Concordia and Fantasia Film Festival formalize partnership

Concordia University is reinforcing its position as a major cultural engine in Montreal with the signing of an agreement with the Fantasia International Film Festival on the eve of the festival’s 16th edition and its 10th anniversary at the university’s downtown Sir George Williams Campus.

The agreement, signed June 13, further solidifies Fantasia’s connection to Concordia, which has acted as host through much of its successful history. It builds on the shared strengths of both partners: a festival that showcases cutting-edge creations and a university that has forged an international reputation for its creative output through programs, including those offered through the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema.

“An important part of Concordia’s mission is to link the university’s faculty and students with the wider community,” says Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Frederick Lowy. “We are pleased to build on our partnership with such a dynamic festival as Fantasia, now anchored solidly in Quartier Concordia.”

In the coming years, Concordia students will benefit concretely from the partnership through  activities that will include scholarships, internships and master classes.

From left to right: On June 13, Fantasia President and co-founder Pierre Corbeil and Concordia President Frederick Lowy signed an agreement that strengthens the partnership between organizations. | Photo by Concordia University

“We’ve had a productive association with Concordia for more than a decade,“ says President and Co-founder of Fantasia Pierre Corbeil. “As our festival grows in size and popularity, we’re keen to find new ways to deepen our collaboration with an institution that helps form tomorrow’s filmmaking innovators.” 

Just as the city’s Quartier des Spectacles has become a hub of activity, so too is Quartier Concordia, which continues to expand cultural programming available to Montrealers. The Festival international du film sur l’art (FIFA), Ciné Gael Montreal, and the Montreal International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition are among the organizations that have chosen Concordia’s downtown campus as a site for their programming.

The full program of this year’s edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival will be announced on Wednesday, July 11 in Concordia University’s J.A. DeSève Cinema. The festival runs from July 19 through August 7.

Related links:
•  Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema
•  Fantasia International Film Festival
•  Quartier Concordia