The Montreal World Film Festival got a swift kick in the shins from Telefilm Canada and SODEC on July 27 when both funders released a year-long study of the country’s four major film festivals, citing poor attendance at the annual fete and coming down hard on its lack of organization and poor relations with filmmakers.

Public attendance at WFF is low for a city the size of Montreal and its market is poorly attended, says the 62-page study. ‘The majority of people consulted question its usefulness… WFF does not provide the gathering places or discussion forums that bring strength to such events,’ says the report.

The study was conducted through interviews with Canadian and international industry professionals and festival organizers, along with focus groups with Montreal audiences.

WFF management was also criticized for its lack of openness with the local film industry, and its refusal to participate in the study, which got underway last summer.

The festival has a reputation for being difficult and secretive – often seeming to shun publicity or attention from the press.

The funders say the study was launched based on ‘a shared wish to critically assess Montreal’s World Film Festival.’ The report, titled Analysis of Canada’s Major Film Festivals and conducted by SECOR Consulting, aims to analyze the ‘success factors’ of WFF, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Atlantic Film Festival. The other three received generally positive reviews.

According to a tersely worded release from Telefilm, ‘The World Film Festival was notified in July 2003 of Telefilm Canada and SODEC’s intention to conduct a critical assessment. However, efforts to involve WFF in the process were met with refusal by the organization’s management and board of directors. SECOR was nonetheless able to compile various data on this festival, some of which WFF has confirmed.’

‘We want a more clear, global portrait of the Canadian festival scene,’ says Nancy Belanger, director of communications at SODEC. ‘We’re not just analyzing the World Film Festival… There are more and more festivals on the calendar competing for our funding, so we needed to get a better idea of each.’

Adds Charles Belanger, chair of Telefilm: ‘As an administrator of public funds, Telefilm must be able to assess the impact of its investments on a regular basis. We want to know how well the supported festivals meet our objectives and the expectations of their different client groups.’

At press time, WFF officials would not comment on the content of the report.

The news comes just as the festival has begun promotions for its Aug. 26 opening. But WFF spokesperson David Novek does not believe the study will negatively impact the festival as it moves forward this year.

‘Look around the [bustling] festival office,’ he says. ‘It’s full speed ahead. We’re in good shape.’

-www.telefilm.gc.ca

With files from Joanne Latimer