Five titles unveiled for a first look at the 29th edition of the
Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM)
Montreal, August 20, 2026 – The Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) unveils the first five titles of its 29th edition, taking place from November 19 to 29, 2026. Bringing together highly anticipated films from here with outstanding works from around the world, this first announcement offers a glimpse of a rich program that reflects a world undergoing profound transformation.
Year after year, RIDM showcases unique perspectives and documentary forms that challenge conventions. For this new edition, the festival continues to foster a dialogue between emerging voices and renowned filmmakers, offering a space where the most contemporary films, the most stimulating ideas, and the most inventive cinematic experiences converge.
Local cinema with an international flair
In 1976, Brian Mulroney launched a charm offensive the likes of which Canada had never seen, dismantling the political establishment one dad joke at a time. In this psychedelic doomscroll through the mind of a master politician, filmmaker Matthew Rankin charts the flamboyant rise of Canada’s 18th prime minister. From the backwoods of Baie-Comeau to the backrooms of power, Mulroney plots his ascent, trouncing his enemies with a smile and preparing Canada for the unlimited prosperity and permanent unity we live in today. A feature-length documentary told in six episodes, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and its Quebec Premiere at RIDM, where the filmmaker will return after having served on the festival jury in 2021.
Bringing together a diverse range of visual archives in a creative interplay, An Incomplete Calendar by Sanaz Sohrabi revisits the unfinished solidarity project of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its member states. Having premiered at Cinéma du Réel, where it won the First Film Loridan-Ivens Award and the GNCR - Young Jury Award, this rigorous and fascinating feature continues its remarkable festival run as it is presented to Quebec audiences for the first time.
Unframing Documentary
Platforms is an experimental cinema project shot on 16-mm by Karl Lemieux. Filmed along the Scottish coast, the filmmaker documents the dismantling of decommissioned oil platforms, transforming this industrial process into a sensory experience where image, sound, and material converge. This short film explores landscapes shaped by industry and the traces left by fossil fuel extraction. The project will also be the centrepiece of an installation presented at the artist-run centre OBORO, in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada.
From the Cannes Film Festival to RIDM
Having premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight, Gabin, the debut feature by Maxence Voiseux, takes us to northern France, where the youngest member of the Jourdel family finds himself destined to take over his father’s butcher shop. Torn between family loyalty and a desire to break free, his dreams lie elsewhere: to train a contest cow, to become a dog breeder, and to save his mother’s farm from financial ruin. Spanning a decade, the film immerses us in this young boy’s world, following his journey from the age of 8 to 18. It will be presented as a special screening at RIDM, in collaboration with the Quebec City Film Festival (FCVQ).
Following its acclaimed World Premiere in the ACID section of the Cannes Film Festival, the hybrid work Virages (Summer Drift), directed by Céline Carridroit and Aline Suter, arrives at RIDM for its North American Premiere. Inspired by Johanna’s life and beautifully shot on film, this empowering story humorously reveals a car enthusiast forging her own path.
Thecomplete RIDM line-up will be unveiled at an early-evening event at the Cinémathèque québécoise on Wednesday, October 28, and announced online that same day.
About RIDM
Striving to showcase the most stimulating and diverse visions of documentary cinema, the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) offers audiences a unique program that brings together the works of established filmmakers and promising new talents, while focusing on creating encounters between artists and audiences.
The 29th annual RIDM will take place from November 19 to 29, 2026.
Information:ridm.ca / info@ridm.ca
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Media contact: Caroline Rompré | pixelleX communications | 514-778-9294 |caroline@pixellex.ca