It has been a banner year for Quebec cinema, as evidenced by the boffo box office enjoyed by the sleeper comedy La Grande seduction ($6 million), directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot, and Denys Arcand’s Les Invasions barbares ($5.65 million). Both films will be screening at TIFF 2003 in English subtitled versions, as Seducing Dr. Lewis and The Barbarian Invasions, respectively.

Other Quebec features showing at the fest include La Face cachee de la lune, 20h17 rue Darling and Gaz Bar Blues. Face, making its world premiere, is the latest from director Robert Lepage (Possible Worlds), in which Lepage also acts as twins whose sibling rivalry parallels the concurrent U.S.-U.S.S.R. space race.

20h17 rue Darling is the second feature from director Bernard Emond. It tells the story of Gerard (Savage Messiah’s Luc Picard), who reexamines his life when he survives an apartment explosion. Emond’s debut, La Femme qui boit, also played at TIFF and went on to win both a Genie Award and a Jutra for star Elise Guilbault.

Gaz Bar Blues, from director Louis Belanger (Lauzon-Lauzone), is about the everyday trials and tribulations of a small-town gas station owner, played by Serge Theriault (Les Boys). The film recently opened the Montreal World Film Festival.

Seducing Dr. Lewis and La Face cachee de la lune are featured in TIFF’s special presentation showcase, while 20h17 rue Darling and Gaz Bar Blues will be screened as part of Perspective Canada.