The 43rd annual Festival du nouveau cinéma features an almost overwhelming number of films, both local and international. Running for 11 days, the festival will feature full-length and short films, installations, performances, conferences, and interactive events, in both English and French. Here are a few suggestions from The Daily for what to check out this year:
Feature Films
She’s Lost Control
Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin B, October 15, 7:20 p.m., and at Cinema du Parc3, October 17,5:15 p.m..
She’s Lost Control tells the story of a psychology graduate student who explores sexual impotence through field research, dubbing herself a “sex surrogate.” The film is dark, twisted, and nominated for the festival’s top prize, the Louve d’Or.
L’amour au temps de la guerre civile (Love in the Time of Civil War)
Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin A, October 12, 7p.m., and at Pavillon Judith-Jasmin annexe (Cinema 1), October 16, 5:15 p.m..
Also in the running is L’amour au temps de la guerre civile (Love in the Time of Civil War), which follows the lives of six young drug addicts in Montreal. Conceived during a series of writing workshops with Épopée collective, this film exposes the grim underbelly of the streets we walk everyday.
Björk: Biophilia Live
Cinema du Parc, October 17, 9 p.m..
Björk: Biophilia Live is a concert film with all the eccentricities deserving of Björk, including a voiceover from Sir David Attenborough and cinematography from Brett Turnbull of Cirque du Soleil. This is Bjork up close – dive in.
Installations
Cohesive Disorder
Everyday, Foyer Salle J.A. de Sève (Concordia)
Cohesive Disorder is a video installation that runs throughout the whole festival, presenting three films, each with its own representations of religion and power. From Iranian filmmaker Payam Mofidi, the installation depicts characters that have lost control of their realities. Mofidi’s installation encourages viewers to construct their own personal meanings and connections to the piece.
Short Films
The Grandir Series
October 12-18, Cinema du Parc
The “Grandir” series (La Grange, Let Me Down Easy, La Mallette Noire, Sleeping Giant, Plage de Sable) features five Canadian short films that explore the transition from childhood to adulthood. Short films may just be the perfect medium for capturing the short and sweet (and bitter) moments that define us – as opposed to, say, following the same actor for 12 years and still not really telling much of a story at all. Yes, Richard Linklater, I’m looking at you.
Performances
Bangkok Loops
October 9 , 7 p.m., Agora Hydro-Québec du Coeur des sciences
Bangkok Loops is a video performance that combines analog and digital for a double projection of images from Nicolas Cage’s 2008 movie Bangkok Dangerous. The 16 mm footage is altered by chemical processes for an experience that explores new film technology, while also honouring its original medium. If you have always wanted to immerse yourself in Nicolas Cage, this is your chance.
Interactive Works
DIY Manifesto and Just a Reflektor
Both October 14-18 , La Chaufferie
DIY Manifesto is an interactive documentary that tells the story of the DIY culture in Europe and Detroit. The documentary explores the fringes of the movement, calling it a “radical revolution.” You can decide for yourself if that’s true.
Alternatively, you could check out Just a Reflektor, a a project that follows a woman in Haiti as she “travels between her world and our own.” And yes, it is inspired by Arcade Fire.
Conferences
Féminin/Féminin
October 15 , 4 p.m., Agora Hydro-Québec du Coeur des sciences
Féminin/Féminin is a web series that looks at the lives of lesbians in Montreal. This talk features screenwriter Chloé Robichaud and Florence Gagnon, president of Lez Spread the Word, the web platform distributing the series. Together, they will discuss the series and how it has developed an online audience that goes beyond the Montreal lesbian community.
Round Table: Creative women in the video game industry
October 16 , 4 p.m. Agora Hydro-Québec du Coeur des sciences
This roundtable is particularly timely, given the recent, highly-publicized sexist attacks on video game developer Zoe Quinn. This panel features five women who work in the industry and will share their personal experiences.
If none of these options interest you, there is a Robin Williams tribute happening throughout the festival, where you can go shed a tear or two. There’s also a screening of the classic Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring commentary from Canadian director Atom Egoyan. Sounds like fun. Maybe you can ask him questions in song-form.
For full festival listings, head to www.nouveaucinema.ca