The 9 th edition of DiverCiné Festival honours Francophone cinema ! Ottawa, from Wednesday, April 13, to Saturday, April 16, 2011

Organized by the Embassy of in Canada and Canadian Heritage, in partnership with Canadian Film Institute and Library and Archives Canada

Location: Auditorium – Library and Archives Canada – Ottawa

DiverCiné: A World View of la Francophonie is an expression of the identities, the imaginations and the cultures of the Francophone world in all its diversity. The festival showcases films selected by major international festivals, but rarely seen in Canada, and introduces the Canadian audiences to original works by filmmakers from Francophone countries around the world.

DiverCiné is a cultural event that celebrates creative productions from Canadian and international Francophonie.

Dates and times to remember: Festival Opening Gala Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 7:00 pm screening of Buried Secrets by Raja Amari – Venice Film Festival selection – in the presence of the director – screening and discussion followed by a cocktail. By invitation and contest winners only. Festival Dates Tuesday, April 13, to Saturday, April 16, 2011 Location Auditorium of the Library and Archives Canada 2011 Film Selection 11 new releases , emphasis on the new generation of directors noted at major international festivals, 3 directors present, a screening for invited school classes only, a special, free all-ages screening, and for the first time, a day dedicated to la Francophonie des Amériques .

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La Journée de la Francophonie des Amériques – April 14

In partnership with the Alliance of Francophone Producers of Canada, the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques and the Front des réalisateurs indépendants du Canada , for the first time, DiverCiné is organizing la Journée de la Francophonie des Amériques, a day dedicated to talent from Francophone countries in the Americas. The celebration will include three films , from Ontario, Quebec and Haiti. Two directors will be present (Dominic Desjardins and François Delisle) and will also participate in the discussion on the cinematographic creation in different Francophone Canadian spaces, as well as the possibilities of closer collaboration, followed by a cocktail reception.

2011 DiverCiné Film Selection:

Tuesday April 12 7:00 pm – Opening Gala – Buried Secrets by Raja Amari - in the presence of the director - Cocktail – by invitation and contest winners only

Wednesday April 13 1:00 pm : Eleanor’s Secret by Dominique Monféry – France – for invited school classes only 6:30 pm – Buried Secrets by Raja Amari (in the presence of the director) - Tunisia 9:00 pm - Soirée Vues d’Afrique : The Place In Between by Sarah Bouyain – Burkina Faso

Thursday April 14 La Journée de la Francophonie des Amériques

3:00 pm – Eat, For This Is My Body by Michelange Quay – Haiti 5:00 pm – Twice A Woman by François Delisle – Canada – Quebec – in the presence of the director.

Evening: 7:00 pm – Discussion – Création cinématographique et francophonie canadienne , led by Danièle Grenier, host of the show "Divines tentations" on the First Channel of Radio-Canada 90.7 FM, in the presence of Dominic Desjardins (director), François Delisle (director) and Mark Chatel (producer). 8:00 pm Cocktail reception 9:00 pm – Everybody’s Couch by Dominic Desjardins - Canada – Ontario – in the presence of the director.

Friday April 15 7:00 pm - Soirée Radio-Canada : A Screaming Man by Mahamat Saleh Haroun - Chad 9:00 pm – Tuesday After Christmas by Radu Muntean - Romania

Saturday April 16 2:00 pm – All-ages screening: Eleanor’s Secret by Dominique Monféry – France – free screening, limited seating 4:00 pm – Mascarades by Lyes Salem - 7:00 pm – Lily Sometimes by Fabienne Berthaud - France 9:00 pm – Every Day Is A Holiday by Dima El Horr – Lebanon

www.divercine.com

2 2011 DiverCiné Film Selection:

Tuesday April 12 Opening Gala 7:00 pm – by invitation and contest winners only In presence of the director Wednesday April 13 6 :30 pm

Buried Secrets Director: Raja Amari Official selection, Venice Film Festival 2010 Starring: Hafsia Herzi, Soundes Bel Hassen, Wassila Dari Tunisia – 2009 – 91 min Arabic and French, with French subtitles Aicha, Radia, and their mother live removed from the world, in the underground servants’ quarters of a deserted mansion. The precarious balance of their daily life is shaken by the arrival of a young couple who move into the main house. A bizarre cohabitation settles between the couple and the three women who decide not to make their presence known to these unexpected neighbours. They cannot leave their hiding place as it conceals secrets buried for years...

All -ages screening Wednesday April 13 1 :00 pm

for invited school classes only

Saturday April 16 2 :00 pm Free screening, limited seating

Eleonore’s Secret Director: Dominique Monféry Starring: Jeanne Moreau, Julie Gayet, Pierre Richard France – 2009 – 80 min French Natanaël, soon to be 7 years old, still doesn’t know how to read. When his eccentric old aunt bequeaths her book collection to the young boy, Natanaël is quite disappointed! He soon discovers that the books have a secret: once night falls, the books’ heroes—including the lovely Alice, the wicked fairy Carabosse, and the terrible Captain Hook—come to life. They warn Natanaël that they are in danger of disappearing, along with their stories, forever! Natanaël, who is shrunk by Carabosse, faces the treacherous Ramastou, giant crabs, and the hungry ogre… Will he get there in time to say the magic words and save his friends? Just because something is made up doesn’t mean it isn’t real!

3 Vues D’Afrique Evening Wednesday April 13 9:00 pm

The place in Between Director: Sarah Bouyain Grand Prize, Festival 2010; official selection Venice, Toronto, and Namur festivals Starring: Dorylia Calmel, Assita Ouedraogo, Blandine Yameogo Burkina Faso – 2010 – 82 min French with English subtitles Amy, a young mixed-race woman, travels to Bobo, Burkina Faso, to reconnect with her mother, from whom she was separated at the age of 8. She discovers only her aunt living in the family home and finds the courtyard of her childhood both comforting and unsettling. She feels a stranger in a city she no longer recognizes. For years now, Mariam, a Burkinabe housecleaner in Paris, has lived as a furtive shadow on the margins of society.

