French Film Festival to celebrate 20 years with symposium, 24 films, and talks by actors, directors and technicians
Twenty years ago, Françoise Ravaux-Kirkpatrick and Peter Kirkpatrick introduced Richmond to the French Film Festival, allowing university students and the public unprecedented access to French cinema.
Sponsored by the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, the French Film Festival attracts attendees from as far away as Australia, Hawaii and California to the historic Byrd Theatre and transforms Richmond’s Carytown shopping district into a proverbial Paris. With more than 21,000 admissions each year, the festival is the largest of its kind in the United States.
The French Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary March 29-April 1 with 12 new full-length films and 12 new film shorts, including one world premiere, refined pieces of art that communicate much about French culture. Among the French entourage of more than 55 directors, actors and special guests who will be on hand to discuss their films will be director Jean-Paul Rappeneau, who participated in the first French Film Festival via conference call 20 years ago when his blockbuster Cyrano de Bergerac debuted in America. He will revisit Cyrano in a special showing at this year’s festival on March 31.
“It truly is amazing to think back to those early days and see how much we have grown,” said Ravaux-Kirkpatrick, a professor of French and film studies at the University of Richmond and festival co-director. “Many of France’s biggest stars and directors have participated in the French Film Festival over the years, and in turn, we have introduced Richmond and the rest of the country to some incredible French films, many of which debuted in the United States at the festival.”
Added Kirkpatrick, a professor of French and film studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and festival co-director: “One thing that sets the Festival apart is that in addition to introducing the American public to French films, we have provided the audience the opportunity to engage with the actors and directors in question-and-answer sessions following each film. Attendees have unparalleled access to some of the biggest names in French cinema.”
The French Film Festival has connections to the Cannes Film Festival – the same technical team from Cannes outfits the Byrd Theatre with the best sound and visual technology to enhance the experience. In addition, Kirkpatrick and Ravaux-Kirkpatrick have served as previous members, and president for the jury for the Prix Vulcain at the Cannes Film Festival. Both also have received the prestigious distinction, the Beaumarchais Medal, from the French Writers Guild for their creative ways to promote French cinema.
The 2012 films, which are subtitled in English, include:
- Présumé Coupable (Guilty): Based on the famous 2001 Outreau trials in France, this is the appalling story, brilliantly interpreted by stage and screen actor Philippe Torreton, of an innocent man’s descent into hell as he faces an incredibly unfair and inhuman judicial system. Director Vincent Garenq and actor Philippe Torreton will introduce the film Friday, March 30 at 7 p.m.
- La Conquête (The Conquest): A satirical look at French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s rise to power. A work of fiction, it is the first French film ever to feature an active head of state as the subject. Cinematographer Gilles Porte will introduce the film Friday, March 30 at 9:30 p.m.
- Poupoupidou (Nobody Else But You): A bestselling crime novelist from Paris meets a local beauty who, following a hypnosis session, believes she is the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe. Actress Sophie Quinton will present and discuss the film Saturday, March 31 at 1 p.m.
- Le Havre: Billed as “a love letter to France,” Le Havre received the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Prize for best film at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie tells the story of an African boy who arrives in Le Havre where an aging shoe shiner will exhaust all resources to save him from deportation. Special guests will present the movie Sunday, April 1 at 5 p.m.
Passes can be purchased at http://frenchfilmfestival.us/passes-tickets. Student, faculty and regular VIP passes include guaranteed seating at all screenings and Q&A sessions with the directors and actors.
Special Symposium
New to the festival this year is a three-day symposium March 26-28 titled “French Film: Arts, Science and Technology at Work for Humanity” sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Richard Lounsbery Foundation. Held at the University of Richmond’s Ukrop Auditorium, the symposium features a group of more than 35 French cinema industry specialists who will present research in special-effects and optics and their latest film projects.
Each day will focus on a different theme – film as living art the first day, science and technology the second day and culminating with how film opens horizons for humanity, or “citizen camera,” the third day. Panelists will include special effects expert Christian Guillon and directors Gilles Porte, Vincent Glenn and René Vautier, an iconic avant garde director credited for using French film to explore such subjects as Apartheid who is making his first trip to the United States.
The symposium is free and open to the public, but space will be limited. All presentations have simultaneous translations.
Visit www.frenchfilmfestival.us for the complete 2012 French Film Festival and Symposium schedules and synopsis of each film.