Boards members
Welcome to the 27th edition of the Montreal International Documentary Festival. Congratulations to Marc and the festival team, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to bring you a rich and diverse program of films and industry events. We will gladly say it again: we are very proud of this festival and, above all, of documentary cinema as a means of expressing the world, of speaking truth to power and of reminding us that we are all part of a whole.
That each of us can make a difference.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish you all a great festival.
Miryam Charles et Coryell Boffy-Resel
Co-chairs
Executive Director
Welcome to the 27th edition of the Montreal International Documentary Festival.
The RIDM's commitment to revealing the nuances of our humanity through documentary cinema remains as relevant as ever. At a time when the distance between people seems to be growing, documentaries continue to play a crucial role as drivers of empathy, inviting us to understand the lives and struggles of others.
This year we are delighted to present Focus Mexico, celebrating the diversity and depth of Mexican documentary cinema. Selected for their ability to capture compelling narratives, these films enrich our global perspective and highlight the country’s kaleidoscope of experiences. The Mexican presence extends to the RIDM Forum, where we welcome two Mexican feature film projects to Doc Lab Montréal and the Rough Cut Pitch, strengthening the ties between our film communities and opening up new opportunities for collaboration.
At the same time, Quebec's documentary talent shines with a stronger presence, illustrated by a remarkable selection of home-grown productions. These films demonstrate the creativity and perseverance of our filmmakers, who are bold and innovative, helping to establish Quebec as a key player on the global documentary scene.
The RIDM Forum, our professional marketplace, continues to play a crucial role in the vitality of our festival. By bringing together documentary experts, enthusiasts and visionaries, the RIDM Forum fosters the exchange of ideas, the formation of new collaborations and the development of projects that will shape the future of documentary by actively supporting filmmakers at every stage of their films' creation.
Beyond the films presented, the RIDM is a platform for encounters and reflection. Our ambition is to create a space where stimulating dialogue and enriching discoveries abound – but don't forget that the festival is also a place of celebration, so we invite you to let your professional exchanges evolve into evening celebrations!
We thank you, our loyal cinephiles, as well as our talented filmmakers, partners, volunteers and dedicated teams, for your ongoing support. Your passion for documentary cinema is the cornerstone of our success.
We invite you to join us from November 20 to December 1 to experience enlightening and inspiring cinematic moments . Get ready for an exploration of the world that promises to be as rich as it is varied.
On behalf of the entire RIDM team, I wish you many happy encounters.
See you soon,
Marc Gauthier
Executive Director
RIDM Programming
For this 27th edition, we've introduced a number of new features to the Nouveaux Regards and Magnus Isacsson competitions, to give greater prominence to the artistic vitality of first works, and to reiterate the importance and value of political and social documentaries. In keeping with the festival's vision, this selection clearly affirms a desire to spotlight Canadian talent, embrace the rich diversity of viewpoints on the world, and highlight artistic vigour in the vast creative field of documentary cinema.
In our retrospective sections, we rediscover some lesser-known films, including activist works with varied cinematic approaches by the Grupo de Cine Liberación sin Rodeos, a Peruvian collective of which filmmaker Carlos Ferrand was a member in the 1970s, as well as two works that demonstrate the cinematic vitality of filmmaker Jeannine Gagné. We're also proud to welcome filmmaker Iva Radivojevic to the festival, to present her audacious works, which oscillate between essay and fiction, and to share with you her singular perspective on cinema. Our Focus Mexico selection, developed in collaboration with the DocMX festival, reflects the breadth of contemporary documentary production in the country, with a selection that allows us to distance ourselves from preconceptions.
Once again this year, the festival team has worked hard to honour the term rencontres – “encounters” – an integral part of the RIDM’s identity. We welcome a large number of filmmakers and professionals from Quebec, Canada and abroad. And there are plenty of opportunities for exchanges between the public and the filmmakers, whether during panel discussions and master classes, after screenings, or in the more relaxed setting of the various festive activities at the Cinémathèque québécoise.
