Knowlton Film Festival creates a unique experience for viewing films

After a two year hiatus, Julie Bradet speaks on the Knowlton Film Festival and what people can expect for 2022. Photo courtesy Julie Bradet.

By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily News Bits
CIDI 99.1 FM

The Knowlton Film Festival is getting set for its big comeback with its upcoming third edition running from August 24 to 28.

Put on hold for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film festival invites directors, producers, artists, and others involved in the world of cinematography with the opportunity to present their work to festival-goers in a unique setting. The general public has the opportunity to connect with creators and to experience films outside of the typical movie theatre.

This year’s film festival will honour Eastern Townships resident, director, producer, writer, animator, and three-time Oscar nominee Gerald Potterton and it will see other special guest appearances from Quebecois artists.

“The goal is to bring the public to see movies in a cinema room and to have the chance to meet movie directors, artists, and comedians that will come to the festival also. It’s a very different experience going to a film festival because you have the chance to meet the creators of those movies,” said Julie Bradet, one of the organizers of the Knowlton Film Festival.

The festival will welcome artists from, or living, in the Eastern Townships, other parts of Quebec, and Canada.

“We have two movies from movie directors that live in the Eastern Townships. First, Laura Rietveld with La Famille de la Forêt and Greg Gransden with The Mystery Mountain Project. Louis Godbout is from the region and he will present two of his movies, Coda and Les Tricheurs,” mentioned Bradet.

Well-known Quebecois filmmaker and actress Monia Chokri will make an appearance and present her film Babysitter, which was selected for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Canadian filmmaker Tracey Deer will present her film Beans, festival honouree Gerald Potterton will present some of his films, amongst other guest appearances.

“Artists are not hard to convince to come to Knowlton because it’s such a beautiful place and almost all movies will be shown in our beautiful theatre; artists want to come,” noted Bradet.

Partnering with IGA Gazaille, the Thirsty Boot, and Musé Lac-Brome Museum, films will also be show at these three locations scattered about the village.

“We will have a drive-in at the IGA, this a new screen that we will have to project films this year. (…) We will also have the same concept, outdoors movies, but not with cars, at the museum. So, people can go there with their chair and their blanket and see two other movies,” said Bradet.

Highlighting why film festivals are important to have in the community, Bradet emphasized that it all comes down to providing a different experience with films that may not be offered elsewhere.

“First, it brings movies that are not necessarily shown in the Eastern Townships, or that are shown just for one week and then it’s done. So, we have the possibility to bring movies to the community that wouldn’t be shown that much,” she said. “The other reason is to create a great event for tourism, but also for the whole community. (…) If you get into it, you get to experience films from another point of view. It’s not a solitary experience watching a movie, it’s meant to be watched in public, but when you are at a film festival it’s even more so because you share the experience with other festival-goers.”

Visit the Knowlton Film Festival website for the full programming and ticket prices (if applicable).

Listen to the full interview below:

Knowlton Film Festival