RIDM announces 2012 festival's opening and closing films

Montreal, Wednesday, October 3, 2012 - The Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) will have the honour of presenting the Quebec première of The End of Time, the latest from Canadian filmmaker Peter Mettler, as the festival’s opening film on November 7 at the Monument National’s Ludger Duvernay Theatre. The director will be present, as will producer Ingrid Veninger. After 11 days of films and activities, the festival will close with Journal de France by Raymond Depardon and Claudine Nougaret.

The End of Time (La Fin du temps)
What is time? That is the question acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Peter Mettler tackles in his new audio-visual odyssey. He takes us to far-flung places on a scientific, poetic and profoundly human odyssey into the very idea of time. Once again working in essayist mode, the maker of Gambling, Gods and LSD layers different avenues of enquiry, resulting in what is perhaps his most visually stunning work. With alternating psychotronic sequences and interviews, observation of nature and autobiography, The End of Time is a unique and unforgettable journey haunted by the spirits of Kubrick and Marker. Produced by Maximage, Grimthorpe and NFB, and distributed in Quebec by Métropole Films; theatrical release on December 12.

Journal de France
Raymond Depardon’s latest film, co-directed by his long-time spouse and collaborator Claudine Nougaret, is a singular entry in the famous French documentarist’s body of work. This time out, Depardon is not so much in charge as he is the subject of a film that documents his current work as a photographer and looks back on his filmmaking career. Opening up the couple’s personal records, Nougaret revisits her partner’s artistic life through previously unseen footage from many of his films. In the process, she sheds new light on his work for those who are familiar with it, and tells the uninitiated about the fascinating career of an artist who never stops questioning the relevance and accuracy of his perspective. Distributed by FunFilm, Journal de France will have its North American première at the festival’s closing ceremony and awards presentation on Saturday, November 17 at the Grande Bibliothèque. Theatrical release is scheduled for the spring of 2013.

Quebec’s only film festival dedicated to documentaries, the Montreal International Documentary Festival presents the best reality-based films, including the works of established directors and new talents. The 15th RIDM will take place from November 7 to 18, 2012 at the Cinémathèque québécoise, Cinéma Excentris, the Grande Bibliothèque, Concordia University and Centre Phi.

http://ridm.qc.ca/