NEW CINEMA FESTIVAL FROM OCTOBER 8 TO 18, 2026. THE 55th EDITION STARTS THIS THURSDAY.
VIOLENCE OF THE BODY OF THE OTHER BY DENIS CÔTÉ IN OPENINGTOTALITY • GRANDE NUIT MATRIX • FNC x MOMENTA
The 55th edition of the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) will begin tomorrow. Until October 18, film buffs will be able to discover nearly 200 works from more than 30 countries, meet filmmakers and discover a program that mixes big names and emerging artists of the 7th art. The films and events will be presented at the Monument-National, the Cineplex Odéon Quartier Latin, the SGWUA auditorium at Concordia University, the Cinémathèque québécoise, the Musée cinema and the Agora du Coeur des Sciences at UQAM.
Opening film: Violence of the body of the other by Denis Côté It is therefore VIOLENCE OF THE BODY OF THE OTHER by Denis Côté, which will open the Festival this Thursday, October 8 at the Monument-National in the presence of the film team as well as many personalities from the industry. Winner of a Youth Jury Prize at the Locarno Film Festival, where Xavier Bergeron also received a special mention from the Official Competition Jury for his performance, the film was also presented at the Toronto Film Festival a few weeks ago. Worn in particular by Larissa Corriveau, whose fifth collaboration with Denis Côté, VIOLENCE DU CORPS DE L’AUTRE stars the French actor Philippe Rebbot (On a bicycle, Three times nothing!), Xavier Bergeron (The return of Anna Brodeur), Gabrielle Lazure, Pierrette Robitaille and Eve Pressault (Nelly). Thursday October 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Monument National/ Red carpet at 5:45 p.m.
TOTALITY: A world premiere under the theme of astronomyThe FNC will also host the world premiere of TOTALITY, an immersive documentary directed by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner. The film offers a vivid and visual portrait of the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, through various communities who have prepared for this exceptional cosmic event, from Mexico to Canada via the United States. At the heart of this human mosaic are astronomers, Texan cowboys, Newfoundland farmers, astrophotographers and Quebec inventors, all captured by 21 film crews. Beyond the breathtaking spectacle of the eclipse, TOTALITY testifies to the unifying capacity of a natural phenomenon. The projections will be accompanied by a virtual reality installation from the Dorothy Project, a Montreal team of inventors of stratospheric balloons which is highlighted in the film, which sought to document in an original way the shadow of the Moon on the Earth. Filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner will be present, alongside Mathieu Baptista and Silvano Mercado of the Dorothy Project, as well as astrophotographers Ian Lauer and Cat Machin, for a discussion with the public following the screenings. Friday, October 9 at 8:45 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 12 p.m. at the Cineplex Quartier Latin
The must-sees not to be missed during the first daysAmong the must-see films of this first weekend at the festival, film fans will be able to discover several works that have made waves on the international scene and on the festival circuit. Let us mention, among others: AUTOFICTION by Pedro Almodóvar, where a filmmaker in the midst of a creative crisis is inspired by a drama of one of his collaborators to write his next film; the films that won the joint Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year: FATHERLAND, by Paweł Pawlikowski, a poignant drama about Thomas Mann, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, who travels through a Germany shattered by the fallout of the Second World War with his daughter Erika Mann, played by Sandra Hüller, and LA BOLA NEGRA by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, a bold fresco that covers almost a century of Spanish history and tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intertwined by desire, pain and love; MINOTAUR by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Grand Prize winner at the Cannes Film Festival last May, a political drama starring a Russian businessman whose life descends into chaos against the backdrop of the invasion of Ukraine, which coincides with his wife’s infidelity; THE DIARY OF A CHAMBERWIFE by Romanian Radu Jude, which depicts the conflicting relationship between a French bourgeois family (played by Mélanie Thierry and Vincent Macaigne) and their servant (Ana Dumitrasçu); CLUB KID, the highly acclaimed first film of actor Jordan Firstman, which paints the touching portrait of an eternal adolescent caught up in his responsibilities. A sensitive evocation of what it means to grow up without giving up on yourself in the heart of the New York queer scene; finally LE VERTIGE by Quentin Dupieux, a primitive philosophical-disconcerting animated comedy which dares to reflect on the present and the future of our existence.
