New Montreal FilmFest
Encyclopedia
Festival International de Films de Montréal (FIFM), also known in English
as the New Montreal FilmFest
was a film festival
held in Montreal
in 2005 to focus on Francophone
films. Originally intended as an annual event, the festival became mired in rivalry with two competing festivals — the Montreal World Film Festival
and the Toronto International Film Festival
— such that the New Montreal FilmFest was ultimately held only once.
The founding of the FIFM resulted from a year long dispute between the funding agencies SODEC and Telefilm Canada
and the organizers of the Montreal World Film Festival
(WFF) — Festival des Films du Monde - Montréal (FFM) — in 2004. These two former sponsors of the FFM/WFF called for proposals for a new film festival and ultimately shifted their funding to the New Montreal FilmFest, which was inaugurated in October 2005.
The New Montreal FilmFest, produced by Spectra Entertainment (owners of the Montreal Spectrum theater), was initially headed by Daniel Langlois
, founder of SoftImage (subsequently sold to Microsoft) and Ex-Centris. Langlois had previously directed the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media — Festival de Nouveau Cinema et Nouveaux Media, which was renamed Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
in 2004 (Montreal's independent film festival). The involvement of Langlois intended to counter prior criticisms of lack of professionalism in the FFM/WFF (run by Serge Losique
) and to merge the FCMM (renamed the FNC in 2004) and the New Montreal FilmFest into one new festival. The FNC would not agree to such a merger, and scheduling conflicts between the New Montreal FilmFest and the FNC led to Langlois' early departure from FilmFest.
The 2005 event was eventually directed by Moritz de Hadeln
, who had previously headed the Locarno International Film Festival
, the Berlin International Film Festival
, the Venice International Film Festival — and founded the Visions du Réel
documentary film festival of Nyon, Switzerland. Moritz de Hadeln had also been a long-time rival of Serge Losique
's.
"FilmFest officials decided to concentrate on Francophone films, avoiding the Hollywood focus of the Toronto International Film Festival and the world cinema of [Serge] Losique’s festival [FFM/WFF].". But the 2005 inaugural New Montreal FilmFest raised early criticism and did not meet expectations. The advance negative publicity and its timing and selection of films were criticized widely, resulting in poor ticket sales. In early 2006 the New Montreal FilmFest was terminated:
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the New Montreal FilmFest
was a film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
held in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 2005 to focus on Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
films. Originally intended as an annual event, the festival became mired in rivalry with two competing festivals — the Montreal World Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
and the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
— such that the New Montreal FilmFest was ultimately held only once.
The founding of the FIFM resulted from a year long dispute between the funding agencies SODEC and Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada or Téléfilm Canada is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.It is the primary federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry....
and the organizers of the Montreal World Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
(WFF) — Festival des Films du Monde - Montréal (FFM) — in 2004. These two former sponsors of the FFM/WFF called for proposals for a new film festival and ultimately shifted their funding to the New Montreal FilmFest, which was inaugurated in October 2005.
The New Montreal FilmFest, produced by Spectra Entertainment (owners of the Montreal Spectrum theater), was initially headed by Daniel Langlois
Daniel Langlois
Daniel Langlois, OC is the president and founder of the Daniel Langlois Foundation, Ex-Centris, and Media Principia Inc.Daniel Langlois also founded Softimage Inc., serving as its president and chief technology officer from November 1986 to July 1998...
, founder of SoftImage (subsequently sold to Microsoft) and Ex-Centris. Langlois had previously directed the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media — Festival de Nouveau Cinema et Nouveaux Media, which was renamed Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma was known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media until 2004. Founded in 1971, by Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides, it is an annual independent film festival held in Montreal and features independent films from around the world...
in 2004 (Montreal's independent film festival). The involvement of Langlois intended to counter prior criticisms of lack of professionalism in the FFM/WFF (run by Serge Losique
Serge Losique
Serge Losique is the founder & president of the Montreal World Film Festival since its opening. He is the father of the well-known television host Anne-Marie Losique.- External links :*...
) and to merge the FCMM (renamed the FNC in 2004) and the New Montreal FilmFest into one new festival. The FNC would not agree to such a merger, and scheduling conflicts between the New Montreal FilmFest and the FNC led to Langlois' early departure from FilmFest.
The 2005 event was eventually directed by Moritz de Hadeln
Moritz de Hadeln
Moritz de Hadeln is a Swiss documentary Film director and photographer, who became a Film Festival director...
, who had previously headed the Locarno International Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
, the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
, the Venice International Film Festival — and founded the Visions du Réel
Visions du réel
Visions du Réel is an international documentary film festival held in April each year in Nyon, Switzerland. Established in 1969 as the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, the event adopted its current name in 1995....
documentary film festival of Nyon, Switzerland. Moritz de Hadeln had also been a long-time rival of Serge Losique
Serge Losique
Serge Losique is the founder & president of the Montreal World Film Festival since its opening. He is the father of the well-known television host Anne-Marie Losique.- External links :*...
's.
"FilmFest officials decided to concentrate on Francophone films, avoiding the Hollywood focus of the Toronto International Film Festival and the world cinema of [Serge] Losique’s festival [FFM/WFF].". But the 2005 inaugural New Montreal FilmFest raised early criticism and did not meet expectations. The advance negative publicity and its timing and selection of films were criticized widely, resulting in poor ticket sales. In early 2006 the New Montreal FilmFest was terminated:
Telefilm revealed that FilmFest lost $850,000, spurring Losique to call for a public inquiry into the “resounding and humiliating failure” of the Montreal FilmFest.
See also
- Festival du Nouveau CinémaFestival du Nouveau CinémaThe Festival du Nouveau Cinéma was known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media until 2004. Founded in 1971, by Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides, it is an annual independent film festival held in Montreal and features independent films from around the world...
(FNC), formerly Festival of New Cinema and New Media (FCMM) - Montreal World Film FestivalMontreal World Film FestivalThe Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
(FFM) - Montreal International Jazz Festival (FIJM)