Outdoor films with pillows, a bar, and food trucks starts tonight in Montreal, and admission's free

With less than a month left for what Montreal can officially call summer, tonight marks the first summer event for the Festival du nouveau cinéma: A total of four open-air screenings, one per night, are taking place at the city's new Esplanade Tranquille in downtown Montreal's Quartier des spectacles.

The new public square at the corner of Saint-Catherine Street West and Clark Street's inaugural event will last from September 2 to 5, and admission is free for filmgoers! Once there, visitors will have a bar for drinks, food trucks for snacks, and "many other surprises for all festival-goers" (knowing Montreal, we're expecting circus performers). All that's needed is for people to reserve their spots via the website (links below) and to bring their vaccine passports.

Here's what's playing over the four nights of free screenings:

September 2: The 'estival' will start five short films from emerging Quebec filmmaker, including STAR (Emilie Mannering), BROTHERHOOD (Meryam Joobeur), MON BOY (Sarah Pellerin), CHEF DE MEUTE (Chloé Robichaud), and QUELQU’UN D’EXTRAORDINAIRE (Monia Chokri). The filmmakers will be present to comment on their films, and the evening will kick off with the musical short INCARNAT Piano – Film (Charles Grenier and Philippe Cyr).

This event's in French, tickets can be found here.

September 3: Night number two will feature Thomas Vinterberg’s drama ALCOOTEST, winner of the 2021 Oscar for best foreign film. Starring Mads Mikkelsen, the movie will be presented in the original Danish version, with French subtitles. Apparently there are "a few surprises and a dance performance planned as well."

This event's in Danish and French, tickets can be found here.

September 4: DJ Rhythm Hues (Parker Mah) from the Montreal collective Tumbao and the group Chacon will start the evening before Montrealer Kaveh Nabatian’s feature SIN LA HABANA, shot in Cuba, will be screened. The film received the Prix de la diffusion Québecor at the 49th FNC.

This event's in Spanish and French, tickets can be found here.

September 5: To close the 'estival', there's going to be a screening of the comedy MANDIBULES from FNC stalwart Quentin Dupieux. Presented at the Venice Film Festival in 2020, the film stars David Marsais and Grégoire Ludig (Palmashow), Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour) and singer Romeo Elvis. 

This event's in English and French, tickets can be found here.