Journée de la Thursday April 14 3:00 pm Francophonie des Amériques

Eat, For This Is My Body Director: Michelange Quay Grand Prize, Miami Film Festival Starring: , Catherine Samie Haiti – 2008 – 105 min French with English subtitles Haiti, the black island, abandoned in all its poverty and misery. Madame, a white woman, lives in a colonial fantasy in which she teaches and cares for the damned of this world. This is a hypnotic and visceral film experience that brings us to the depths of the spiritual and material suffering in the first black republic.

4 Thursday April 14 Journée de la 5:00 pm Francophonie des Amériques

In presence of the director

Twice a Woman Director: François Delisle Official selection, Pusan, Chicago, and Nouveau Cinema of Montréal festivals Starring: Évelyne Rompré, Étienne Laforge, Marc Béland, David Boutin, Martin Dubreuil, Marie Brassard Canada–Quebec – 2010 – 94 min French with English subtitles Catherine flees an abusive marriage to begin a new life. She calls upon a group of women who provide her with a new identity and help her move to a new town, where she finds and job and begins to rebuild her life. Life is hard and her teenage son doesn’t deal well with the upheaval. But Catherine—now known as Sophie— hangs on and even meets a new man, a truck driver who is fascinated with her. The spectre of her violent husband is always there, but little by little she learns to confront it.

Journée de la Thursday April 14 9:00 pm Francophonie des Amériques

In presence of the director

Everybody’s Couch Director: Dominic Desjardins Winner of the TV5 Prize for Best Francophone Film Starring: Steve Adams, Antoine Gratton, Marc Lamontagne Canada–Ontario – 2010 – 76 min French with English subtitles Zoé finds herself hitchhiking across Canada after a break-up with her boyfriend. She doesn’t have a lot of money, so she is counting on her good luck and the generosity of the people that she meets. On the way, she befriends Alex, who decides to give up everything and go with her. A hopeless romantic convinced that he has found his soul mate, Alex has his determination put to the test during the long journey. As they travel from coast to coast, they get to know each other and experience a fresh start.

5 Radio -Canada evening Friday April 15 7:00 pm

A Screaming Man Director: Mahamat Saleh Haroun Jury Prize, 2010 Cannes Film Festival Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma, Emile Abossolo M'Bo Chad – 2010 – 92 min Arabic and French with English subtitles Present-day Chad. Adam, a sixty-something former swimming champion, is pool attendant at a smart N'Djamena hotel. When the hotel gets taken over by new Chinese owners, he is forced to give up his job to his son Abdel. Terribly resentful, he feels socially humiliated. The country is in the throes of a civil war and rebel forces are attacking the government. The authorities demand that the population contribute to the "war effort", giving money or volunteers old enough to fight off the assailants. The District Chief constantly harasses Adam for his contribution. But Adam is penniless; he has only his son...

Friday April 15 9:00 pm

Tuesday after Christmas Director: Radu Muntean Official selection, Cannes Film Festival 2010 – Un Certain Regard Starring: Mimi Branescu, Mirela Oprisor, Maria Popistasu Romania – 2010 – 99 min Romanian with French subtitles Paul Hanganu married Adriana 10 years ago. They have an 8-year-old daughter, Mara. For the past six months, Paul has been involved in an extramarital affair with Raluca, a dentist. In the days leading up to Christmas, Paul struggles to find time for Raluca, for gift shopping, and for his family. He decides to take his daughter to the dentist for one last visit, but an unexpected change in Adriana's schedule brings the two women in the same room for the first time. The meeting forces Paul to face a difficult decision.

6 Saturday A pril 16 4:00 pm

Mascarades Director: Lyes Salem Nomination for the César Award for Best First Work, 2009 Starring: Lyes Salem, Sara Reguigue, Mohamed Bouchaïb Algeria – 2008 – 92 min Arabic with French subtitles Mounir Mekbek lives with his family in a small village in the heart of the Algerian countryside. Very proud and sure of himself, he has only one dream: to finally be appreciated by his fellow villagers. Screwing up his carefully maintained image is his headstrong, narcoleptic sister Rym, who falls asleep anywhere and whom the village is convinced will end up a spinster. One evening, Mounir returns from town drunk and announces that he's found a suitor for his sister. The fake story snowballs until the suitor morphs into a rich, blonde Australian. The village begins preparing for the wedding in earnest—but without a bridegroom in sight.

Saturday April 16 7:00 pm

Lily Sometimes Director: Fabienne Berthaud Starring: Diane Kruger, Ludivine Sagnier, Denis Ménochet France – 2010 – 108 min French with English subtitles Lily is like no one else. She lives in a whimsical world in harmony with nature at her mother’s home in the middle of the countryside. Her older sister, Clara, married to an up-and-coming attorney, lives and works in Paris. When their mother dies, Clara has to look after Lily, a situation that turns her life and job upside down. Under Lily’s influence, Clara re-examines her life and gets a taste of a certain freedom.

7 Saturday April 16 9:00 pm

Every Day is a Holiday Director: Dima El-Horr Starring: Hiam Abbas, Manal Khader, Raia Haidar, Fadi Abi Samra Lebanon – 2009 – 82 min Arabic and French with English subtitles It's Independence Day in Lebanon; three women who have never met before are on the same bus heading to visit a prison in a remote area of the country. Travelling through an arid landscape littered with mines and decapitated dreams, the journey transforms into the women's quest for their own independence.

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