A comedy that follows a young dancer in love. An adventure film that takes moviegoers into a wild forest. A drama that tells the story of a teenager’s move to a foster family. With 100 films from around fifteen countries, the 26th edition of the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM) offers a diverse program presented both in cinemas and online. Valérie Roberts, mother and mother-in-law of three girls aged 1 to 13, is the godmother of the event, which will take place from February 25th to March 5th. The press spoke to him.
Posted at 1:00 p.m
Question: Also this year FIFEM presents hybrid programs, both online and in cinemas, mainly in the Beaubien cinema. Why should families choose this second option?
Answer: I have the impression that this question was not asked before the pandemic. […] The family activity par excellence was going to the cinema. It was the fact that we could eat popcorn and candy and have a soft drink while watching a movie on a giant screen. The pandemic is here and […] We have made it a habit to do it at home. FIFEM this year is an opportunity to reconnect with cinemas. Get out of the house and watch movies at Montreal’s cultural institution Beaubien Cinema.
Q. For many families, children’s movies inevitably rhyme with Disney. How could the festival program surprise children used to this kind of staging?
A. When we think of children’s films, we think Disney, we think Pixar [qui appartient en plus à Disney]and that’s not bad. […] The FIFEM aims to show that there is a much broader offer. Maybe it’s less accessible, that’s true. We allow access during spring break. We enable people to discover Quebec films. […] I also think it’s cool to be able to see cinemas that come from somewhere completely different. A film from Germany, France, Ukraine, Norway, Peru… We rarely have that available.
Q. Which film from the program are you looking forward to the most?
A. I grew up with Contes pour tous. Part of my heart and my vision of children’s cinema springs from this. I can’t wait for Coco Farm [le 25e titre de cette série de films jeunesse] to see one again. Check this type of movie where we can be together the whole family and where the children find their place but also the parents. It is also that, the cinema for children. It’s fine to do for young people, but if the parents are bored for two hours, it’s a long, long time. The aim is to find an interesting offer for everyone. I think Tales for All always managed to do that.
* Wording has been edited for brevity.
The Montreal International Children’s Film Festival, February 25th to March 5th, online and at Beaubien cinemas