A review of French films at festivals (selections, awards) and funding support for commercial release in January 2009. Festivals: delegations, selections, and awards (feature films) Unifrance’s 11th Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris In keeping with its annual tradition, Unifrance welcomed this year 420 distributors from 45 countries, 34 French sales companies, 140 journalists from 25 countries, and around 100 artists at the Rendez-Vous event held in Paris over four days...

On January 9, Catherine Deneuve inaugurated the new Ciné Lumière in London, reopened to the public after major renovations.   The Ciné Lumière has reopened with a gala launch featuring three high-profile preview screenings: Un conte de Noël (A Christmas Tale), Entre les murs (The Class), and Faubourg 36 (Paris 36). Arnaud Desplechin and Catherine Deneuve presented Un conte de Noël on Friday, while Christophe Barratier, Nora Arnezeder, and Gérard Jugnot presented F...

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 by Sandy Mandelberger, Montreal FF Dailies Editor Monday, August 18------If there ever was a love affair between cities, the intimate relationship between Paris and Montreal would be a novel unto itself. Both cities are proud standard bearers for the French language and French culture, although the Montrealers have added a Quebec twist to the traditional patrimonie.The bonds are further evidenced by the announcement of the Opening Night Film for this year's Montreal World Film Festival. The 3...

WINNERS OF THE 15TH LJUBLJANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (10th-24th November)After 14 days, 110 films shown, more than 50 000 visitors, 15th LIFFe is finished. At the closing ceremony on the 24th of November three awards were given to three different films screened at the festival.First the FIPRESCI jury, of the International Federation of Film Critics, composed of renowned film critics, Marco Lombardi, Maya Dimitrieva and Peter Kolsek, bestowed the Grand Prix to Czech Dreams by Vit Klusak and ...

UPBEAT FRENCH BOX OFFICE SMASH LES CHORISTESTO CLOSE 2004 MONTÉAL WORLD FILM FESTIVALThe smash French box office hit Les Choristes has been selected as the closing night film of the 28th edition of the Montréal World Film Festival, August 26 - September 6. A charming, upbeat film that captivated audiences in France, drawing more than 6,700,000 entries and making it the hit of the year, Les Choristes will be screened at the closing awards gala on September 6. Les Choristes is the heart warmin...