NEW MANAGEMENT AT THE FESTIVAL OF NOUVEAU CINEMA

Daniel Langlois, Chairman of the Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema, has announced the appointment of Sheila de La Varende as Executive Director of the Festival. Sheila de La Varende will assume the position immediately; Bruno Jobin, who has served as interim Executive Director since December 2003, will assist her in the transition.

An eminent figure in the world of film for the past two decades, Sheila de La Varende will draw on her experience to strengthen the Festival’s national and international profile. Her knowledge will help in developing and improving the Festival in its current form, and allow its promotional activities to be intensified.

Sheila de La Varende held the position of Director of the European office in Paris, for Telefilm Canada for close to ten years before being named Director of Development and International Relations (Director of the European office and management of the International Festivals and Markets Department). She was the driving force behind Immersion Europe, an annual financing forum for feature film coproductions, specially designed to stimulate strategic alliances between the Canadian and European industries. In the early 1990s, she was employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs as Head of cultural industries.

Unanimously selected by the Festival of Nouveau Cinema’s Board of Directors, Sheila de La Varende will bring a new dimension to the Festival’s search for partnerships and alliances thanks to her numerous contacts and connections.

The Board of Directors of the Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema has been chaired by Daniel Langlois since 1996. The members of the Board are: Claude Chamberlan, Vice-President and Festival Founder and Director; André Lamy, Treasurer and past Executive Director of Telefilm Canada and the NFB; and Directors François Girard, filmmaker; Bruno Jobin, producer; and Arnie Gelbart, producer.

The Festival of Nouveau Cinema is Canada’s oldest international film festival. A showcase for the discovery of high-quality original works and a venue for exploring emerging trends in cinema, its mission is to foster and promote the development of these exciting new works.

The 33rd edition of the Festival will take place from October 14 to 24 at Ex-Centris, Cinéma Parallèle, Cinéma du Parc and Cinéma l’Amour, where special-event screenings will be held.