The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma is providing a sneak peek at some of its programming, and is pleased to announce that Philippe Falardeau’s Congorama, Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley (Palme d’Or, Cannes 2006), and Pedro Almodovar’s Volver will all be shown as part of the 35th FNC. Congorama will open this milestone edition, which runs from October 18 to 28.

Congorama, directed by Philippe Falardeau and produced by Luc Déry and Microscope, will be distributed in Quebec by Christal Films. The film follows Michel, a Belgian inventor, who learns at 41 that he was born in hiding – in a barn in Sainte-Cécile, Quebec. In the summer of 2000, Michel visits Sainte-Cécile, where he meets a man driving an outdated hybrid electric car. While driving to Montreal together, they are involved in an accident that will change not only their lives, but the future of the automotive industry. Announcing...the Congorama! With this second feature, Philippe Falardeau marks a triumphant return to the FNC, where he presented La Moitié gauche du Frigo in 2000. Congorama stars Olivier Gourmet (Le Fils, Le Couperet), Paul Ahmarani (Le Marais, La Moitié gauche du Frigo), Jean-Pierre Cassel (Les Rivières Pourpres), Claudia Tagbo and France Castel. The cast and crew will be present to open the festival.

True to its mission of presenting high-quality, innovative programming, the FNC will show the year’s very best films. Among them will be the Palme d’Or winner from the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, The Wind that Shakes the Barley by Ken Loach (Land and Freedom, Sweet Sixteen). The film takes us back to Ireland in the 1920s, where peasants are taking up arms against the feared Black and Tans, the British paramilitary troops sent by the thousands to quell the Irish independence movement. The English filmmaker is expected to attend the event. The film will be distributed in Quebec by Christal Films.

Another Cannes 2006 award winner, Pedro Almodovar (who earned best screenplay honours), will also be featured in a special presentation. Volver follows three generations of women as they survive turmoil, fire, madness, superstition and even death thanks to goodness, a few lies and unlimited vitality. The film stars Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Chus Lampreave, Yohana Cobo and Blanca Portillo, who shared the award for best actress at Cannes 2006. Volver will be distributed in Quebec by Seville Pictures.

Canada’s oldest international film festival, the FNC will celebrate its 35th anniversary from October 18 to 28, 2006. The Festival’s venues are Ex-Centris, Cinéma Impérial, Cinéma Parallèle, Cinémathèque québécoise and the Just For Laughs Museum.