Six Quebec projects to participate at the Venice Film Festival

Québec will be well represented this year at various events related to the 80th edition of the Venice International Film Festival. Six projects were selected in competition, including three at the Venice Film Festival, two at the Giornate degli Autori and one at the Final Cut in Venice (which is part of the VPB). With an incredible selection of no fewer than 14 projects (film and immersive)and publishers, SODEC is working closely with the Québec Government Office in Rometo support the large Québec delegation expected in Venice this year.

VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Science fiction romantic drama "The Beast" (La Bête), a coproduction from Québec and France, was nominated at the Venice International Film Festival (Venezia 80), an international competition that includes the world premiere of 21 feature films. Directed by Bertrand Bonello, the film was written by Bertrand Bonello and Guillaume Breaud and coproduced by Sons of Manual.

Another highly anticipated film is "Maestro", a biopic of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, starring and directed by Bradley Cooper. Yannick Nézet-Séguin served as orchestral consultant and conductor overseeing the entire score.

The augmented reality experience titled "Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Seven Ravens", produced by Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël from Felix & Paul Studios, was nominated in the Venice Immersive competition.

A second project from Félix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël, Felix & Paul Studios, "Space Explorer: Blue Marble – ORBIT 1" was selected in the non-competitive Best of Immersive category. Visitors can partake in this virtual reality experience at the Québec créatif booth on the Venice Immersive Island.

GIORNATE DEGLI AUTORI

Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days)run parallel to the Venice International Film Festival. Two Québec films are among the 10 nominated: "Through the Night" (Quitter la nuit), a Québec coproduction with Belgium and France, directed by Delphine Girard from Colonelle Films; "Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person" (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant), directed by Ariane Louis-Seize at Art et essai. 

FINAL CUT IN VENICE

As part of the Venice Production Bridge, Final Cut in Venice has provided concrete support to promising films from Africa and the Middle East since 2013. Children’s animated feature "Allah Is Not Obliged" (Allah n'est pas obligé), a coproduction from France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Québec, is among the films selected. Directed by Zaven Najjar with a screenplay by Zaven Najjar and Karine Winczura, the film is produced by Yzanakio Films.

Since 2013, Final Cut in Venice has provided concrete assistance in the production of quality films from Africa and the Middle East. This event is part of Venice Production Bridge. Among the films selected, a co-production in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Quebec was selected, the drama "Allah is not obliged".