The 2021 Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM) kicks off tomorrow and POV wants to give readers a chance to attend virtually! This year, RIDM runs in a hybrid format beginning with the opening night selection of Futura. The screenings follow a pattern of in-theatre events followed by online screenings in three blocks.
Block 1, running November 14 to 17, features the festival opener along with Shannon Walsh’s acclaimed The Gig Is Up, which examines the precarious gig economy, and Paul Tom’s animated work Seuls (Alone). The block also includes the compelling Ukrainian doc This Rain Will Never Stop, which explores the plight of migrants in the European nation, while Just a Movement delivers an essay about Senegalese activist Omar Blondin Diop, who was murdered a few years after appearing in Godard’s landmark film La Chinoise.
Block 2, running November 18 to 21, includes the poetic queer dating doc Acts of Love, while Stray Ducks (Canards Errants) asks what happened to the 90 rubber ducks that NASA dropped into Greenland’s glaciers while studying climate change. Dropstones, meanwhile, is a striking look at a survivor’s path forward after an act of violence, while Vitaly Mansky’s Gorbachev, Heaven is an everything’s-on-the-table portrait of the beloved Russian leader. The section also includes Hot Docs Canadian prizewinners One of Ours and zo reken, among other titles.
Block 3, running November 22 to 25, includes the world premiere of Gabor, Joannie Lafrenière’s quirky portrait of Canadian photographer Gabor Szilasi. (The doc is our upcoming cover story!) This section also features the award-winning Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers’ powerful look at her community’s response to the opioid crisis. Block 3 also offers award-season dark horse Ascension and the world premiere of Jeremiah Hayes’ Dear Audrey, which observes filmmaker Martin Duckworth as he cares for his ailing wife.
Thanks to RIDM, POV has 2 passes to give away for readers to attend the virtual run of a festival block! Winners will also receive a free 1-year subscription to POV.
All you have to do to enter is answer the following question:
What film is the closing night selection of RIDM?
a) Just a Movement
b) Gabor
c) zo reken
d) A Night of Knowing Nothing
Send your answer, along with your preferred screening block for a virtual pass and your mailing address for POV, to info@povmagazine.com with the subject RIDM 2021. Bonus entries go to anyone who shares this contest on Twitter and/or Facebook!
RIDM runs in person Nov. 10-21 and online Nov. 14-25.
