10th French Film Festival launches

10th French Film Festival launches

This year is going to be a big year for the French Film Festival.

Not only is it in its 10th year, but the festival organisers say that in the months after the Paris attacks, the need to show French life is more important than ever.

Festival director Sébastien Donnadieu launched the event at last night's Auckland media screening where the audience was treated to Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert's latest film Valley of Love.

The full programme will be unveiled at 7.30pm on Thursday Jan 28th.

The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2016 will launch with the International Première of Rosalie Blum

Celebrating 10 years of bringing the best of French cinema to New Zealand, the Alliance Française French Film Festival is delighted to reveal the Opening and Closing Night titles for the 2016 Festival.

Opening Night
Launching in Wellington on 17 February, the Festival is delighted to host the International Première of Julien Rappeneau’s Rosalie Blum, starring Noémie Lvovsky. Selected as the official Opening Night title, Rosalie Blum will kick off the 2016 Festival in each participating city.

Based on the award-winning series of graphic novels by Camille Jourdy, Julien Rappeneau’s enchanting directorial debut is a warm, witty and impeccably performed comedy about a random encounter that has unexpected and far-reaching consequences. 

Closing Night
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Marcel Carné’s death, the 2016 Festival will close with his 1939 masterpiece Daybreak. Starring the illustrious Jean Gabin, Daybreak is an iconic film, and this brilliant restoration of the French classic is a must-see.

The film begins with a gunshot and a body falling down stairs. The man responsible – François (Jean Gabin) – locks himself in his room, alone with his memories, as the police surround the building and wait for dawn to storm it.

The full AF FFF 2016 programme will be revealed on Thursday 28 January, with tickets on sale through Festival screening venues.

Festival website is www.frenchfilmfestival.co.nz

The Alliance Française French Film Festival will run from 17 February - 13 April 2016 in 12 cities across New Zealand.