RIDM’s Upcoming 20th Edition

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Written by Dominic de Meester

From November 9th to the 19th this year, The Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) will hold its 20^th edition. With 142 films from over 47 countries, this surely will be its biggest festival to date. With 18 world premieres scheduled, the festival is gaining ground and public appreciation as a premier worldwide festival to partake in.

The RIDM is honoured to open and close the festival with two audacious films made by women.

Opening the event is the world premiere of 24 Davids by Céline Baril, the latest entry in the director’s distinctive and freethinking body of work. Baril travels to three continents and listens to 24 people who are dedicated to changing and rethinking the world in their own particular way.

To close the festival, the RIDM will present the North American premiere of Nothingwood, the first film by journalist Sonia Kronlund. The film is a fascinating, nuanced portrait of Afghanistan’s king of Z movies. Through the larger-than-life artist/entrepreneur’s remarkable daily life, the director reflects on Afghanistan’s present state of affairs and the multifaceted links between fiction and reality.

Moreover, a wide-range of other documentaries were selected and shall be given a platform to help promote a variety of controversial subject matter to inform, educate and entertain audiences.

Official competition

11 awards will be presented for films in 4 competitive selections:

1. International feature competition – Powerful works that combine deep engagement with reality and exceptional formal accomplishment
2. Canadian feature competition – Canadian filmmakers who have travelled the world to investigate a vast range of topics
3. International short and medium-length competition – In many cases, these give us a glimpse of tomorrow’s great talents
4. Canadian Short and medium-length competition – Recognizing and encouraging the vitality of a form seen by too few people

Notable International jury members include: Neil Young (The Hollywood Reporter) Laird Michelle (National Geographic) Leena Pasanen (DOK Leipzig) Hajnal Molnár (Sundance Institute).

The festival offers a program of special free screenings in different Montreal neighbourhoods – from Saint-Laurent to Hochelaga, Saint-Henri, Rosemont, and Lachine. The films were selected from the festival’s past editions and include landmark local productions and memorable international films.

The 20^th annual RIDM will take place from November 9-19, 2017 at the Cinémathèque québecoise, Cinéma du Parc, Cineplex Quartier Latin, Pavillon Judith Jasmin Annexe, and Concordia University.