Lights & Projection
Cinema and film festivals
in Quebec City: scene,
theaters and events
Quebec City has a passionate relationship with the seventh art. From neighborhood cinemas to international festivals, the city offers a rich and diverse film program, including art-house cinema, audacious documentaries, and remarkable local productions.
The Cinema Scene
A cinephile and committed city
Quebec City is not Hollywood, but it is a city where cinema truly matters. There are many cinephiles, passionate debates, and the local scene produces works that resonate far beyond the province.
★ Portrait A tenacious cinephile tradition
Quebec City's cinematic culture is deeply rooted. Active film clubs, summer open-air screenings, university film societies, and a diverse art-house cinema program attest to a population that views film as an art form in its own right, not just entertainment. This cultural demand has nurtured generations of filmmakers and critics.
The Theaters
Spaces for all types of cinema
From comfortable multiplexes to intimate art-house cinemas, Quebec City boasts a range of theaters that reflect the diversity of the city's cinephiles.
★ Heritage Quebec City's Historic Cinemas
Some of Quebec City's movie theaters are architectural landmarks in themselves. These old cinemas, with their ornate facades and period interiors, have survived decades of competition to remain vibrant cultural venues. Watching a film in these theaters is a dual experience: that of the film and that of the space that hosts it.
The Gabrielle-Roy Library and cultural screenings
The Gabrielle-Roy Library, in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, regularly offers free or reduced-price screenings as part of thematic programs. Heritage cinema, films in minority languages, social documentaries: a demanding and accessible program that enriches the cultural offerings of the neighborhood.
Festivals
Major film events
Quebec City hosts several film festivals that attract filmmakers, producers, and cinephiles from around the world. These events put the city on the international cinema map.
★ Landmark Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma
Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma is the main cinematic event dedicated to Quebec cinema. Every year, this festival presents a selection of feature films, short films, documentaries, and animated films produced in Quebec. A complete overview of a constantly renewing creative industry, with premieres, meetings with the teams, and lively debates.
Quebec en toutes lettres and literary cinema
The Quebec en toutes lettres festival, primarily dedicated to literature, regularly incorporates screenings of films adapted from Quebec novels or inspired by the literary scene. This intersection between literature and cinema produces unique events, where the discussion about the film naturally becomes a discussion about the work from which it originates.
Documentary
A strong tradition in Quebec
Quebec documentary cinema enjoys a well-deserved international reputation. Since the National Film Board of Canada, Quebec has produced some of the most significant documentaries in world cinema history.
★ Heritage The NFB and Quebec's documentary heritage
The National Film Board of Canada, founded in 1939, is the largest public film production institution in the world. Its Montreal studios and the Quebec filmmakers who worked there have created an exceptionally rich body of documentary work. Films such as "Pour la suite du monde" by Pierre Perrault and Michel Brault, or "Mon Oncle Antoine" by Claude Jutra, are milestones of Quebec culture.
Quebec as a Set
The city as a film set
Quebec City is a natural film set. Its historic streets, dramatic landscapes, and unique ambiance have attracted numerous Quebec, Canadian, and international productions.
Set Old Quebec on screen
Old Quebec, with its ramparts, cobblestone streets, and unique architecture, is one of the most popular settings for Quebec cinema. From popular TV series to auteur films, this part of the city has been filmed from every angle and in every season. Every visitor walking through these streets will likely recognize shots seen in a film or series.
Prestige Events
Highlights of the cinema calendar
Quebec City's cinematic calendar offers events each year that transport, provoke thought, and bring people together around the big screen.
★ Event Summer open-air screenings
Open-air screenings on the Plains of Abraham or in Quebec City's parks are among the most popular summer events in the city. Sitting on the grass, a blanket over your shoulders as the night cools, a coffee in hand: watching a film under the stars in this historic setting is a life experience that goes far beyond a simple trip to the cinema.
Cinephile Film-concerts and film-performances
Some hybrid events in Quebec City blend cinema and live music into unique experiences. Orchestras accompanying silent films, musicians creating live soundtracks for short films, or visual performances incorporating filmed excerpts: the boundary between disciplines continues to blur in these creative gatherings.
Before or After the Show: Meet at Petit-Champlain
Whether you've chosen a film festival, an open-air screening on the Plains, or a neighborhood film club, stop by Carrera Café in Petit-Champlain. An espresso to prepare you for the film's emotions, or to extend its effects over a platter and a drink.
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