26e édition Festival International de Films Fantasia 15.07 > 03. 08. 2022

 

 

Le Festival International de Films Fantasia, dont la 26^e édition  aura  lieu du 14 juillet au 3 août 2022, est heureux d’annoncer une troisième vague de titres qui viennent finaliser sa programmation. C’est NEXT SOHEE de la réalisatrice sud-coréenne July Jung et mettant en vedette Doona Bae qui clôturera le festival en première nord-américaine le 3 août prochain. Composée de plus de 130 longs et 200 courts métrages, la sélection complète ainsi que l’horaire des projections sont disponibles en ligne dès maintenant, sur le site web du festival. Enfin, Fantasia est heureux de dévoiler aujourd’hui les membres de ses jurys ainsi que les titres en lice pour le prix Cheval Noir. 

 

NEXT SOHEE de July Jung avec Doona Bae présenté en clôture

C’est le long métrage NEXT SOHEE de la sud-coréenne July Jung qui clôturera cette édition le 3 août prochain au cinéma Hall de l’Université Concordia, en première nord-américaine. Présenté lors de la Semaine de la Critique du Festival de Cannes en 2022, ce drame social dresse le portrait croisé d’une étudiante en poste dans un centre d’appel et d’une inspectrice tenace et déterminée, incarnée par la comédienne Doona Bae (Cloud Atlas, Sense8). 

 

De nombreuses primeurs 

Fantasia présentera de nombreuses primeurs cette année à commencer par COUPEZ! de Michel Hazanavicius en première nord-américaine. Présentée en ouverture du Festival de Cannes en mai dernier, cette comédie de zombies met en vedette Romain Duris (Dans la brume) et Bérénice Bejo (The Artist). Le soir de la clôture, les festivaliers pourront également découvrir en présentation spéciale la comédie BODIES, BODIES, BODIES de Halina Rejin portée par Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Maria Bakalova (Borat) et l’humoriste Pete Davidson (Saturday Night live). Parmi les autres titres à ne pas manquer, soulignons la première canadienne de DARK GLASSES, dernière réalisation du maître du giallo italien, Dario Argento : pour son grand retour derrière la caméra après 10 ans d'absence, le cinéaste dirige sa fille, Asia Argento, dans une course poursuite entre un meurtrier et une prostituée aveugle en quête de vengeance. Pendant les trois semaines du festival, le public pourra aussi voir plusieurs titres canadiens en primeur parmi lesquels la comédie de science-fiction RELAX I’M FROM THE FUTURE, premier long métrage de Luke Higginson porté par Rhys Darby (What do we do in the shadows); DARK NATURE de Berkley Brady, tourné dans les Rocheuses et porté par une solide distribution composée de Hannah Emily Anderson (X-Men : Dark Phoenix) et Madison Walch (Don’t say its name) ou bien, encore, THE FIGHT MACHINE, adaptation du roman The Fighter de Craig Davidson et réalisée par Andrew T. Hunt dans laquelle deux jeunes hommes que tout sépare questionnent leurs obligations familiales et la masculinité toxique. Parmi les autres titres attendus, mentionnons HUESERA, première réalisation de la mexicaine Michelle Garza Cervera qui livre une vision hantée de la maternité dans ce long métrage remarqué lors du dernier Festival de Tribeca ; ainsi que VESPER,  thriller écologique de science-fiction présenté en première nord-américaine dont la réalisation est signée par le duo franco-lituanien Kristina Buozyte et Bruno Samper. 

 

Jurys et compétition 

 

Les films de la compétition Cheval Noir 

Les programmateurs de Fantasia sont très heureux de dévoiler les films qui feront partie de la compétition Cheval Noir  : 

 

THE ARTIFICE GIRL - États-unis : Franklin Ritch

CONVENIENCE STORY - Japon : Satoshi Miki

COUPEZ! (FINAL CUT) - France : Michel Hazanavicius

DETECTIVE VS SLEUTHS - Hong Kong : Wai Ka-Fai

THE ELDERLY - Espagne : Raul Cerezo & Fernando Gonzalez Gomez

THE FISH TALE - Japon :  Shuichi Okita

THE HARBINGER - États-unis : Andy Mitton

HOUSE OF DARKNESS - États-unis: Neil LaBute

MEGALOMANIAC - Belgique :  Karim Ouelhaj

MY BROKEN MARIKO - Japon : Yuki Tanada

NEXT SOHEE - Corée du sud : July Jung

POLARIS - Canada : KC Carthew

POPRAN - Japon : Shinichiro Ueda

SPECIAL DELIVERY - Corée du sud : Park Dae-min

 

