From August 19 to 24, 2025, the Knowlton Film Festival returns for its 6th edition — a week full of encounters, discoveries, and screenings. Feature and short films in competition, premieres, documentaries, masterclasses, and special events will bring the Théâtre de Lac-Brome to life — the Festival’s beating heart. Over thirty guests are expected, including filmmaker Léa Pool, who will accompany a retrospective of her work, along with many directors, screenwriters, and actors who will present their films in person.

On Thursday, August 21 in the evening, Set Me Free (Emporte-moi) will be screened with the exceptional presence of Karine Vanasse and Pascale Bussières. Twenty-six years after its release, the two actresses reunite with the director to look back on a landmark film in Quebec cinema and their luminous encounter at the very start of their careers. A must-see event!Earlier that afternoon, Léa Pool will introduce Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s (Maman est chez le coiffeur), followed by a discussion with the director, guest moderator, and the audience.

Finally, on Saturday, August 23 in the afternoon, Hotel Silence (Hôtel Silence) will be screened in the presence of Sébastien Ricard. Three screenings to discover or rediscover an essential filmmaker — and a rare opportunity to share these moments with those who brought them to life on screen.

Thanks to a partnership with the Vues du Québec Festival in Florac, this year the Knowlton Film Festival opens a window onto the cinema of Occitanie — a territory that brings together the regions of Languedoc, Roussillon, and the Cévennes. The Festival will welcome a delegation of filmmakers, artisans, and cinema professionals from the region.Among the works presented: Les Inconnus de la terre (1961) by Mario Ruspoli — a landmark film of cinéma vérité, shot in the Cévennes, with cinematography by Michel Brault — a few years before Pour la suite du monde (1963).