2016 French Film Festival

The Alliance French Film Festival is back in Canberra for 2016.

This year’s line up of films should cater to most any bodies viewing tastes with the festival sporting a diverse range of films from many different genres.

The festival showcases some of the best recent films French cinema has to offer. The festival is being held at Palace Cinema in New Acton from the 3^rd of March till the 29^th.

I spoke to Felipe Bernabó, the festival’s publicist to talk about its success.

Q: Firstly, how long has the festival been going for Australia?

A: We are now celebrating the 27^th edition, the Festival started back in 1989.

Q: There are a number of different international film festivals shown across Australian cities each year, however none of them seem to gather more attention than the French Film festival. Why do you think this is?

A: There are many reasons why the Festival is so popular in Australia, but I will refer to the most important ones.

The French government actively supports our festival and the film industry across France; in France this is done through regional and national funding and a long-term commitment to promote French culture and language around the world. This is paramount to produce high quality films with world-class stars and also to support upcoming artists, young directors and producers.

The active role of the Alliance Française as a cultural provider around the world, with a structure and experienced staff, that facilitates the promotion and showcasing of all kinds of cultural and artistic events. In Australia the Alliance Française French Film Festival is one of the most important events in the calendar, screening films in nearly all State Capitals.

The Australian public appreciates the long history of French cinema, plagued with world-class actors, actresses, directors and writers, with a different, and often challenging, view of the world and its human interactions. Audiences value the chance to watch high quality productions with an approach significantly dissimilar to what is found in mainstream films.

Q: Has there been a noticeable increase in awareness of the festival from Australian cinema goers in recent years?

A: The growth has been exponential all over Australia, year after year. As an example: Canberra had an average attendance of 4,000 spectators in 1999; last year we had an attendance of well over 13,000! The festival has positioned itself as one of the most important events in Australia’s cultural landscape.

Q: The French Film Festival is in many ways a celebration of not just French cinema but also French culture. Is this a good introduction for Australian viewers wanting to gain an understanding of what life in France is like?

A: Cinema is undoubtedly the best vehicle to access French culture, art and language. Film offers the possibility of reflecting on many aspects of life, from dreamed worlds to the most common, day-to-day situations. Music, traditions, places, famous characters, anonymous characters, cuisine, humour, drama, etcetera. All of these elements give Australian audiences the chance to immerse into the vast French cultural richness and explore a psyche and intellect that differs from those present in other regions of the planet, the Anglo Saxon world included. Australian viewers are thirsty to learn and explore French culture.

Q: Finally, the festival line up overs quite a diverse range of genres, from comedies, drama, romance and crime, what are some of your picks for this year’s festival?

A: As you mention there’s something for everyone in this year’s festival, children, family and minority groups included. It’s very difficult to pick, because each production offers a different cinematic experience. But since you ask…

• Dheepan
• Courted
• Blind Date
• The Student and Mister Henri
• Marguerite
• Mon Roi
• The Wait
• The White Knights

And I wouldn’t miss the classic Contempt, with Brigitte Bardot at her best!