Enjoy the festival!
Hubert Sabino-Brunette, Ana Alice de Morais, Marlene Edoyan,
Olivier Maltais, Sara Côté Vaillant
The Programming Team
Gouvernement du Québec
The Montreal International Documentary Festival showcases the best works from Quebec and around the world. The Gouvernement du Québec is pleased to contribute to this event, which ensures the distribution and promotion of numerous documentary productions, while making them accessible to the general public.
The festival enables the transmission of culture and knowledge through its diversified program. Among the activities presented, the RIDM Forum plays an important role in the evolution of the documentary scene: it's a space where experts and enthusiasts from all over the world come together to learn, discuss and innovate.
We're delighted with this initiative, which contributes to the cultural, economic and tourist vitality of our city. We strongly encourage Montrealers, and anyone visiting our beautiful metropolis, to attend this event, which is one of the most important of its kind in North America. It is events like this that make our Québec destination shine on a national and international scale, and that encourage participants to extend their stay in Québec.
Many thanks to the entire RIDM team.
Mathieu Lacombe
Ministre de la Culture et des Communications, ministre responsable de la Jeunesse, ministre responsable de la région de l’Outaouais
Caroline Proulx
Ministre du Tourisme, ministre responsable de la région de Lanaudière
Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada is proud to promote and celebrate stories that reflect the diversity of voices and communities that make up Canada today. That is why we are happy to partner with the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), to champion Canadian and Indigenous creators and their work!
Investing in films and reinforcing the importance of cinema is at the centre of our mission. As well, it is through partnerships with festivals such as RIDM that Canadian stories continue to touch hearts, stimulate minds and help us explore our common humanity – bringing us closer together.
Festivals play an invaluable role in boosting the visibility of Canadian and Indigenous films, supporting the growth of the audiovisual sector. These events provide opportunities for networking and are a reminder of the unifying power of cinema.
We invite you to watch Canadian and Indigenous films in festivals, in theatres or on your screens.
Julie Roy
Executive Director and CEO, Telefilm Canada
Canada Council for the Arts
The arts help us tell our stories, recognize our shared humanity and build a vision for the future together.
And the world needs more of what the arts provide: more beauty, more conversation and more connection – that’s why there has never been a more urgent need to support the arts.
Arts organizations and artists are essential to their communities, ensuring that people across Canada have the opportunity to experience great art. The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to support the Montreal International Documentary Festival and its creativity in bringing the arts to life for audiences from coast to coast to coast.
Michelle Chawla
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Council for the Arts
Ville de Montréal
It is with great pleasure that Montréal welcomes the 27th Montréal International Documentary Festival, whose bold and diverse program contributes to the reputation of our cultural metropolis and its international influence.
The uniqueness of this festival, which has been part of our cultural landscape for over a quarter-century, makes it a must-attend event for film buffs, industry insiders and up-and-coming filmmakers. It is one of the largest documentary film festivals in North America.
The city of Montréal is proud to support this unique cultural event, which is rooted in a mission to democratize documentaries and make culture more accessible – values that are dear to our administration.
This festival is a great opportunity for cultural exchange and allows us to discover the best documentaries from here and abroad. I invite Montrealers to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Congratulations to the entire team. Have a wonderful festival!
Valérie Plante
Mayor of Montréal
Conseil des arts de Montréal
Documentaries are a unique way to discover complex and lesser-known stories, which sparks reflection and dialogue.
For more than 25 years, the Montreal International Documentary Festival has established itself as an essential pillar in Québec and Montréal cinema. The festival showcases important cinematographic work and creates opportunities for cultural mediation initiatives and partnerships by bringing together Montréal audiences and Québec and international industries.
Supporting the RIDM means supporting a platform that amplifies voices and stories that deserve to be heard. The Conseil des arts de Montréal is proud to support a festival that aligns with our values and contributes to our collective pursuit of a more open, just and equitable society.
Nathalie Maillé
Executive Director, Conseil des arts de Montréal