Voici la composition des jurys de cette 26^e édition de Fantasia : 

 

COMPÉTITION CHEVAL NOIR

C. Robert Cargill (Président du jury) - États-Unis - Scénariste, Auteur, Critique, Co-fondateur de “CROOKED HIGHWAY”

Charles Bramesco - États-Unis - Auteur, Critique

Elza Kephart - Canada - Réalisatrice, scénariste

Maitland McDonagh - États-Unis - Auteure, Critique, Éditrice, Fondatrice de “120 Days Books”

Heather O’Neill - Canada - Auteure, Essayiste

 

PRIX “NEW FLESH” POUR LE PREMIER FILM

Jenn Wexler (Présidente du jury) - États-Unis - Réalisatrice, scénariste, productrice

Justyna Koronkiewicz - Pologne - Agent de vente, Media Move

Eric Lavallée - Canada - Producteur, Critique, Fondateur de Ioncinema

Tim Molloy - États-unis - Journaliste, Critique, Éditeur de “MovieMaker Magazine”

Katie Rife - États-Unis - Écrivaine, Critique, Programmatrice

 

COMPÉTITION DU COURT MÉTRAGE

Adam Koehler (Président du jury) - États-Unis - Gestionnaire, Acquisitions et Productions, IFC Films

Valerie Barnhart - États-Unis - Réalisatrice, Animatrice, Scénariste, Artiste visuelle

Céline Gobert - Canada - Critique, Journaliste

David Gregory - États-Unis - Réalisateur, Producteur, Co-fondateur / PDG de Severin Films

Michael Peterson - Canada - Réalisateur, Scénariste, Producteur

 

COMPÉTITION DE L’AQCC CAMERA LUCIDA  

Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma du Québec 

Samy Benammar - Canada - Critique, Photographe, Réalisateur

Pascal Grenier - Canada - Critique, Programmateur

Jérôme Michaud - Canada - Critique, Programmateur

 

COMPÉTITION AXIS DU MEILLEUR FILM D’ANIMATION

Mina Lee (Présidente du jury) - Canada - Gestionnaire du studio et spécialiste du contenu, E.D. Films

Stephen Melagrano - États-Unis - Chef d’animation

Jay Stephens - Canada - Scénariste de comics, animateur

 

Rappelons que Fantasia annonçait il y a quelques semaines que c’est le film POLARIS de la canadienne KC Carthew qui ouvrira cette 26^e édition le 14 juillet 2022. De plus, Fantasia remettra cette année un prix de carrière honorifique au réalisateur Hongkongais John Woo, qui animera une classe de maître le 16 juillet prochain au Cinéma du Musée. 

 

La liste complète des titres de la sélection de 2022 est disponible au https://fantasiafestival.com/. La 26^e édition du Festival international de films Fantasia se déroulera du 14 juillet au 3 août 2022 en salle à Montréal. Les cinéphiles sont invités à se procurer leurs billets en ligne sur le site web du festival à partir du 9 juillet. 

 

La 26e édition du Festival international de films Fantasia est présentée par Vidéotron en collaboration avec Desjardins, et est rendue possible grâce au soutien financier de Téléfilm Canada, du gouvernement du Québec, de la SODEC, du Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation, de Tourisme Québec, de la Ville de Montréal, du Conseil des arts de Montréal et de Tourisme Montréal.

MONTREAL • SUMMER • MUSEUMS

 

The luminosity of the exhibition is beautifully illustrated by this photo I took. 
Nicolas Party (born in 1980), Portrait avec serpents, 2019. Washington (D. C.), Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Museum purchase with funds provided by Stuart Barr, 2021. © Nicolas Party.

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MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Bedroom (Pine Cabinet) 
by Kim Ondaatje

One of the most aesthetically rapturous exhibition of the summer is the colourful NICOLAS PARTY : L'HEURE MAUVE. This exquisite show creates luminosity with magnificent pastel compositions and luscious colours. To augment your experience you will see many gorgeous works from the museum's collection chosen by the artist who is passionate about art history.

An added bonus to this exhibition is the musical participation of Pierre Lapointe who created a 14 track soundtrack to accompany your visit. Bring your smartphone to tune in. The album should be out soon.

detail from Other
Landscapes series
( 2019-2020)
by 
Anahita Norouzi

VIEWS OF WITHIN  shows more works in many media that reflect upon personal spaces whether these are the places we relax or the place where our thoughts live. A piece I really enjoyed is Bedroom (Pine Cabinet) by Kim Ondaatje. It is luminous and peaceful in mostly shades of the palest yellow tones with spots of blue giving the content definition. There are many pieces that you will enjoy contemplating.  The curators of the exhibition, eunice bélidor, Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky, reflected on the impact being in quarantine during the pandemic had on all of us. We are reminded about all types of elements around housing and homelessness. 

