by Jani Bojadzi, Macedonia

PARDON / ULASKAWIENIE  by Jan Jakub Kolski, Poland - Czech Republic - Slovakia

SAMURAI'S PROMISE / CHIRITSUBAKI by Daisaku Kimura / Japan

STRANGERS OF PATIENCE / STRANNIKI TERPENIYA by Vladimir Alenikov / Russia

THE COMMITMENT by Jian Lu / China

THE DEAD QUEEN / PEDRO E INÊS by António Ferreira / Portugal- France -Brazil

THE ETRUSCAN SMILE by Mihal Brezis, Oded  Binnun / Switzerland - Germany - United States - United Kingdom

THE LAST TOUCH / DIE LETZTE POINTE by Rolf Lyssy,  Switzerland

THE LORD EAGLE / TOYON KYYL by Eduard Novikov / Russia

THE NIGHT OF THE TWO MOONS / LA NOCHE DE LAS DOS LUNAS by Miguel Ferrari / Venezuela - Spain

THE PADRE by Jonathan Sobol, Canada - Ireland

THE TWO BROTHERS / OS DOIS IRMÃOS by Francisco Manso / Portugal - Cape Verde

FIRST FILMS WORLD COMPETITION

There are 19 films in this competition.

BORDERS, RAINDROPS / GRANICE KIŠE by Vlastimir Sudar and Nikola Mijovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic of Srpska) - Montenegro – Serbia - Sweden - United Kingdom

BROKEN MIRRORS / MAROT SHVOROT by Imri Matalon and Aviad Givon, Israel

CAMILA´S AWAKENING / EL DESPERTAR DE CAMILA by Rosario Jiménez Gili, Chile

DAVID'S SECRET / O SEGREDO DE DAVI by Diego Freitas, Brazil

DIANA by Alejo Moreno, Spain

HAVE YOUR NAME CARVED by Lei Xu, China

HORIZONS / HORIZONTI by Svetislav Dragomirovic, Serbia

I HOPE YOU'LL DIE NEXT TIME :-) / REMÉLEM LEGKÖZELEBB SIKERÜL MEGHALNOD :-) by Mihály Schwechtje, Hungary

JIM SHOE by Peter Sutton, United States

KILL ME TODAY, TOMORROW I`M SICK! by Joachim Schroeder and Tobias Streck, Germany

LADA KAMENSKI by Sara Hribar and Marko Santic, Croatia

MADAM YANKELOVA'S FINE LITERATURE CLUB by Guilhad Emilio Schenker, Israel

NEVERENDING PAST / IZMEDJU DANA I NOCI by Andro Martinovic, Montenegro - Serbia

NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW /  NADIE SABRÁ NUNCA by Jesús  Torres Torres, Mexico

NOT GUILTY / NEVINOVEN by Andzor Emkuzh, Russia

ON THE RUN / ODNAJDE CIE by Beata Dzianowicz, Poland

THE GAZELLE'S DANCE / EL BAILE DE LA GACELA  by Iván Porras Meléndez, Costa Rica - Mexico

THE INDIAN SIBLING / ALFRADELINDIAN by Rogelio Farfuquino, Italy

YOU ARE MY BROTHER by Da Fei, China

SHIRT FILMS WORLD COMPETITION

There are 14 films in this competition.

A Song of Flare by Dave Deohans, India

Alexander at the End of the World by Tanju Ozdemir, United States - Turkey

All My Guardian Angels / Todos mis padres by Bernabé Rico, Spain

Cooee by Toby Morris, Australia

Introduction to Epilogue by Indra Sproge, Latvia

Martyrdom by Phil Volken, United States

Next Wednesday / Jövo szerdán by Norbert Molvay, Hungary

Pepper / Gochu by Jayil Pak, United States - South Korea

Piegonberry / Varjúháj by Pici Pápai, Hungary

Prawn by Andrew Gillingham, Canada

Symbiosis by Dmitry Ivanov, Russia

The Red Mustang by Rehan Mudannayake, Sri Lanka

Vagabonds by Amartei Armar, Ghana

We'll always have Toynbee by Sonia B. Boileau, Canada

Visit the Montreal World Film Festival's website for more information.

Programming information courtesy of  MWFF.

Winners of the MWFF 2018 Competitions, click here.