Australias French Film Festival ready for 08
February 4th 2008 06:40
Now in its 19th sensational year, Australia¹s Œgrand dame¹ of Gallic culture
will feature a staggering 38 films within its 2008 program, encompassing 34
feature films and 4 documentaries, 36 of which will be making their
Australian premiere. 2008 also marks the first time that Tefal, the
world-leader in non-stick cookware, will be the Festival¹s major sponsor.
In 2007, the Festival attracted nearly 70,000 attendees who flocked to the
event¹s 333 sessions. The 2008 event, which features a greatly expanded
program and more venues, looks set to break all previous attendance figures.
And with almost 80% of the 2007 audience consisting of Australian viewers,
it proves that French cinema has an appeal that reaches far beyond that
country¹s local community.
Boasting the Œcrème de la crème¹ of contemporary French cinema and France¹s
finest actors, including Catherine Deneuve, Sophie Marceau, Patrick Bruel,
Cécile de France, Daniel Auteuil, Thierry Lhermitte, Albert Dupontel,
Isabelle Carré, Sergi Lopez, Beatrice Dalle, Sandrine Bonnaire, Vincent
Lindon, Nathalie Baye, Christian Clavier and Catherine Frot, the Festival
will be launched by a gala screening of director Cedric Klapisch¹s new
drama, PARIS, starring Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche, the mesmerizing
tale of a man who rediscovers the joy of life¹s minutiae when faced with
sudden illness, screening courtesy of Icon Film Distribution.
Additional Festival highlights include:
A SECRET (Un Secret)
Based on Philippe Grimbert¹s fact-inspired novel, and starring Cécile de
France and and Patrick Bruel, a middle-aged man looks back on his childhood
and uncovers his parentsΠlong-buried secret which blighted his formative
years.
ANNA M
Isabelle Carré takes centre stage in this compelling drama which follows a
young woman¹s descent into romantic obsession.
MOLIÈRE
A rollicking period extravaganza starring Romain Duris as Molière, France¹s
most revered playwright, which looks at a little-known incident in his youth
which may have been the inspiration for his beloved comedy, Tartuffe.
WATER LILIES (Naissance des Pieuvres)
A coming-of-age story that centres upon a group of young girls who embark on
a game of emotional chess.
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN (La graine et le mulet)
One of the most critically acclaimed French films of the year, and winner of
the prestigious Louis Delluc prize, THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN is a story about
dignity, self-sacrifice and family love, within a Franco-Arab family whose
patriarch is haunted by an ongoing sense of displacement.
COULD THIS BE LOVE? (Je crois que je l¹aime)
Wealthy and powerful Lucas (Vincent Lindon) meets his romantic Waterloo when
he falls for Elsa (Sandrine Bonnaire) an outspoken artist. But as his
previous girlfriend was exposed as a spy for a business rival, he finds
himself unable to trust his new love, so has her secretly placed under 24
hour surveillance with unexpected results!
THE DINNER GUEST (L¹invité)
A sparkling comedy starring Daniel Auteuil as an unemployed man who seeks
the help of his overbearing neighbor to secure a new job hinges that upon
impressing his boss-to-be with a stylish dinner party.
AFTER HIM (Après lui)
Screen legend Catherine Deneuve portrays a mother who becomes obsessed with
her son¹s best friend, following her boy¹s death in a motor accident.
PRINCESS OF THE SUN (La reine soleil)A animated delight, PRINCESS OF THE SUN takes place in ancient Egypt where
we follow the adventures of Akhesa, a ravishing 14 year-old princess
determined to discover why her mother, Queen Nefertiti has been exiled.
National Dates for the 2008 Alliance Française French Film Festival are:
Sydney : 5-19 March Palace Academy, Palace Verona & Palace Norton Street
Melbourne : 6-19 March Palace Como, Palace Balwyn & Palace Westgarth
Canberra : 20-30 March Greater Union Manuka
Brisbane : 20-30 March Palace Centro
Adelaide : 27 March - 6 April Palace Nova Eastend
Perth : 27 March - 6 April Cinema Paradiso
www.frenchfilmfestival.org
will feature a staggering 38 films within its 2008 program, encompassing 34
feature films and 4 documentaries, 36 of which will be making their
Australian premiere. 2008 also marks the first time that Tefal, the
world-leader in non-stick cookware, will be the Festival¹s major sponsor.
