Cinemental coming to a screen near you

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This article was published 7/10/2014 (2825 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’ll be something for everyone at Cinémental 2014.

That’s according to Chantal Vermette, co-ordinator of the 23rd edition of the upcoming Winnipeg-based French-language film festival.

The festival will feature 20 films and take place over the course of two weekends at two different venues.

The first instalment is scheduled for Fri., Oct. 17 to Sun., Oct. 19 at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd.) and the second part is set for Fri., Oct. 24 to Sun., Oct. 26 at Towne 8 Cinema (301 Notre Dame Ave.).

Cinémental is a non-profit organization that "only exists to put on the festival," said Vermette, 37, who lives in St. Boniface.

"The festival is a celebration of French-language cinema, because there are movies from places such as Manitoba, Quebec, Europe and Africa," Vermette said.

"There are dramas, comedies, documentaries and family movies, as well as an animated film that takes place on the Ivory Coast. There really is a movie for everyone."

Two Manitoba-made films will premiere at the Festival: FM Youth, a "Frenglish" drama about growing up French in Manitoba; and Friendly Manitoba, a road movie featuring musical performers such as Red Moon Road about a Frenchman who discovers the province’s francophone community through its music scene, Vermette said.

Also in the lineup are several films that were shown at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which include Two Days, One Night; Venus in Fur; You’re Sleeping, Nicole; and Mommy.

Vermette, who works in the library at St. Boniface University and is also a qualified translator, said being raised in a "traditional French household" helped expose her to a wide variety of film experiences.

"This probably made me more open to a cross-section of movies. For me, Hollywood isn’t the only place to watch movies. I also love travelling and if you open your panorama and your mind to different films, it’s like you’re opening your mind to different landscapes," she said.
"My desire is for people who have never watched a French movie to come and give it a shot. The board wants to appeal to non-French speakers, too. Subtitles shouldn’t be a barrier. Does the movie speak to you? What really matters is the content," Vermette added.

"For example; if you held a revue of Federico Fellini films, would you expect only Italians to attend?"     

On Oct. 19, there will also be a short film competition, which will feature some of Canada’s best French-language films of the year, Vermette said.

Tickets for Cinémental 2014 are available in advance or at the door. For advance tickets, call 233-ALLÔ (2556).

For more information, go online at www.cinemental.com

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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