By Diana Srougi
Yesterday, August 27, was opening day for the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival, which will continue on until September 7th. A phenomenal variety of films and documentaries from countries all over the world will compete and is waiting to be discovered by Montreal’s cinephiles.
In one of Canada’s most cosmopolitan city, cinephiles of different origins and cultural backgrounds gather, eager to hear their countrymen stories, and thriving to immerse themselves in utter “diversity”, a key word in this cultural event. The Montreal World Film Festival prouds itself as an opportunity to become aware of current political and social injustices worldwide. The 7th art is known as window to the world and filmmakers from the four corners of the world takes this opportunity to show audiences a glimpse into their reality and subjectivity.
For those living in Montreal, or simply visiting this culturally rich Canadian city, the places to be for the next ten days are Cinéma Quartier Latin, Théâtre Maisonneuve and Cinéma Impérial. The wide variety of categories confirms that there’s something to please everyone. The different sections are: World Competition, First Films World Competition, World Greats Out-of-Competition, Focus on World Cinema, Documentaries of the World, Tributes, and Canadian Student Film Festival. From shorts to full-length films, fiction to documentary, romantic comedy to political drama, amateur to professional, nothing is left out.
There’s also a “Movies Under the Stars” program on Saint-Catherine Street facing Place-des-Arts, an outdoor event that takes place during one of the best summer weather of the past few weeks.
Stanley Kubrick’s Gladiator, Oliver Stone’s The Doors, Stephen Frear’s Dangerous Liaisions, Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love and Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, among many other international classics, are on the outdoor screening’s program.
Bon cinéma!
