The 28th edition of the Montréal World Film
Festival gets underway Thursday night with the world premiere in competition of the Canadian production Elles Étaient Cinq (The Five of Us), one of 111 movies having their world or international premieres during the Festival, August 26 – September 6.

Some 245 feature films will unspool during the 12-day event, 56 of them world premieres and 55 international premieres, i.e. motion pictures making their
debut outside their country of origin. Another 23 classic features will be shown as part of the free Cinema Under the Stars program. Fourteen medium-length productions and 157 shorts will be featured as well, bringing the total number of films at this year's event to 439 from 72 countries.

Opening ceremonies Thursday night will include the presentation of the jury, headed by renowned French director Claude Zidi. Other members include noted American director Jerry Schatzberg, Czech animator Bretislav Pojar, Oscar- winning Montréal producer Denise Robert, Indian director Goutam Ghose, Mexican actress Diana Bracho, rising Italian star Anita Caprioli and Spanish director Jaime Camino.

Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla and Québec Minister of Culture and Communications Line Beauchamp will head the list of dignitaries and industry
officials and personalities at the opening. Director Ghyslaine Côté and the cast of Elles Étaient Cinq will also be in attendance.

Among the highlights of this year's MWFF will be the tributes to the internationally acclaimed star Isabelle Adjani, the legendary Greek director Theo Angelopoulos and the influential Croatian filmmaker Krsto Papic.

The MWFF programming includes the following sections: World Competition, Cinema of the Americas (Panorama Canada, United States, Latin America),
Cinema of Europe, Cinema of Africa, Cinema of Asia, Cinema of Oceania, World Documentaries, Out of Competition, Tributes, the Student Film Festival, and Outdoor Screenings. This year, the festival is also presenting two new sections, “Variety Critics’ Choice: Americas Now”, a selection by Variety of films from the United States, Canada and Latin America and Cinema and Sports, a special section to commemorate the 2004 Olympics.

As in the past, an international jury will see the films entered in the World Competition and they will attribute the following prizes: Grand Prize of the
Americas (Best Film), Special Grand Prize of the Jury, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Artistic Contribution, Innovation Award, 1st Prize and Jury Prize for short films in competition. The Jury for the First Films World Competition (first fiction features from all sections of the festival) will award gold, silver and bronze Zeniths.