Museum of the Art of Today / Department of the Invisible curated and animated by Stanley Février is a brilliant work! It is so exciting that the Museum actualized this brain child of Février. He is a multidisciplinary artist who incorporates performance into his creative process. This creation is a museum, MAADI, that brings to the public excellent artists that work hard everyday but are otherwise
ignored by institutions. Février has acted as director of this museum, has collaborated with curators Laura Delfino and Iris Amizlev, and together they assembled truly admirable artworks to be experienced. Stanley Février will be on site occasionally, performing his role of Director and Chief Curator of MAADI.

MUSÉE D'ART CONTEMPORAIN DE MONTRÉAL

Mika Rottenberg presenting her exhibition at MAC.She
combines physical creations with evocative surrealistic
videos enriched with ASMR stimulus that left me hypnotized. 

Mika Rottenberg is an Argentinian artist now living in New York who travels the world to produce the most mysterious videos that bring together everyday scenes in a kind of magical realism that explores realities of global capitalism. There are scenes of stomach-turning abundance of gaudy objects, or rotting food, or repetitive acts that appear meaningless while others, like the mass cultivation of pearls are nauseating. 

Definitely an experience that does not leave one indifferent. I don't know about you but climate change, wars, gun violence have reached a dystopian paroxysme that is stifling. This influences how all of us think about life and artists stretch out these issues. Rottenberg's explorations asks us to reconsider our societal engagements because their impact on nature are immeasurable.

POINTE À CALLIÈRE

This is a very special year for Montreal's archeological museum. It is its 30th anniversary and many special activities are programmed for this summer. To celebrate Montreal's history, the curators went digging into the museum's collection for an exhibition entitled 30 YEARS OF HISTORY 1992 - 2022. The exhibition is cleverly staged with astonishing details and historical objects like clothes, ancient chairs, beer bottles, and the Montrealer's Tree where both Expo 67 and the stories of individual Montrealers are contained inside cardboard boxes. 

The other major exhibition is VIKINGS - Dragons of the Northern Seas. It is so mystical! We explore the beliefs, the daily life, the myths and art of these very meticulous people who travelled by water and were fierce warriors who invaded the British isles, European countries and even populated some areas in the northeast of Canada. It is an enchanting tour.

All the above museums have activities that surround their exhibitions. Do not hesitate to follow the links I have attached here to find out more. You no longer need to reserve to visit museums, you can just walk in and enjoy!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

LENA GHIO   

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IP MAN: THE AWAKENING

TRAILER

Ip Man is a legendary master that taught some of the greatest martial artists in the world principally, clip of Ip Man practicing,  Bruce Lee. The Ip Man series is a romanticized view of him and his time and they are reminiscent of the popular martial arts movies produced in China starting in 1943. These are action films whose accent is on the fight scenes that thrill fans of martial arts.

We easily recognize the style of the traditional martial art movie as soon as Ip Man, played by wing chun martial arts master Miu Tse, arrives in Hong Kong and saves a young woman from being kidnapped by Hong Kong gangsters who sell kidnapped young girls to British human traffickers. 

The movie features many excellent scenes of wing chun martial arts as well as other boxing combats.

The movie is now available on Digital, Blue-ray and DVD!

LENA GHIO   

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FRIDA KAHLO @ L'ARSENAL NOW

detail from the huge immersive room where Frida Kahlo's life is illustrated

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I visited the "immersive biography" of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo presented at L'Arsenal since June 10, 2022. The event is created and presented by The Frida Kahlo Corporation, Layers of Reality (LOR), and Primo Entertainment Group. 

Technology has given rise to many immersive events around the world built around the most beloved artists in the world. This allows us to connect with these great artists and although the real art is not there, we can still get a sense of why the artists are so beloved. A caveat, of course, is that these events are not very profound. They are meant to entertain more than anything.

The project happening at L'Arsenal offers some exquisite pieces that portray significant features of Frida Kahlo 's life: the tramway accident she suffered as a teen and the long hours she spent alone in her room recuperating from endless series of medical procedures. The aim of the exhibition is to acquaint the visitor with the artist's life more than her work. The first is the multi transparent screen installation that features flying broken glass from the impact of her accident while a white form is writhing like a leaf in the wind from the impact. The action is coming right at you, you almost feel like bending to avoid the shards of glass. The second, the virtual reality representation of the lonely times in her room where her imagination soared and where she painted her immortal paintings. It is a real technological breakthrough as the quality of the cinematography is just fabulous!