FNC This year, the collaboration will celebrate artist, filmmaker and sculptor Ali Cherri. Designed as a true micro-festival, FNX x MOMENTA will offer screenings, discussions and meetings around an artistic practice located at the intersection between cinema, archaeology, sculpture, memory and political trauma. On Friday October 9, the public will be able to discover a program of three short films – Le Creuseur, Le Guetteur and La sentinelle – followed by a discussion with Ali Cherri on his artistic approach. On Saturday, October 10, the programming will continue with Beirut, the meeting of Borhane Alaouié, a work that strongly influenced Cherri, then with his first feature film, Le Barrage, followed by a question-and-answer session. Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10 at the Cinémathèque québécoise
The big Matrix night: four films, one night On Saturday, October 10, science fiction fans are invited to rediscover the cult Matrix quadrilogy, during a big night dedicated to the films of Lana and Lily Wachowski. Presented at the Agora du Coeur des Sciences at UQAM, this evening promises an immersion into the heart of the cyberpunk universe that has marked a generation of film fans. The day will begin with a free film-knitting session devoted to Animatrix, an anthology of animated short films inspired by the saga. Saturday, October 10 at the Agora du Coeur des Sciences at UQAM
Les P’tits Loups storms the Agora Young aspiring film buffs are, like every year, also entitled to their meeting with the Grande Kermesse des P’tits Loups, on Sunday, October 11 at the Agora du Coeur des Sciences of UQAM. The section also presents the feature film A Mighty Adventure (Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong) by Toe Yuen, in addition to two short film programs, one for ages 3 and (many!) up, on October 18, and one for ages 6 and (many!) up, on October 10.
Ticketing and general information The FNC online ticketing is open here. For its 55th edition, the festival offers fully digital ticketing to make it easier for festival-goers to reserve seats and plan their route. A physical ticketing point will also be accessible at the Cineplex Odéon Quartier Latin, from October 6 to 18, from 2:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
About the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC)Founded in 1971, the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) is an international film festival, established as one of the most important in North America and an unmissable event for contemporary cinema. For 55 years, it has presented nearly 200 works from around the world every fall in Montreal, providing a showcase for emerging voices as well as today’s greatest filmmakers. In 2026, the FNC became a festival officially accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF), joining the small select circle of festivals recognized for their contribution to the influence of world cinema and the development of the industry. Faithful to its mission of discovery, innovation and artistic excellence, each year the FNC brings together creators, industry professionals and audiences around the works that shape the cinema of tomorrow. The FNC is presented by Quebecor and benefits from the financial support of the Government of Quebec, SODEC, the General Delegation of Quebec in Paris, Telefilm Canada, Tourisme Montreal, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Consulate General of France in Quebec, in collaboration with Eurimages, as well as with the financial participation of the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity and the support of the City of Montreal as part of the Festivals and Major Events Fund. The Canada Arts Council’s mandate is to encourage and promote the study and dissemination of the arts, as well as the production of works of art. Through its grants, services, prizes, initiatives and payments, the Arts Council contributes to the dynamism of a diverse artistic and literary scene. These activities generate significant cultural, social and economic benefits in more than 2,000 communities in all regions of the country and abroad. The Council’s investments and leadership promote public participation in the arts across the country, while contributing to the recognition of Canadian artists and arts organizations abroad. The Consulate General of France in Quebec pilots and manages the relationship between France and Quebec, firstly the rich political and economic exchanges and, more broadly, a constant dialogue between leaders and civil societies on contemporary issues. Through its cultural action, the Consulate General of France in Quebec advises, designs, develops and promotes Franco-Quebec artistic and cultural projects, particularly related to youth, digital technology and innovation. The Festival also thanks its private partners, friends of the festival, as well as official suppliers and all distributors for their support.