French Film Festival returns this June and for the first time in 23 years, it’s coming to Mindanao—in Davao, in particular.
Abreeza Mall in Davao City will finally get a taste of the best of French contemporary and classic cinema on June 21 and 22. In Cebu, on the other hand, Ayala Center will be screening films from June 25 to 27.
And for the Manila audience, here’s the schedule:
- June 6 to 12 – Greenbelt 3 cinemas, Makati City
- June 8 to 12 – Bonifacio High Street cinemas, Central Square, Taguig City
- June 9 and 10 – UP Town Center cinemas, Quezon City
The film fest will show 22 films “that embody the richness and depth of French society through the creativity of French filmmakers.” This is where we could learn a thing or two about the lifestyle of and techniques in filmmaking from the birthplace of cinema. It also “provides an alternative to the commercial programming of movie theaters,” says French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, thus promoting diversity to Filipinos.
Aside from French titles, the festival also pays tribute to Philippine cinema, as usual. It will feature two films by the local indie cinema pioneer Raymond Red—Cannes award recipient Anino and Himpapawid. Award-winning Bagahe by Zig Dulay also joins the lineup.
Tickets are priced at P150. The French Embassy stressed that this is “to cover the operational costs of the cinema.”
Here are some of the French films that will be screened:
La Prière (The Prayer) (2018)
Dir. Cédric Kahn. The Prayer follows the story of a 22-year-old drug addict who discovered friendship, rules, love, and faith in an isolated community in the mountains run by former drug addicts.
Django (2016)
Dir. Étienne Comar. Django is a biographical movie about Django Reindhardt, a guitar hero during the German Occupation in Paris, 1943.
Cézanne et moi (Cézanne and I) (2016)
Dir. Danièle Thompson. They were rebels, fearless, and curious, and they loved each other the way you love when you’re 13. Paul is rich and Emile poor. They haunt the same places, sleep with the same women, and spit together on the bourgeoisie that spits right back. Now, Paul is an artist and Emile Zola, a writer. Fame has passed Paul by while Emile is basking in it—including having a perfect wife, the woman Paul used to be in love with.
Épouse-moi mon pote (Marry Me, Dude) (2017)
Dir. Tarek Boudali. The film follows a young Moroccan man who comes to Paris to study on a student visa. However, he fails his exams, loses his visa, and finds himself an illegal immigrant. To solve the problem, he marries his best friend. But then, an immigration investigator follows them to make sure it wasn’t a sham marriage.
Featured image courtesy of Institut Francais
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