Serge Losique was overwhelmed with emotion on Aug. 24, the night the 30th anniversary edition of his World Film Festival kicked off at the Place des Arts complex in downtown Montreal.

‘This is such a great celebration – 30 years of bringing films from all over the world to Montreal,’ said Losique. ‘I’m very happy with our team, with our films.’

And even if the Quebec film industry hasn’t always supported Losique – he took his licks during last year’s face-off with the New Montreal FilmFest – some of its brightest stars were nonetheless well represented. Sylvie Drapeau, Macha Grenon, Louise Marleau and Gilles Carle were all on hand to watch a montage of award-winning fare from previous World Film Fests.

Also in the crowd were Bernard Werber and Simon Lelouch – director and producer, respectively, of this year’s opening film, France’s faux doc Nos amis les Terriens (Our Earthmen Friends) – and jury head Kathy Bates.

Documentaries are generating much of the buzz at this WFF. Veteran documentarian Bonnie Sherr Klein (Not a Love Story) marks her return to filmmaking – after two debilitating strokes took her away from the business 16 years ago – with SHAMELESS: The ART of Disability, a profile of five artists with disabilities.

Benoît Pilon, the director behind the 2003 hit Roger Toupin, épicier variété, is also back with the intriguing Nestor et les oubliés, about one man’s crusade for compensation along with other victims of child abuse.

The World Film Fest screens until Sept. 4.

www.ffm-montreal.org