Surf’s Up!

"Sea", "beach" and "Tahiti" are among the most magical words in the language. Although Tahiti, where Gauguin created his famous paintings, is far away, the IMAX cameras have captured the beauty of this mythical place. And in 3D, which intensifies the experience. The film follows world champion surfer Kelly Slater while he rides the spectacular waves breaking over the beaches of paradise. Québec surfers at www.pleinsurf.com were impressed: "This is a documentary for the general public. The film teaches us a tremendous amount about the activity of waves in the ocean, while breathtaking underwater photography lets us explore the flora and fauna of the Tahitian seabed.”

FESTIVAL DE FILMS FRANCOPHONES CINÉMANIA
Cinéma Impérial, 1432, de Bleury.
514 878-0082
www.cinemaniafilmfestival.com
du 5 au 15 novembre

Cinémania is the little festival that roared. Founded in 1995 by Montréal cinephile Maidy Teitelbaum, this festival of French films with English subtitles had modest beginnings. But fifteen years later, it is known and recognized. Subtitled screenings offer curious moviegoers entry into the rich diversity of French cinema, while invited guests, often prestigious (Isabelle Huppert, for one), see the festival as an opportunity to meet with the public.

LES RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES DU DOCUMENTAIRE DE MONTRÉAL (RIDM)
Cinéma ONF, 1564, St-Denis. 514 499-3676
www.ridm.qc.ca
du 10 au 21 novembre

Documentaries are trendy. Just think of the works of Michael Moore or Luc Jacquet’s March of the Penguins. But most of these movies don’t have wide distribution, which is why a documentary film festival like this one is so important. More than 100 films from around the world, chosen for their unique vision and artistic merit.