Directed by Claude Gagnon

World premiere

« This movie witnesses how powerful lifetime friendships can be »

The Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue is delighted to include a World premiere LES VIEUX CHUMS, a feature from Claude Gagnon. Reminding us of the precariousness of life, this deeply human story also reveals the great strength of shared feelings with those close to us. The movie will be in theatres around the beginning of 2021.

Claude Gagnon is a director, a screenwriter and a producer from the province of Québec. In 1979, he wrote his first feature film, Keiko, and a second one in 1982, Larose, Pierrot et la Luce. In 1985, Visage pâle was awarded with Best Canadian Motion at the Festival des films du monde in Montreal. Among other things, Gagnon is well known for directing and screenwriting a few feature films; Kenny (1987), winner of the Grand Prix des Amériques, Kamataki (2005), honored many times also at the FFM and recipient of a special mention at the  Berlinale and Karakara (2012), recognized twice at the FFM. Les vieux chums is his seventh movie to be shown at the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, one great friendship maintained throughout time.

Starring Patrick Labbé (Il était une fois les Boys, Starbuck and The high cost of living), Paul Doucet  (L’Amour, Antigone et La chute de l’empire américain), Luka Limoges (L’Ouragan Fuck You Tabarnak, Survivre and Bromance), Marie-Pier Labrecque  (Wanda and L’Empire Bo$$é) and Hassan El Fad  (L’Orchestre de Minuit, Ali, Rabiaa et les Autres… and Solomon).

Les vieux chums tells the story about when Pierrot comes back to his hometown, Saint-Hyacinthe, to meet again with the people and the places he loves, always kept in a special place in his heart even when he was away. He comes to close the books, complete the loop. Peaceful, Pierrot isn’t scared of this premature upcoming death. He asks his childhood friend, Jacques, to help him plan the end of his days. This unusual approach will lead two friends toward a soothing peace of mind.

« Les vieux chums is one of Claude Gagnon’s best work. A very personal movie telling of a great friendship between two old friends. Pierrot comes back home with this need to make peace with the people and life, somehow. Doing that, he offers the ultimate gift to the loved ones in his life : he does what’s right around him, one last time », shares Jacques Matte, president of the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

The movie is produced by Objectif 9 and distributed by Maison 4:3.

*****

directed by Martin Villeneuve

World premiere

« Soul stirring and humorous, all at once »

It gives us great pleasure to announce that the short film, IMELDA 3 : SIMONE, by director Martin Villeneuve, will be presented as a world premiere on the opening night. The first part of Imela came out six years ago and won numerous prizes, notably the prize for best short Quebec film at the Festival images en vue of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. He had strongly seduced the audience of Espace court, back then.

His beginnings in advertising through Sid Lee and the Cirque du Soleil, Martin Villeneuve launched his first feature film in 2012, Mars & avril, based on his self-titled graphic novels. In 2014,he won a prize for best actor for his iconic Imelda.

Recently, Martin Villeneuve wore again his character’s nylon stockings to offer two more short films: IMELDA 2 : LE NOTAIRE and IMELDA 3 : SIMONE.

The third part of the trilogy Imelda stars Martin Villeneuve (Imelda) and Ginette Reno  (Le secret bien gardé de ma mère, Mambo italiano and Léolo). Both characters are moving as they confront their opposite realities, where no one is really right, nor totally wrong.

Villeneuve plays his paternal grandmother Imelda, as Reno interprets Simone, the grandmother on his father’s side. The director imagines how these lifelong rivals could have made peace before the end.

« We are especially glad to retrieve the character of Imelda, who we appreciate but get annoyed by at the same time! In this new short film, the desire to reconcile starts to show up in Imelda’s heart. (wonderfully interpreted by Martin Villeneuve) making her interested in others more than ever. It is also a great comeback onscreen for Ginette Reno. One memorable reunion in a role that she renders with breathtaking accuracy, in my opinion one of her grand cinematographic performances of all times», states Émilie Villeneuve, director general of the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

With Imelda 3 : Simone, the Festival also presents Imelda 2 : Le notaire, starring Robert Lepage. It had been unveiled as a world premiere a few weeks ago at the Festival du cinéma de la Ville de Québec.

The movie is produced by Imelda Films Inc. and distributed by [ghost].