Québec Cinema Showcase

A showcase of new and exciting cinema from Québec taking place in London.

Cinema from Québec is currently enjoying the international spotlight with two films – Incendies and Monsieur Lazhar – shortlisted for best foreign language Oscars in the past two years, as well as a BAFTA nomination for Incendies. Québécois director, Jean-Marc Vallée’s Café de Flore starring Vanessa Paradis, has also garnered critical acclaim.

Featuring five films and four shorts, Québec Cinema Showcase is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations marking the opening of the Québec Government Office in London. The programme will present some of Québec’s finest and most recent cinematic offerings, including the latest work from Cannes award-winning director, 23-year-old Xavier Dolan, Laurence Anyways, and Starbuck, Ken Scott's Canadian box office smash. Starbuck has been so successful in Canada that Scott has been asked to direct the US remake starring Vince Vaughn for Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios.

Starbuck (Ken Scott) is a comedy that follows a likeable middle-aged loser as he wrestles with regret and responsibility when almost 150 of his more than 500 children through sperm donation come after him with a class action lawsuit. Showing Friday - 8.15pm.

Karakara (Claude Gagnon) is a road movie about a short, unsettling journey around Okinawa, Japan, and the love affair between Pierre, a 61-year-old Canadian academic, and Yunko, a 40-year-old Japanese housewife. Showing Saturday - 5pm.

Laurence Anyways (Xavier Dolan) traces the story of Laurence and Fred, his girlfriend - a couple passionately in love who attempt to sustain their relationship and fight the prejudices of their family, friends and society when Laurence turns 30 and can no longer deny his desire to be a woman. Showing Saturday - 7.30pm.

Bestiary (Denis Côté) is a documentary which explores the fascination humans have for animals, combining footage from a drawing class, a taxidermist’s workshop and a Québec safari park. Showing Sunday - 4.15pm.

Behind Closed Doors (Nathalie Saint-Pierre), the final film in the Québec Cinema Showcase, is a touching story about a reunion between four girls living under the care of the child protection services. Showing Sunday - 6.30pm.

Tickets are available from the box office, or online.