Festival du nouveau cinéma begins 55th edition amid leadership changes

The 55th edition of Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) has launched, featuring the opening screening of Denis Côté’s ‘Violence du corps de l’autre’. The festival runs until October 18, showcasing nearly 200 works from over 30 countries.

The event begins amid significant leadership restructuring and financial challenges. Following the departure of co-general director Ariane Bélanger in August, the organization has moved away from a dual-director model to address budget constraints. Michel Pradier has returned to lead the festival alongside a renewed board of directors headed by president Martin Paul-Hus.

This reorganization follows a period of administrative instability and a loss of approximately $250,000 in sponsorships from major backers, including Netflix, Warner, and BNP Paribas. The festival also faced costs related to amicable settlements with previously dismissed directors. Despite these financial pressures, the FNC remains one of the most heavily subsidized film events in the country.