French Film Festival opens in Brisbane
Published Thursday, 20 March, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
Award-winning film The Secret of the Grain and a cinematic ode to Paris will be the highlights of the annual 2008 Alliance Française French Film Festival starting today in Brisbane.
Arts Minister Rod Welford said the festival, at Palace Centro until Sunday 30 March, was one of the most popular fixtures in the city’s cultural calendar.
“This festival showcases the crème de la crème of contemporary French cinema,” Mr Welford said.
“French cinema captures the imagination like no other and consistently makes an impact on the international film landscape, so it’s my great pleasure to warmly welcome this popular festival back to Brisbane in 2008 as part of its national tour.
“Local Francophiles and cinema enthusiasts can rediscover and celebrate French film during the festival, which returns with an exciting and significantly expanded program.
“From 38 features and documentaries on offer, 36 will be making their Australian premiere.
“Our Government, through the Pacific Film and Television Commission, proudly supports this festival and remains committed to developing a vibrant screen culture for Queensland audiences by supporting events of this kind.”
The opening night gala will feature Paris, an inspiring ode to the city of lights from popular director Cedric Klapisch (When the Cat’s Away, The Spanish Apartment) starring Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche.
The festival program offers audiences diverse cinematic experiences, from ribald comedies (Moliere, The Price to Pay) to bittersweet dramas (Odette Toulemonde, Waiting for Someone) and family-friendly tales (Azur and Asmar, Big City).
The Secret of the Grain, an outstanding and critically-acclaimed offering from celebrated director Abdellatif Kechiche, will be a festival highlight. It won 4 Cesars including Best Film and Best Screenplay and took out the Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
A Parisienne fashion show will be held on 26 March at Palace Centro ahead of Lagerfeld Confidential, a documentary about fashion icon Karl Lagerfield.
Closing night features the critically-acclaimed A Secret, a box office hit in France and winner of the Grand Prix des Amériques ex-aequo at the World Film Festival 2007. For further details, visit www.frenchfilmfestival.org
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1072 or 0417 791 336
Arts Minister Rod Welford said the festival, at Palace Centro until Sunday 30 March, was one of the most popular fixtures in the city’s cultural calendar.
“This festival showcases the crème de la crème of contemporary French cinema,” Mr Welford said.
“French cinema captures the imagination like no other and consistently makes an impact on the international film landscape, so it’s my great pleasure to warmly welcome this popular festival back to Brisbane in 2008 as part of its national tour.
“Local Francophiles and cinema enthusiasts can rediscover and celebrate French film during the festival, which returns with an exciting and significantly expanded program.
“From 38 features and documentaries on offer, 36 will be making their Australian premiere.
“Our Government, through the Pacific Film and Television Commission, proudly supports this festival and remains committed to developing a vibrant screen culture for Queensland audiences by supporting events of this kind.”
The opening night gala will feature Paris, an inspiring ode to the city of lights from popular director Cedric Klapisch (When the Cat’s Away, The Spanish Apartment) starring Romain Duris and Juliette Binoche.
The festival program offers audiences diverse cinematic experiences, from ribald comedies (Moliere, The Price to Pay) to bittersweet dramas (Odette Toulemonde, Waiting for Someone) and family-friendly tales (Azur and Asmar, Big City).
The Secret of the Grain, an outstanding and critically-acclaimed offering from celebrated director Abdellatif Kechiche, will be a festival highlight. It won 4 Cesars including Best Film and Best Screenplay and took out the Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
A Parisienne fashion show will be held on 26 March at Palace Centro ahead of Lagerfeld Confidential, a documentary about fashion icon Karl Lagerfield.
Closing night features the critically-acclaimed A Secret, a box office hit in France and winner of the Grand Prix des Amériques ex-aequo at the World Film Festival 2007. For further details, visit www.frenchfilmfestival.org
Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1072 or 0417 791 336