Mar 28, 2024
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Montreal opens on a high note

MONTREAL — Things are looking a little brighter than usual for the Montreal World Film Festival, as it opens its 32nd edition tonight with the world preem of Gallic helmer Christophe Barratier’s “Faubourg 36.”

Nabbing this choice French pic was a major coup for maverick Montreal fest prexy Serge Losique, who has often struggled to land A-list titles for the opening slot.

Losique’s event was the launch-pad for Barratier’s feature directorial debut, “Les Choristes,” which closed the fest in 2004 and went on to become a hit.

“Faubourg 36” is set in Paris circa 1936 and is about a group of unemployed workers who take over a music hall to mount their own show. Both Barratier and actress Nora Arnezeder will be in Montreal for the opening-night ceremonies.

The fest has had trouble snaring top-notch Gallic films in recent years, often losing them to the more powerful Toronto festival — a better place for Euro pics to land U.S. deals.

But the success of “Les Choristes” in Quebec proves the fest can help Euro and local Quebecois pics score at the box office in la belle province.

This week, fest also got a boost from the Quebec government, which is giving the event C$720,000 ($677,000) this year, up from $480,000 last year.

Just two years ago, the fest received almost no government funding after a bitter fight with the country’s public film agencies.

The guest list for Montreal this year will include Hollywood producer Alan Ladd Jr. (here for a tribute); Tony Curtis (here for a screening of the docu “The Jill and Tony Curtis Story”); Brian De Palma (who is set to hold a masterclass); Gallic thesp Isabelle Huppert; helmer Mark Rydell, who is president of the competition jury; and Marcia Gay Harden, in town for the local preem of the pic “Home.”

But it remains a struggle for the fest to snare quality pics for its competition.

This year’s competition showcases 21 features, including Montreal helmer Benoit Pilon’s “The Necessities of Life”; Flemish “Nowhere Man” from helmer Patrice Toye; and U.S. pic “Your Name Here” starring Bill Pullman.

With Venice and Toronto right on its heels, Montreal, which closes Sept. 1, continues to have difficulty in the dog-fight for world preems.

But there are always surprises such as last year’s Belgian pic, “Ben-X”, a drama about an autistic boy being bullied, which generated industry heat and sales after sharing Montreal’s Grand Prix des Ameriques with Claude Miller’s “A Secret.”

Source: Variety

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Headline, Industry News

Montreal opens on a high note

MONTREAL — Things are looking a little brighter than usual for the Montreal World Film Festival, as it opens its 32nd edition tonight with the world preem of Gallic helmer Christophe Barratier’s “Faubourg 36.”

Nabbing this choice French pic was a major coup for maverick Montreal fest prexy Serge Losique, who has often struggled to land A-list titles for the opening slot.

Losique’s event was the launch-pad for Barratier’s feature directorial debut, “Les Choristes,” which closed the fest in 2004 and went on to become a hit.

“Faubourg 36” is set in Paris circa 1936 and is about a group of unemployed workers who take over a music hall to mount their own show. Both Barratier and actress Nora Arnezeder will be in Montreal for the opening-night ceremonies.

The fest has had trouble snaring top-notch Gallic films in recent years, often losing them to the more powerful Toronto festival — a better place for Euro pics to land U.S. deals.

But the success of “Les Choristes” in Quebec proves the fest can help Euro and local Quebecois pics score at the box office in la belle province.

This week, fest also got a boost from the Quebec government, which is giving the event C$720,000 ($677,000) this year, up from $480,000 last year.

Just two years ago, the fest received almost no government funding after a bitter fight with the country’s public film agencies.

The guest list for Montreal this year will include Hollywood producer Alan Ladd Jr. (here for a tribute); Tony Curtis (here for a screening of the docu “The Jill and Tony Curtis Story”); Brian De Palma (who is set to hold a masterclass); Gallic thesp Isabelle Huppert; helmer Mark Rydell, who is president of the competition jury; and Marcia Gay Harden, in town for the local preem of the pic “Home.”

But it remains a struggle for the fest to snare quality pics for its competition.

This year’s competition showcases 21 features, including Montreal helmer Benoit Pilon’s “The Necessities of Life”; Flemish “Nowhere Man” from helmer Patrice Toye; and U.S. pic “Your Name Here” starring Bill Pullman.

With Venice and Toronto right on its heels, Montreal, which closes Sept. 1, continues to have difficulty in the dog-fight for world preems.

But there are always surprises such as last year’s Belgian pic, “Ben-X”, a drama about an autistic boy being bullied, which generated industry heat and sales after sharing Montreal’s Grand Prix des Ameriques with Claude Miller’s “A Secret.”

Source: Variety

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headline, Industry News

Montreal opens on a high note

MONTREAL — Things are looking a little brighter than usual for the Montreal World Film Festival, as it opens its 32nd edition tonight with the world preem of Gallic helmer Christophe Barratier’s “Faubourg 36.”

Nabbing this choice French pic was a major coup for maverick Montreal fest prexy Serge Losique, who has often struggled to land A-list titles for the opening slot.

Losique’s event was the launch-pad for Barratier’s feature directorial debut, “Les Choristes,” which closed the fest in 2004 and went on to become a hit.

“Faubourg 36” is set in Paris circa 1936 and is about a group of unemployed workers who take over a music hall to mount their own show. Both Barratier and actress Nora Arnezeder will be in Montreal for the opening-night ceremonies.

The fest has had trouble snaring top-notch Gallic films in recent years, often losing them to the more powerful Toronto festival — a better place for Euro pics to land U.S. deals.

But the success of “Les Choristes” in Quebec proves the fest can help Euro and local Quebecois pics score at the box office in la belle province.

This week, fest also got a boost from the Quebec government, which is giving the event C$720,000 ($677,000) this year, up from $480,000 last year.

Just two years ago, the fest received almost no government funding after a bitter fight with the country’s public film agencies.

The guest list for Montreal this year will include Hollywood producer Alan Ladd Jr. (here for a tribute); Tony Curtis (here for a screening of the docu “The Jill and Tony Curtis Story”); Brian De Palma (who is set to hold a masterclass); Gallic thesp Isabelle Huppert; helmer Mark Rydell, who is president of the competition jury; and Marcia Gay Harden, in town for the local preem of the pic “Home.”

But it remains a struggle for the fest to snare quality pics for its competition.

This year’s competition showcases 21 features, including Montreal helmer Benoit Pilon’s “The Necessities of Life”; Flemish “Nowhere Man” from helmer Patrice Toye; and U.S. pic “Your Name Here” starring Bill Pullman.

With Venice and Toronto right on its heels, Montreal, which closes Sept. 1, continues to have difficulty in the dog-fight for world preems.

But there are always surprises such as last year’s Belgian pic, “Ben-X”, a drama about an autistic boy being bullied, which generated industry heat and sales after sharing Montreal’s Grand Prix des Ameriques with Claude Miller’s “A Secret.”

Source: Variety

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Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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