RIDM announces the opening and closing films of its 29th edition
To Hold a Mountain by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, and Ba’s Book by Ashley Da-Lê Duong
Montreal, Thursday, September 3, 2026 - The Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) is pleased to announce the opening and closing films of its 29th edition, which will take place from November 19 to 29, 2026. This year, RIDM is moving into new screening venues to centralize their activities in the heart of the Quartier Latin.
Opening Film - TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić
Selected to open the festival, the film To Hold a Mountain by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić takes us into the mountains of Montenegro, as a mother and daughter’s agricultural way of life is threatened by a NATO project. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, the feature has made its mark at the prestigious CPH:DOX, Cinéma du réel, Visions du Réel, Hot Docs, Dok.fest München, and MakeDox.
“To Hold a Mountain is a trace of our seven-year-long journey and friendship with the herding community in the Sinjajevina mountains of Montenegro. It’s been an amazing adventure to share days with Gara and Nada — an adventure that changed our lives. We hoped this film could also bring new experiences to its viewers. It’s a work of love that contemplates love as a possible political tool. In this spirit, we are thrilled and honoured to open RIDM, one of the finest documentary festivals around.” - Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, filmmakers
Produced by Wake Up Films, Ardor Films, Les Films de l'œil sauvage and CVINGER FILM, To Hold a Mountain will have its Quebec Premiere as the opening film of the festival, on Thursday, November 19 at the Salle Pierre-Mercure of Centre Pierre-Péladeau (300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East). A second screening will be held as part of the festival.
Closing Film - BA’S BOOK by Ashley Da-Lê Duong
To bring the festival to a close, RIDM will present Ba’s Book, a film in which Ashley Da-Lê Duong and her family examine the intergenerational impacts and legacy of the Vietnam War by recreating scenes from a book written by the filmmaker’s father. The documentary will have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and its International Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival before reaching local audiences.
“The whole team is honoured that Ba’s Book was selected as the closing film of RIDM — it feels like coming home! RIDM has been such a nurturing force for my work over the years, from their Doc Lab Montréal, Rough Cut Pitch, and even their Docs-In-Progress - Canadian Showcase at Cannes Docs. We can’t wait to show our ambitious, quirky, and heartfelt film to our friends, family, and community here in Montreal.”- Ashley Da-Lê Duong, filmmaker
Produced by Intuitive Pictures, Ba’s Book will close the festival and have its Quebec Premiere on Saturday, November 28 at the Maison Théâtre (245 Ontario Street East).
RIDM takes over the Quartier Latin
For their 29th edition, RIDM is concentrating their activities in the Quartier Latin. A valuable ally and the festival’s headquarters, the Cinémathèque québécoise will host the bulk of the programming across ten days of festivities. The opening film will be presented nearby at the Salle Pierre-Mercure of Centre Pierre-Péladeau. Located just a five-minute walk away, RIDM will also expand to the Maison Théâtre for the first time. Transformed into a full-fledged cinema, it will host screenings every evening starting November 21. The festival will also be taking over the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) for one night. Cinéma du Parc and Cinéma du Musée, longtime RIDM partners, will round out this new configuration of screening venues.
The complete 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
Facebook - Instagram -Bluesky -Letterboxd- TikTok
-30-
For interview requests or press materials, please contact:
Caroline Rompré | pixelleX communications | 514-778-9294 |caroline@pixellex.ca