FNC film festival in Montreal features best independent cinema

The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (FNC) one of Montreal’s biggest film festivals runs October 9 to 20. Now in its 53rd edition, the festival features some of the year’s best independent films from Quebec, Canada and around the world.

“It’s a big, big, big event. We have a lot of filmmakers coming. So lots of meetings with the audience,” said Julien Fonfrede, a festival programmer for FNC.

“It’s really respected. It’s really loved. And we always aim to make it the best festival event in the year.”

The opening film is Une Langue Universelle or Universal Language directed by Manitoba born Montreal filmmaker Matthew Rankin. The film described as an absurdist comedy-drama is Canada’s selection for the Best International Feature Film category for the Oscars.

“It’s really a beautiful film. The humor at the right place. The emotions are at the right place. And it’s a film of its time, of the right moment right now to talk about identities in Canada, in Quebec, in the world,” explained Fonfrede.

In total, the FNC will screen 102 feature films and 98 shorts that include award winners from major international festivals such as Anora directed by Sean Baker that won the most recent Palme d’Or for best feature film at the Cannes Film Festival.

“It’s Sean Baker, I mean, you know, it’s one of the most anticipated film of the year, for sure, in terms of artistic cinema and also commercial cinema, so that kind of commercial artistic type of films,” said Fonfrede.

Another film is Rumours starring Cate Blanchett co-directed by legendary Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin along with brothers Evan and Galen Johnson. 

“Crazy, crazy film. I mean, definitely Canadian cinema is becoming very cool. I mean, you’ll see it this year at the festival with many, many, many films, but Rumours is definitely one of the top ones.”

For certain films, directors, cast and crew are present to take questions after screenings. There are also free events planned for industry professionals, students and children.

FNC films will be screened in cinemas throughout Montreal such as the Cinémathèque québécoise, Cineplex Quartier Latin and Cinéma Moderne. 

“Anybody should at least go and check one film just to see what we do. And if you like it, you’ll come back,” said Fonfrede.