Pop Montreal unveiled it’s 2011 line-up at a Press Conference this morning, showcasing a diverse set of events that span all of the arts. Pop Montreal may be best known as Montreal’s premiere music festival, but it similarly includes events for those with an itch for fashion, passion for cinema and love of all things art. Film fans in particular have a lot to look forward to as this year’s Film Pop is being curated by Kier-La Janisse. Kier-La Janisse published author, film reviewer and founder of Montreal’s own Psychotronic Film Center, Blue Sunshine. She is also former head programmer of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin Texas and subject of the documentary Celluloid Horror (2005).
This year, the line-up for Film Pop truly embodies the spirit of Pop Montreal. The subject of both documentary and narrative film are tied to music. In the case of the many documentaries, they 
showcase particular artists or experience relating to the industry. There will be docs covering a wide range of artists working in a variety of genres and eras, from Phil Ochs to Vancouver’s punk scene, there is something to please any music fan. Other films are chosen for the influence and power of their soundtrack, like cult classic biker movie from Japan, Crazy Thunder Road (1980), a rare film presented in partnership with The Cinematheque Quebecoise.
There will be a few special presentations, perhaps most notably a montage collection of the video work of underground music video director R. Stevie Moore, in an event called Teen Routines: The Self Made Magic of R. Stevie Moore. Lovingly assembled by Kier-La Janisse from hundreds of hours worth of footage, this rare and unique presentation will certainly be one of the festival’s highlights. It plays along with the two part documentary The Burton Cycle (2010), which focuses on Winnipeg musician Burton Cummings.
Those with children (or those among us who are children at heart) will also get a kick out of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Rock Party, a programming of cartoons with a rock and roll influence. Held at Pop Quarters, this event will be free.
In total, Film Pop will be showcasing 14 feature films and many shorts. A large portion of these will be Canadian and Quebec premieres. The venues will be primarily Blue Sunshine but with screenings and other events at the Cinematheque Quebecoise and Pop Quarters.
Along with their film content, Film Pop is also presenting a collection of hand-picked ink drawings of Nick Blinko, best known as the frontman of Rudimentary Peni. This will be the first exhibition of his work in Canada and will be an open exhibition at Pop Quarters which runs throughout the entire length of the festival.
For a full schedule check out Film Pop‘s page on the Pop Montreal Website.
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