Davne 1977. Prvi put sam bio na Montrealskom festivalu sa filmom IZBAVITELJ (The Rat Savior or La Nuit de m�tamorphose). Prije toga sudjelovao sam sa svojim filmovima na Cannesu i Berlinu koji su zaista veliki festivali. No, odamh sam osjetio de je Montreal nesto posebno, specificno i orginalno. I Montreal je veliki festival, jedan temeljiti i sveobuhvatan pregled svjetskog filma. Na globusu ne postoji niti jedna znacajna filmska indstrija koju bi Montereal zaobisao. Ne postoji niti jedan filmski pokret na svijetu koji se nece naci na programu Montreala i ako zelis znati sto bi mogla biti buducnost filma onda svakako vidi Montreal.

Sve je na tom festivalu savrseno organizirano, ima tu i glamoora ako treba, no iznad svega su filmovi i ogromna filmska publika medju kojim su mozda najsofisticiraniji filmski gledatelji na svijetu. Jos sam 5 puta bio na festivalu u Montrealu, zadnji puta 2004. godine i uvijek je sve jos i bolje, jednostavno koncept festivala je genijalan. Zato sve moje cestitke Predsjedniku Serge Losique-u i Podpredsjednici Dani�le Cauchard i svim njihovim vrijednim suradnicima.

Krsto Papic

Way back in 1977, I came to the Montreal World Film Festival with my film IZBAVITELJ (The Rat Saviour / La Nuit de m�tamorphose). Before that I had brought my films to both Cannes and Berlin, both of which are really big festivals, but I immediately felt something special, specific and original in Montreal. And Montreal too is a big festival, a fundamental and all-encompassing view of world film. There is not one significant film company that would ignore Montreal, and if one wants a view toward the future of film, then one must come to Montreal.

Everything at the festival is wonderfully organized, and it has its own glamour when needed, but above all are the films and the tremendous film-going public, which may be one of the most sophisticated in the world. I have attended the festival six times, the last time being 2004, and each time it is better. The simple concept of the festival is pure genius. Hence, I send my heart-felt congratulations to festival president Serge Losique and festival vice-president Dani�le Cauchard and all their co-workers.

Krsto Papic