An Interview with Russian Filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarovby Dominique Arel, filmfestivals.comVeteran Russian helmer Karen Shakhnazarov competed at the Montreal World Film Festival with A Rider Named Death (Vsadnik po imeni smert), a film based on the literary memoirs of socialist revolutionary Boris Savinkov at the turn of the past century, just prior to the 1905 Revolution. In a sad coincidence, the film received its international premiere at the festival the day hundreds of hostages were massacre...

THE SYRIAN BRIDE IS TOP WINNER AT MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVALThe Syrian Bride, an Israeli-French-German co-production, was the big winner at the Montreal World Film Festival, which concludes today after a 12 day run of more than 300 feature films from around the world.The Syrian Bride was awarded the Grand Prix des Ameriques, the Festival’s highest honor, as well as receiving the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize, the Ecumenical Prize and the Air Canada People’s Choice Award.The film, di...

The Rebirth of MemoryAn Interview with Turkish Filmmaker Yesim Ustaogluby Dominique Arel, filmfestivals.comForty-four year old Yesym Ustaoglu created a stir five years with Journey to the Sun, the first contemporary Turkish film dealing with a Kurdish theme and (a good portion of which) actually shot in Turkish Kurdistan. Her new feature film, Waiting for the Clouds (Bulutlari Beklerken), addresses another taboo topic in Turkey's painful past: the fate of Greek minorities during the First World ...

MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL : A CITADEL OF FILM CULTUREThe 28th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival is in full swing, with a heady mix of traditional arthouse films and innovative new voices giving this event its well-deserved reputation as the most European in style and substance of all of Canada’s film events.Perhaps it is its Francophone culture or its identity as a city of tradition (in direct contrast with the go-go atmosphere of its neighbor Toronto) but this Festival is definit...

The 28th edition of the Montréal World Film Festival gets underway Thursday night with the world premiere in competition of the Canadian production Elles Étaient Cinq (The Five of Us), one of 111 movies having their world or international premieres during the Festival, August 26 – September 6.Some 245 feature films will unspool during the 12-day event, 56 of them world premieres and 55 international premieres, i.e. motion pictures making their debut outside their country of origin. Another ...

MONTREAL UNVEILS PROMISING WORLD COMPETITIONA new film by the team that brought us the stunning French documentary Microcosmos, Carlos Saura 's return to socially conscious cinema, and the latest from Aussie underrated actor Hugo Weaving are among the premieres that will highlight the competition of the Montreal World Film Festival.Away from the hype to which film festivals are increasingly succumbing, Montreal has developed a reputation for offering a platform to filmmakers whose work has not b...

One of the most influential Croatian filmmakers of his generation, a member of the Yugoslav new wave of the 1960s and 1970s, Krsto Papić was born in 1933 and studied literature at the University of Zagreb before turning to the screen and a long, distinguished career producing and directing.His films were noticed early on, winning prizes at domestic and international festivals: THE KEY (1965) at the Pula Festival, gold medal at the Belgrade Festival for When My Knife Stabs You (1968), Oberh...

THE MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL OFFERS THE WORLD ON SCREENThe 2004 edition of the Montreal World Film Festival, its 28th, will take place August 26 to September 6. The programming includes the following sections: World Competition, Cinema of the Americas (Panorama Canada, United States, Latin America), Cinema of Europe, Cinema of Africa, Cinema of Asia, Cinema of Oceania, World Documentaries, Out of Competition, Tributes, the Student Film Festival, and Outdoor Screenings. This year, the festiva...

The Montréal International Film Market, held annually in conjunction with the Montréal World Film Festival, is changing gears this year to give buyers and sellers greater opportunities for face-to-face discussions and negotiations."To better meet the changing industry needs, we are doing away with the booths and replacing them with a number of events and more spacious meeting facilities designed to facilitate networking and foster business opportunities for the some 1,000 professionals from a...

CELEBRATED FRENCH DIRECTOR CLAUDE ZIDI HEADSJURY FOR 28TH MONTRÉAL WORLD FILM FESTIVALRenowned French director Claude Zidi will preside over the prestigious eight-member international jury for the Montreal World Film Festival, it was announced today by Festival Vice-President Danièle Cauchard and President Serge Losique.Noted American director Jerry Schatzberg, Czech animator Bretislav Pojar, Oscar-winning Montréal producer Denise Robert, Indian director Goutam Ghose, Mexican actress Diana ...

UPBEAT FRENCH BOX OFFICE SMASH LES CHORISTESTO CLOSE 2004 MONTÉAL WORLD FILM FESTIVALThe smash French box office hit Les Choristes has been selected as the closing night film of the 28th edition of the Montréal World Film Festival, August 26 - September 6. A charming, upbeat film that captivated audiences in France, drawing more than 6,700,000 entries and making it the hit of the year, Les Choristes will be screened at the closing awards gala on September 6. Les Choristes is the heart warmin...

MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL FILM MARKET PROMOTES PERSON-TO-PERSON DEALMAKINGThe Montréal International Film Market, held annually in conjunction with the Montréal World Film Festival, is changing gears this year to give buyers and sellers greater opportunities for face-to-face discussions and negotiations, Market Director Gilles Bériault announced today."To better meet the changing industry needs, we are doing away with the booths and replacing them with a number of events and more spacious meet...

DAVID NOVEK NAMED DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONSFOR MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVALDavid Novek, one of the country's leading film and entertainment public relations specialists, has been named Director of Communications of the Montreal World Film Festival.Mr. Novek and his company, Novek Communications, have been involved with the festival since its very beginnings in 1977, being responsible for its communications and the press office for the first 13 years of its existence. In subsequent years, Mr. ...

"Elles étaient cinq" to open the Montreal World Film Festival"Elles étaient cinq" ("They Were Five") directed by Ghyslaine Côté will have its world première on opening night of the 2004 Montreal World Film Festival, it was announced today. Produced by Maxime Rémillard of Remstar Productions and Richard Lalonde of Forum Films, and distributed by Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm, Elles étaient cinq will open the MWFF's World Competition on August 26.Starring Jacynthe Lagüe, Julie Deslauriers, In...

HUGO WEAVING JOINS ROLF DE HEER ON STAGE AT POPCORN TAXIJoin two of Australia's most accomplished filmmakers for a sneak preview of THE OLD MAN WHO READ LOVE STORIES, which stars RICHARD DREYFUSS, HUGO WEAVING (THE MATRIX, LORD OF THE RINGS, PROOF, BABE, THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT) and TIMOTHY SPALL. The preview screening will be followed by a special, Popcorn Taxi style, on stage conversation and audience Q&A with ROLF DE HEER and HUGO WEAVING led by film journalist MI...