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 Opening Night

Montreal World Film Festival 2018 / 42st Edition
Opening Night Photo Highlights 

August 23, 2018

The Montreal World Film Festival 2018 held its red carpet and opening night ceremony at the Cinema Imperial. 

Photo Highlights: The Red Carpet MMFA 2018 Opening Night. 

Serge Losique on the Cinema Imperial's stage at the Opening Ceremony

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

All photos in this article © Nadia Slejskova

Click on Images to Enlarge Them.

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.

FIFA 2018: L'Homme de l'isle

L'HOMME DE L'ISLE

Documentary

Official Competition Art FIFA 2018

Director: BRUNO BOULIANNE

72 minutes | Québec, Canada | 2017

RELEASE date in Quebec City and Montreal - March 23, 2018.

With this film, Bruno Boulianne brings into focus St. Lawrence River, specifically its Isle aux Oies and Isle aux Grues, which are actually two ends of the same long and narrow island in the middle of the river. He presents a skilled hunter Gilles Gagné, a living incarnation of the place where he lives and where he practices his hunting guide profession in close connection with the elements, history and the islands' memory.

For thirty years, Gilles Gagné had guided the world renown Quebec painter Jean-Paul Riopelle (October 7, 1923 – March 12, 2002) to the most spectacular goose hunts. More than an accomplice of hunting, he became an ally to some of Riopelle's artistic creations, being a witness of the passing time. Now, in the film, he hunts on similar trails with another French Canadian visual artist Marc Séguin.

Marc Séguin and Gilles Gagné (right) 

The film elaborates how the geese hunting trips of Gilles Gagné with Jean-Paul Riopelle had contributed to the artist's imagery. The brutal act of shooting, the geese blood and death had especially found an expression in the Reopelle's monumental work Tribute to Rosa Luxemburg, a legacy piece, which he began in his studio on Île-aux-Oies in November 1992 after learning of the death in Paris of his former close companion, the American painter Joan Mitchel. The work was displayed in full at the MNBAQ (Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec - Quebec Museum of Fine Art) exhibition between January 29, 2014 - January 3, 2016.

Gilles Gagné in front of Riopelle's Tribute to Rosa Luxemburg

In addition to artistic allusions and art connections, the film presents Quebec regional nature and also an ethnographic study of the life on the island, featuring even a local Pierrot costume festival. The island's  inhabitants French also differs from the standard or Montreal French, not only in pronunciation but also in some vocabulary. For the Anglophone viewers, even those who speak French, future English subtitles would be helpful.

The photography aspect of the film is quite stunning. The orchestration of the nature camera shots, sounds, and the dance-like movement of the birds and branches form a visual and auditory symphony that is hypnotic and induces an almost meditative state.

Click on images to enlarge them.

The film might be of great interest to hunters and could be promoted in hunting clubs across the continent. On the other hand, it might create too great an interest, many wanting to coming to hunt on the island where the geese population is drastically diminishing and is no longer plentiful even for the local hunters.

CREATIVE TEAM

Les Films du 3 mars

With participation of GILLES GAGNÉ, MARC SÉGUIN, GINA VÉZINA

Editing: VINCENT GUIGNARD

Photography: ALEX MARGINEANU, FRANÇOIS VINCELETTE

Sound: STÉPHANE BARSALOU, MÉLANIE GAUTHIER

Sound Director MARTIN ALLARD, SIMON GERVAIS

Audio mixing: SERGE BOIVIN

Director, Script and Producer BRUNO BOULIANNE

FILM TRAILER on Vimeo

https://vimeo.com/252349740

For more information and FIFA film festival and scheduling, visit the Art FIFA website.

Gilles Gagné hunting

RENDEZ-VOUS QUÉBEC CINÉMA 2018

 

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.