A comedy that follows a young dancer in love. An adventure film that transports moviegoers to a wild forest. A drama that tells the story of a teenager’s move to a foster family. With its 100 films from fifteen countries, the 26e edition of the Montreal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM) offers a very diversified program presented both in theaters and online. Mother and mother-in-law of three girls aged 1 to 13, Valérie Roberts is the godmother of the event, which will be held from February 25 to March 5. The Press spoke to him.
Question: Once again this year, FIFEM is presenting hybrid programming, both online and in theaters, mainly at the Beaubien cinema. Why should families choose this second option?
Answer: I have the impression that this is a question that was not asked before the pandemic. […] The family activity par excellence was going to the cinema. It was the fact that we were going to be able to eat popcorn and candy and drink a soft drink while watching a movie on a giant screen. The pandemic has arrived and […] we got into the habit of doing it at home. FIFEM, this year, is an opportunity to reconnect with cinemas. Get out of your house and go see films in the cultural institution that is the Beaubien cinema in Montreal.
Q. For many families, children’s movies inevitably rhyme with Disney. How could the festival program surprise children accustomed to this kind of production?
A. When we think of children’s films, we think of Disney, we think of Pixar [qui appartient en plus à Disney]and that’s not bad. […] The FIFEM serves to show that there is a much wider offer that exists. Maybe it’s less accessible, it’s true. We allow access during spring break. We allow people to discover Quebec films. […] I think what’s also cool is the possibility of going to see cinema that comes from elsewhere completely. A film from Germany, France, Ukraine, Norway, Peru… It’s rare that we have access to that.
Q. Which film from the lineup are you most looking forward to seeing?
A. I grew up with Contes pour tous. There is a part of my heart and my vision of children’s cinema that stems from it. I can’t wait to firm coconut [le 25e titre de cette série de films jeunesse] to be able to see one again. Review this type of film where we are able to be together the whole family and that the children find their account, but the parents too. It is also that, the cinema for children. It’s fine, doing it for young people, but if the parents are bored for two hours, it’s a long long time. The goal is to succeed in finding an interesting proposal for everyone. I think Tales for All has always managed to do that.
* Wordings have been edited for brevity.
The Montreal International Children’s Film Festival, from February 25 to March 5, online and at the Beaubien cinema