The Alliance Française French Film Festival Unveils Their 2018 Programme

The Alliance Française French Film Festival Unveils Their 2018 Programme

Celebrating 12 years of bringing the best of French cinema to New Zealand, the Alliance Française French Film Festival has unveiled the full programme for the 2018 Festival.

“After months of preparation and many many film viewings, we are delighted to present you with a film programme that proves le cinéma français remains as innovative and surprising as ever. The films presented show the full range of creativity and originality that make France’s cinema scene one of the most vibrant in the world.

Our dramas, comedies, biopics, period films, melodramas, family films and documentaries will make you travel the world and experience other stories — en français évidemment!

We are excited to raise the curtain on 6 weeks of French film in 14 cinemas throughout New Zealand. Enjoy!” — Festival director Dorothée Basel.

With a line-up of 37 films, the 2018 programme features several award-winning Festival titles including the Academy Award nominated Faces Places (Visages, Villages) by Agnès Varda and JR, Cannes Grand Prix and Queer Palm winner BPM (Beats Per Minute) (120 battements par minute) by Robin Campillo, Cannes Critics’ Week Nespresso Grand Prize winner Makala by Emmanuel Gras, and Cannes Camera d’Or winner Montparnasse Bienvenüe (Jeune Femme) by Léonor Serraille.

As in previous years, the programme includes a strong focus on female directors and creative talent. First features by up and coming filmmakers will play alongside work from established names such as Anne Fontaine (Reinventing Marvin, Marvin ou la belle éducation), Claire Simon (The Graduation, Le Concours) and Lisa Azuelos (Dalida).

Films featuring bold visionaries, auteurs of cinema and iconic songstresses prove the arts are well and truly alive in the programme with biopics such as Redoubtable (Le Redoutable) by Michel Hazanavicius, Barbara by Mathieu Amalric and Rodin by Jacques Doillon taking centre stage.

Exploring French language cinema beyond France, the 2018 Festival will take audiences on an international journey from Africa to Canada and to our closest neighbour New Caledonia. Special events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will celebrate French language worldwide alongside the Alliance Française for the annual Soirée Francophonie evenings, and a range of themed introductions in partnership with art galleries, universities and festivals across the country will add to the viewing experience. To mark the end of the centenary of the First World War, a special selection of films set around La grande guerre also feature in the programme.

The Alliance Française French Film Festival will run from 1 March - 18 April 2018 in 13 cities across New Zealand. For full programme details including screening times, ticket information and dates and venues, visit www.frenchfilmfestival.co.nz