In 2007, the Festival attracted nearly 70,000 attendees who flocked to the
event¹s 333 sessions. The 2008 event, which features a greatly expanded
program and more venues, looks set to break all previous attendance figures.
it proves that French cinema has an appeal that reaches far beyond that
country¹s local community.
Boasting the Œcrème de la crème¹ of contemporary French cinema and France¹s
finest actors, including Catherine Deneuve, Sophie Marceau, Patrick Bruel,
Cécile de France, Daniel Auteuil, Thierry Lhermitte, Albert Dupontel,
Isabelle Carré, Sergi Lopez, Beatrice Dalle, Sandrine Bonnaire, Vincent
Lindon, Nathalie Baye, Christian Clavier and Catherine Frot, the Festival
will be launched by a gala screening of director Cedric Klapisch¹s new
drama, PARIS, starring Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche, the mesmerizing
tale of a man who rediscovers the joy of life¹s minutiae when faced with
sudden illness, screening courtesy of Icon Film Distribution.
Additional Festival highlights include:
A SECRET (Un Secret)
Based on Philippe Grimbert¹s fact-inspired novel, and starring Cécile de
France and and Patrick Bruel, a middle-aged man looks back on his childhood
and uncovers his parentsΠlong-buried secret which blighted his formative
ANNA M
Isabelle Carré takes centre stage in this compelling drama which follows a
young woman¹s descent into romantic obsession.
MOLIÈRE
A rollicking period extravaganza starring Romain Duris as Molière, France¹s
most revered playwright, which looks at a little-known incident in his youth
which may have been the inspiration for his beloved comedy, Tartuffe.
WATER LILIES (Naissance des Pieuvres)
A coming-of-age story that centres upon a group of young girls who embark on
a game of emotional chess.
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN (La graine et le mulet)
One of the most critically acclaimed French films of the year, and winner of
the prestigious Louis Delluc prize, THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN is a story about
dignity, self-sacrifice and family love, within a Franco-Arab family whose
patriarch is haunted by an ongoing sense of displacement.
COULD THIS BE LOVE? (Je crois que je l¹aime)
Wealthy and powerful Lucas (Vincent Lindon) meets his romantic Waterloo when
he falls for Elsa (Sandrine Bonnaire) an outspoken artist. But as his
previous girlfriend was exposed as a spy for a business rival, he finds
himself unable to trust his new love, so has her secretly placed under 24
hour surveillance with unexpected results!
THE DINNER GUEST (L¹invité)
A sparkling comedy starring Daniel Auteuil as an unemployed man who seeks
the help of his overbearing neighbor to secure a new job hinges that upon
impressing his boss-to-be with a stylish dinner party.
AFTER HIM (Après lui)
Screen legend Catherine Deneuve portrays a mother who becomes obsessed with
her son¹s best friend, following her boy¹s death in a motor accident.
PRINCESS OF THE SUN (La reine soleil)A animated delight, PRINCESS OF THE SUN takes place in ancient Egypt where
we follow the adventures of Akhesa, a ravishing 14 year-old princess
determined to discover why her mother, Queen Nefertiti has been exiled.
National Dates for the 2008 Alliance Française French Film Festival are:
Sydney : 5-19 March Palace Academy, Palace Verona & Palace Norton Street
Melbourne : 6-19 March Palace Como, Palace Balwyn & Palace Westgarth
Canberra : 20-30 March Greater Union Manuka
Brisbane : 20-30 March Palace Centro
Adelaide : 27 March - 6 April Palace Nova Eastend
Perth : 27 March - 6 April Cinema Paradiso
www.frenchfilmfestival.org
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