NEW CINEMA FESTIVAL FROM OCTOBER 8 TO 18, 2026THE 55th EDITION OF THE FNC CONTINUES UNTIL THIS SUNDAYTHE OTHER OF ALEXANDRE FRANCHI IN CLOSUREDENIS CÔTÉ
The 55th edition of the Montreal New Cinema Festival continues until October 18 with a program that combines auteur cinema, meetings with key figures of the 7th art and discoveries from around the world. Until Sunday, the public will be able to attend a meeting around the launch of the book dedicated to the work of filmmaker Denis Côté, celebrate the career of director Atom Egoyan, who is awarded an honorary Louve, meet an icon of genre cinema, actress Adrienne Barbeau (TheFog, Escape from New York and Swamp Thing), discover emerging films and take part in the closing screening of the festival with L’AUTRE by Alexandre Franchi.
Denis Côté
On Tuesday, October 13, the FNC invites the public to a discussion with Denis Côté, organized in collaboration with the magazine 24 Images. This meeting will also be an opportunity to launch the book in order to extend the reflection around the work of Denis Côté, after his film VIOLENCE DU CORPS DE L’AUTRE, kicked off this 55th edition. The meeting will offer film buffs the opportunity to explore the filmmaker’s unique approach, his relationship to creation and his vision of cinema in the Quebec landscape. A special event not to be missed for festival-goers who want to know more about the journey of an important voice in cinema. This event is free and accessible to all festival-goers. Tuesday, October 13 at 6 p.m., at the Agora du Cœur des sciences at UQAM.
Atom Egoyan receives the Wolf of Honor
A major figure in Canadian cinema and faithful accomplice of the FNC since its beginnings, Atom Egoyan will receive the Louve d’Honneur on Wednesday, October 14 during the restored screening of THE SWEET HEREAFTER, one of the most notable films in his filmography, winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes in 1997. This distinction underlines the exceptional contribution of the filmmaker whose work has marked contemporary cinema. The screening will be followed by a discussion devoted to his entire journey. An opportunity to return to his work and converse with the public.
Adrienne Barbeau: Meeting with an icon of genre cinema
The FNC also highlights the career of actress Adrienne Barbeau, a cult figure in genre cinema and an emblematic personality of the 1980s. The public will be able to meet her during exceptional 35mm screenings of two classics: THE FOG and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, by John Carpenter, which helped to forge her place in the hearts of lovers of genre cinema. The actress will also be present to accompany ODDITIES, the horror thriller by Tyler Savage, in which two young women on the run find refuge in a family barn hiding dark secrets. These sessions will be followed by question-and-answer periods with the actress, offering the public a rare opportunity to interact with her. Screenings of ODDITIES in the presence of Adrienne Barbeau are scheduled for Thursday, October 15 at 6 p.m., and Friday, October 16 at 9 p.m., at the Cineplex Quartier Latin. The screening of THE FOG is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14 at 9:15 p.m., at the Cinémathèque Quebecois.The screening of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK is scheduled for Friday, October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Cinémathèque québécoise.
Films not to be missed this week
This last week of the festival is an opportunity to discover unique and notable works from the last year. Among the titles to watch out for are: THE COLOR OF THE SUN, the first feature film by Quebecer Xavier Tera, the story of a teenager from Okinawa who sees his life turned upside down by his meeting with Colin, a young American raised on a military base. The film was awarded the FIPRESCI prize in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival; in ROSE, Markus Schleinzer stars Sandra Hüller in the role of a woman who has lived for years under a masculine identity in order to have a freedom that her time denies her. For this role, the actress was awarded the Silver Bear for best performance at the Berlinale; with WILD HORSE NINE, Martin McDonagh signs an absolutely entertaining new black comedy work, featuring two CIA agents (played by Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich) on a forced vacation on Easter Island the day before the 1973 coup d’état in Chile, while THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE, the first feature-length fiction film by documentary filmmaker John Wilson, marks a new stage in the filmmaker’s career; TENDER LOVING CARE by Mike Leigh, a British master of dramatic comedy, follows family dynamics and our reactions to the natural changes of life, carried in particular by the touching performance of Kate O’Flynn (Widow’s Bay).
The FNC celebrates emerging cinema
As always, the festival also highlights emerging talents and new forms of creation. The Pan-Canadian Student Cinema Meetings (RPCÉ) continue until Wednesday, October 14, and bring together students from 22 Canadian schools as well as the Warsaw Film School. Workshops, conferences, networking and screenings are on offer and offer young filmmakers an opportunity to meet and showcase their works. Wednesday October 14 will be an opportunity to celebrate short films and emerging artists with an awards ceremony. Furthermore, the public will be able to discover the films made as part of the ONE TAKE SUPER 8 challenge on Friday October 16. This collective creation project invites participants to shoot directly on Super 8 film, without further editing. The films will be unrolled and unveiled for the very first time at the Agora du Coeur des sciences at UQAM, in a celebration of artisanal and, above all, local cinema.
Closing film: The Other by Alexandre Franchi
The 55th edition of the FNC will present its closing film, L’AUTRE by Alexandre Franchi, on Saturday October 17, fresh from its world premiere at TIFF last month. The feature film is the first in French for the director, and offers us a gripping psychological thriller set in a hospital where a man confined to his hospital bed sees his stay turned upside down by the arrival of a gunshot-wounded criminal as his roommate. The film brings together a cast including Pierre-Yves Cardinal, Bilel Chegrani, Karine Gonthier-Hyndman, Nahéma Ricci, Benoît Gouin, Maxime Genois and Marc Messier. Saturday, October 17 at 7 p.m., at the SGWUA Auditorium of Concordia University
Ticketing and general information
The FNC online ticket office is open
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, he 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 Arts Council, 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 Events Fund major.
The Canada Council for the Arts has a mandate 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.