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Concordia and FIFA partner up for screenings 

International Festival of Films on Art now on campus

Building on the success of numerous organizations that hold screenings at Concordia, such as the Fantasia International Film Festival and the Montreal Human Rights Film Festival, the university is partnering as of this year with the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA).

The J.A. De Sève Cinema will be FIFA’s newest venue when it opens on March 19, joining Place des Arts, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and the Cinémathèque québécoise, among others.

“This alliance is testimony to our institution’s commitment to the artistic community,” said President Judith Woodsworth. “This comes through our support of artistic creation and our engagement in activities that heighten public awareness and appreciation of arts and culture.”

“There’s an irrefutable link between the history of FIFA and Concordia that has not been adequately recognized until now,” said Clarence Epstein, Director of Special Projects and Cultural Affairs in the Office of the President, noting that works by Concordia faculty and alumni have been featured in FIFA’s programming regularly since its inception almost three decades ago.

Concordia grad Philip Szporer produces award-winning dance-videos, documentaries and experimental films with Marlene Millar. He also teaches part-time in the Department of Contemporary Dance. An image from their film, Quarantaine, is being splashed all over the place on FIFA’s poster, catalogue and printed materials.

Quarantaine is “a journey into the heart of the masculine identity” accompanied by acclaimed dancers Marc Béland, Marc Daigle, Benoît Lachambre and Ken Roy. Catch a clip of it in the trailer on the FIFA homepage.

Epstein is hoping that the partnership will also include a more education-based component in future years.

“This is a pilot year of development with the understanding that there are many potential avenues for collaboration,” he said.

FIFA is a ten-day competitive festival running until March 29. As part of the partnership, Concordia students will receive a 15% discount on tickets for films screened at the J.A. De Sève Cinema.