The exhibition runs until July 24, 2022 and you can buy your tickets here: L'Arsenal

LENA GHIO   

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E-AI 2022 MONTREAL

 

This was the conference room where we listened to exciting experts talk to us about their work and their vision for the future. As you can see, it is an immersive space that was created in the spaces of OASIS Immersion who are currently presenting Van Gogh.  Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

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David Usher 
Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

In the past years the E-AI symposium had occurred online due to Covid restrictions. This was, therefore, the first time experts in the fields of entertainment and artificial intelligence gathered to share knowledge, to  network and think profoundly about the future.

The first conference we heard brought together David Usher and Philip Hodgetts on the subject of the potential of AI and entertainment. On the attached websites you will discover the vastness of these two creatives minds and outputs.

The theme explored by Philip Hodgetts were about how AI had dramatically changed digital work on movie and game backgrounds. The examples he cited were: " You can now draw a simple horizontal line and the AI will draw a complete scene or you can download a 2D photograph and the AI will spontaneously translate it into a 3D immersive space." If you have worked on digital programming in the above mentioned industries you understand just how much time is saved by using AI. To give you an example, in one 60 second scene in season 5 of Game of Thrones, you see Tyrion Lannister and Lord Varys arrive at the Long Bridge of Volantis. It took the techs at RODEO FX 6 months to transform the Roman bridge of Cordoba in Spain into the Long Bridge of Volantis. AI can reduce the time so dramatically that Philip Hodgetts could already dream of all the time he would have at his disposal to just be creative!

David Usher  offered sobering insights into what he considers the greatest disruptors for the future of humanity: AI and climate change. He is the creator of the Climate Clock. He spoke of the pragmatic use of AI on digital movie work like this: " We can create total digital characters now. The advantage of these characters on a production is that the character can sustain in its awareness vast fields of knowledge and memories from its "life and times" and always stay in character. We can create minds instead of only a physical character. Then there is the concept of eternal life on the Metaverse because image and mind live on there." This last thought he attached to a dream he has to one day experience being with Steve Jobs. As they concluded their presentation, they were citing the many jobs that would be taken over by AI, technology and robotics. Here is what David Usher recommended we think about as the disruptors of life impact all of us: " Look around and ask yourself: where is my next career?"  My mind was already blown and it was not 10 am yet! 

Bertrand Nepveu, hired by Apple to code on a "secret" project,  and Alexandre Teodoresco,  Director - Strategic Development and Innovation at Les 7 Doigts / The 7 Fingers, come at E-AI from two distinct perspective that are trying to come together to create magical experiences for entertainment consumers. M. Teodoresco has been working diligently for years to present shows of Les 7 Doigts / The 7 Fingers in the Metaverse. To accomplish this, he needs a brilliant coder like M. Nepveu to combine his vision with technology. I interviewed M. Teodoresco who presented a first example of Metaverse circus recently and his working to present an even better show in December 2022. Here is a project accomplished in 2020 that gives us a glimpse at the possibilities. In the above image M. Teodoresco outlines a manifesto for Montreal to ground in this city the potential that the world is aware of. Great projects are being contracted overseas while the greatest expertise is right here. The QR code at the heart of the photo will give you more information about this. Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

The video I attached below is one example of how AI is and will be used in commercial ventures. Bigthinx is a fashion company that has software that will recreate your whole body starting from a modest selfie. From there, all your measurements will be configured to allow you to shop for clothing during a virtual fashion show just for you. You will instantly get a sense of how you look in any style of clothes that may interest you. 

This article contains mere snippets of what is coming in terms of AI and all the areas it will be used. This is at once exhilarating and terrifying! Until the next E-AI symposium, let's take it one day at a time.

LENA GHIO   

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L'ANNEAU / The Ring / Montreal's latest wonder!

L'ANNEAU © Claude Cormier + Associés.

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Claude Cormier, the architect who
designed L'ANNEAU
Photo © Alexi Hobbs

June 16, 2022, I am heading to Place Ville Marie for the official launch of what will surely become one of Montreal's iconic piece of architecture. Imagined by architect Claude Cormier who told me his principal work is landscape architecture and urban design not so much the creation of a piece of public art like L'ANNEAU.

Place Ville Marie has been undergoing massive renovations and decided to add to the fresh new building a memorable icon.

