Spring is here — it really is! — but while you’re waiting for the weather to get the memo, New Yorkers can hide from the dreary skies in the darkened theaters of the 11th Focus on French Cinema film festival.
A collaboration between the Alliance Française of Greenwich and the Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême, the program has an educational focus and runs from March 27th until the 31st in Greenwich and New York. A huge selection of French-language films will be shown and VIPs will be on hand, including producer, director and writer Dominique Besnehard and César-winning actress Sandrine Kiberlain of Elle L’Adore fame.
14 feature films will be shown along with a few short films and animated movies on various societal themes including immigration, inter-generational dialogue, corruption in high-level sports, family and globalization. As part of its educational mission, the festival will include screenings for more than 1,500 lucky middle school, high school and college students of films including May Allah Bless France and Under the Starry Sky with discussions led by the films’ directors Abd Al Malik and Dyana Gaye, respectively.
All films are in French with subtitles in English. The festival opens on Friday with the New York premier of the film Memories from director Jean-Paul Rouve with Michel Blanc, Annie Cordy and Mathieu Spinosi. Visit the festival website for the full program.
Friday, March 27th
Memories from director Jean-Paul Rouve with Michel Blanc, Annie Cordy and Mathieu Spinosi. US premier and festival opener at 7 pm at Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT – (2 Railroad Ave, Greenwich, CT)
The film adaptation of the novel by David Foekinos will be presented by French author and journalist Olivier Barrot. An intergenerational comedy, Memories tells the story of 23-year-old Romain, a front-desk person at a hotel who dreams of becoming a writer, his 62-year-old retiree father, his skirt-chasing roommate, and his 85-year-old grandmother who disappears one day. As Romain sets out to find her he ends up taking a trip down memory lane.
A gala will follow at 9:30pm at the Greenwich Teen Center (100 Arch Street).
Saturday March 28th
At 9:15 am a round-table at the Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas in Greenwich with French actors and directors including Jean-Paul Rouve, Abd Al Malik, Jeanne Herry, Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Pio Marmaï and Adrianna Gradziel.
Under the Starry Sky Director: Dyana Gaye. New York Premier 10:30 am, Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas, Greenwich, CT
France/Senegal. With Ralph Amoussou, Mareme Demba Ly and Souleymane Seye N’Diaye. Director Dyana Gaye will introduce the film.
Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants Directors: Hélène Giraud, Thomas Szabo. 10:30 am, Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas, Greenwich, CT
French animated feature.
Hippocrates Director: Thomas Lilti. 1:15 pm, Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Vincent Lacoste, Reda Kateb, Jacques Gamblin, and Marianne Denicourt.
The Gate Director: Régis Wargnier. 1:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Belgium. With Raphaël Personnaz, Kompheak Phoeung, and Olivier Gourmet.
May Allah Bless France! Director: Abd Al Malik. 4 :00 pm- Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Marc Zinga, Sabrina Ouazani, Larouci Didi, and Mickaël Nagenraft. Director Abd al Malik and producer Fabien Coste will introduce the film.
La Sapienza Director: Eugène Green. 6 :30 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Italy. With Fabrizio Rongione, Christelle Prot, Ludovico Succio and Arianna Nastro.
I Kissed a Girl Directors: Noémie Saglio, Maxime Govare. US premier 9:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Pio Marmaï, Adriana Gradziel, Franck Gastambide and Camille Cottin. Actors Pio Marmaï and Adrianna Gradziel will introduce the film.
Life of Riley Director: Alain Resnais. 9:15 pm and 9:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Sandrine Kiberlain, Sabine Azéma, Hippolyte Girardot and André Dussolier.
Sunday, March 29th
Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants Directors: Hélène Giraud, Thomas Szabo. 10:00 am, Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas, Greenwich, CT
French animated feature.
The Little Queen Director: Alexis Durand Brault. US premier 10:15 – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
Quebec. With Laurence Lebœuf, Patrice Robitaille and Denis Bouchard.
Astérix: The Land of the Gods Directors: Louis Clichy, Alexandre Astier. 12:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Belgium. Animated feature with Laurent Deutsch, Laurent Lafitte, Alexandre Astier and Alain Chabat.
A la poursuite de l’endurance Director: Bertrand Delapierre. 12:30 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. Documentary with Luc Hardy and narration by Christophe Lambert. Luc Hardy will introduce the film.
Once in a Lifetime Director: Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar. New York premier 2:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Ariane Ascaride, Ahmed Dramé, Noémie Merlant and Geneviève Mnich.
Maestro Director: Léa Fazer. 4:30 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France. With Pio Marmaï — who will be present for the screening — Michael Lonsdale, Déborah François and Alice Belaïdi.
The Gate Director: Régis Wargnier. 4:30 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Belgium. With Raphaël Personnaz, Kompheak Phoeung, and Olivier Gourmet.
Timbuktu Director: Abderrahmane Sissako. 6:30pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Mauritius. With Ahmed Ibrahim dit Pino, Toulou Kiki, Abel Jafri and Hichem Yacoubi.
Pause Director: Mathieu Urfer. US premier 7:00 pm – Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
Switzerland. With Baptiste Gilliéron, Julia Faure, André Wilms and Nils Althaus.
L’Enquête Director: Vincent Garenq. US premier 9:30 pm –Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas – Greenwich, CT
France/Belgium. With Gilles Lellouche, Charles Berling and Laurent Capelluto. Gilles Lellouche will introduce the film.
Monday March 30th
L’Enquête Director: Vincent Garenq. 7:30 pm at the IFC Center – 323 Ave of the Americas – New York, NY
Tuesday March 31st
Number 1 Fan (Elle l’Adore) Director: Jeanne Herry. US premier and closing film. 4 pm and 7:30 pm at the FIAF, Florence Gould Hall-(55 E 59th St – New York, NY)
With Sandrine Kiberlain, Laurent Lafitte and Pascal Demolon. Director Jeanne Herry, who won a César for best first film, and actress Sandrine Kiberlain who won a César for best actress will be present during the screening.
