Lights & Projection
Cinema and festivals
of films in Quebec: scene,
venues and events
Quebec maintains a passionate relationship with the seventh art. From neighborhood cinemas to international festivals, the city offers a rich and diverse film program, including repertory cinema, bold documentaries, and remarkable local productions.
The Cinema Scene
A cinephile and engaged city
Quebec 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 shine far beyond the province.
★ Portrait A tenacious cinephile tradition
Quebec's film culture is deeply rooted. Active film clubs, summer outdoor screenings, university film clubs, and a diverse repertory cinema program show a population that sees film as a true art form, not just entertainment. This cultural demand has nurtured generations of filmmakers and critics.
The Venues
Spaces for all kinds of cinemas
From comfortable multiplexes to niche arthouse cinemas, Quebec City has a range of venues reflecting the diversity of the city's film lovers.
★ Heritage Quebec's historic cinemas
Some cinemas in Quebec City are architectural landmarks 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 hosting it.
The Gabrielle-Roy Library and cultural screenings
The Gabrielle-Roy Library, in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, regularly offers free or discounted screenings as part of themed programs. Heritage cinema, films in minority languages, social documentaries: a demanding and accessible program that enriches the neighborhood's cultural offerings.
Festivals
Major film events
Quebec hosts several film festivals that attract filmmakers, producers, and cinephiles from all over the world. Events that put the city on the international cinema map.
★ Beacon The Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma
The Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma is the main film event dedicated to Quebec cinema. Each year, this festival presents a selection of feature films, short films, documentaries, and animated films produced in Quebec. A comprehensive overview of a creative industry that keeps renewing itself, with premieres, meetings with the teams, and lively debates.
Québec en toutes lettres and literary cinema
The Québec en toutes lettres festival, mainly dedicated to literature, regularly includes 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 it comes from.
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 remarkable documentaries in the history of world cinema.
★ 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 documentary collection. Films like "Pour la suite du monde" by Pierre Perrault and Michel Brault, or "Mon Oncle Antoine" by Claude Jutra, are milestones of Quebec culture.
Québec as a Setting
The city as a filming location
Québec is a natural film setting. Its historic streets, dramatic landscapes, and unique atmosphere have attracted many Québec, Canadian, and international productions.
Setting Old Québec on screen
Old Québec, with its ramparts, cobblestone streets, and unique architecture, is one of the most popular settings in Québec 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 these streets will likely recognize shots seen in a film or series.
Prestige Events
Highlights of the film calendar
Québec’s film calendar offers events each year that make you travel, think, and gather around the big screen.
★ Event Summer outdoor screenings
Outdoor screenings on the Plains of Abraham or in Québec’s parks are among the city’s most popular summer events. Sitting on the grass, a blanket over your shoulders when 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 cinema outing.
Film lover Film concerts and film shows
Some hybrid events in Québec combine cinema and live music in unique experiences. Orchestras accompanying silent films, musicians creating live soundtracks for short films, or visual performances integrating filmed excerpts: the boundary between disciplines continues to blur in these creative gatherings.
Before or after the screening: meet at Petit-Champlain
Whether you have chosen a film festival, an outdoor screening on the Plains, or a neighborhood film club, stop by Carrera Café in Petit-Champlain. An espresso to prepare you for the emotions of the film, or to extend the effects around a platter and a glass.
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