Although architects are experts at making dreams come true, such a marvel was not built without major hurdles, as you can imagine. Including a torrential thunder storm on the day of the official launch! But Claude Cormier took all the challenges he had to face in stride and this summer, a glorious silver ring will magnify the beauty of one of Montreal's most gorgeous streets, McGill College. In the video below you will see the vision behind the remarkable piece.

From my perspective, I think it is simply MAGICAL! For one the circle is such a rich symbol in both human history and the unconscious of the human mind. It is a universal archetype that absolutely every living being can relate to. It is pure, it is absolute! I can only congratulate everyone involved in this project, mentioned above and Ivanhoé Cambridge who supported the project.

LENA GHIO   

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AU CINÉMA EN JUIN

BANDE ANNONCE

TENDRE et SAIGNANT

Cette comédie romantique met en vedette Arnaud Ducret et Géraldine Pailhas et est signé Christopher Thompson. Charly Fleury (Pailhas) est une as des publicités et médias sociaux chez un éditeur important quand son père meurt et lui laisse en héritage la Boucherie Fleury. Entre temps, des changements dans sa situation professionnelle la résigne à soulever le défi de s'occuper de l'entreprise familiale juste le temps de passer les festivités de Noël. 

Pour cela, elle doit collaborer avec Martial Toussaint (Ducret) avec lequel elle a eu une aventure sans lendemain avant de se rendre compte qu'il était l'employer de son père à la boucherie.

Un film agréable qui m'a fait sourire et qui m'a réconfortée une journée de pluie. 

Au Cinéma dès maintenant.

COMPÉTITION OFFICIELLE

BANDE ANNONCE

Une comédie brillante qui met à l'affiche Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderez et Oscar Martínez. Ils sont chacun des sommités dans leurs disciplines respectives mais fonctionnent avec des systèmes de valeurs très différents. 

Un millionaire de 80 ans, Humberto Suárez interprété par José Luis Gómez, veut laisser un monument pour honorer son nom après sa mort. Il décide donc d'engager le trio pour qu'ils puissent réaliser ce film pour lui.

Dans une maison ultra-moderne et minimaliste les trois personnages interagissent en dévoilant les particularités de leurs personnalités divergentes. Par exemple, Lola Cuevas (Cruz) est une réalisatrice de films reconnue pour ses tendances excentriques. Elle fait passer les deux acteurs célèbres, Félix Rivero (Banderas) et Iván Torres (Martínez), par plusieurs exercices troublants dont celui de déchiqueter leurs plus précieux trophées. 

C'est un film très intelligent qui m'a fait bien rire!

Il sera diffusé au Cinéma Beaubien dès le 24 juin!

LENA GHIO   

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MONTREAL• SUMMER • MUSIC!

The artists of Festival International de Jazz 2022 Photo ©  Lena Ghio , 2022 

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Get yourself ready for JOY! Montreal's many festivals are launching their programming and it is astounding! As you know, there are outside concerts at Place des Festivals and concerts inside venues for which you will need tickets. Follow this link to discover all the artists and sample their music: Festival International de Jazz 2022 

During the press conference an artist I had not known previously sang us a song. BOOM! I am in love! Her name is Léonie Gray  Her voice is evocative of the wonderful Amy Winehouse with a twist! What a de-light! 

Festival International de Jazz 2022 begins June 30 2022 and goes up to July 9 2022.

This festival will be almost immediately followed by Festival International Nuits d'Afrique on July 12 up to 24 July 2022. This precious festival lets us discover what African influenced artists do with rhythm and sound and the results are astonishing. You can see all the artists here and sample the magic!

I discovered Tiken Jah Fakoly, an famous world music singer from the Ivory Coast. I was blown away!

I enjoyed discovering Delphine Mounkoro, the colourful Dobet Gnahoré, and the stunning Ndaka Yo Wiñi  who gave a live performance on the night of the unveiling.

At long last, life returns to the city!

LENA GHIO   

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Maika, the girl from another galaxy

 

TRAILER

This delightful movie fantasy for children was written and directed by Ham Tran, a Sundance Film Festival alumni. It stars Chu Diep Ahn as Maika,  an alien who fell to Earth after she lost touch with her travelling companion, and Truong Phu as Hung, a boy who is grieving the death of his mother and the loss of his best friend who is moving with her family to another town. 

Several plots unfold at once as a pair of bullies want the land over which Hung's father's home and business are built while a techno billionaire wants Maika for her knowledge and magical powers so she can work in his company.

I am sure children will thoroughly enjoy this fast paced Vietnamese adventure. The performances are very agreeable. Chu Diep Ahn and Truong Phu are adorable mischief makers who don't give up easily. They give the bad guys a run for their money.

I LOVED IT!

LENA GHIO   

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