John Griffin 

After sitting out two pandemic years and as many editions the Knowlton Film Festival (festivalcinemaknowlton.ca) returns with a full slate of home-grown and international fare at Theatre Lac Brome, Aug. 24 – 28. The 24th is actually termed a pre-festival, or soft opening, screening an array of short films. For details as they solidify, and for a great deal else, keep the website close to hand. These are still early days in the planning and confirmation departments. 

This much is known. The festival opens Aug. 25, with a gala cocktail and a new film by Quebec director Louis Godbout. The title has yet to be announced but the film is in French, with English subtitles, and a surprise guest. There is a matinee the 26th with Sutton’s Nicole Giguère presenting her Prison sans barreaux, followed by a conference on Women in Cinema, with director Anik Salas. 

Libre, a film by Hélène Bélanger-Martin about the renowned Lake Memphremagog painter and sculptor André Desjardins, is set, with both artist and director appearing. Later that day Monia Chokri’s Sundance selection Baby Sitter screens, followed by Juke-Box and a night fraught with karaoke and surprise guests too numerous to mention. 

Saturday there is a talk on animation by Chloé Grisole and a tribute to Iron Hill’s great Gerald Potterton and a showing of his Rainbow Boys. Also in the mix are films like Julia, about the redoubtable chef Julia Child; Beans, by Tracey Deer, who will be there; and a possible new short by onetime local boy Albert Neremberg. Sunday morning the kids will like Louloute, set on a French Farm, and the award-winning La Famille de la Forêt, by Knowlton resident Laura Rietveld. 

There is a tribute to the great, sadly late, Jean-Marc Vallée, with his breakout feature C.R.A.Z.Y. and guests. Add to the mix live violinists and accordionists, free drive-in movies like West Side Story in the IGA parking lot, festival spokesman Emile Schneider, and a master class on documentaries with Greg Gransden and his The Mystery Mountain Project and you have the renewed Knowlton Film Festival. 

The Knowlton Film Festival is set for Aug. 24 to 28. A passport is $50. The gala launch is $15; all other tickets are $10.