‘Blade Runner 2049’ hits the big screen at Montreal’s Festival du nouveau cinéma

The opening night of the Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montreal screened what is expected to be a Hollywood blockbuster, Blade Runner 2049.

The sequel to the 1982 classic is directed by Quebecer Denis Villeneuve.

Villeneuve was the one who helped secure the screening of the movie at the festival even when it seemed as though it would be impossible.

“They gave me this as a kind of gift because from the start it was clear we would not go in film festivals,” Villeneuve told Global News.

READ MORE: Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve ‘deeply inspired’ by Jake Gyllenhaal

He said that when the dates of the festival and film’s release matched up it seemed meant to be.

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“This is one of my favourite film festivals on earth,” Villeneuve said. “The stars were aligned and it was possible to bring the movie here.”

The festival founder Claude Chamberlan says he was in shock when he got the news from Villeneuve.

Chamberlan says Villeneuve called and said: “Claude you got it.”

The movie hits theatres in Canada on Friday.