VCU to host internationally recognized French Film Festival

By Mike Porter

The 14^th annual Virginia Commonwealth University French Film Festival, recognized by the French government as the largest French film festival in the United States, will present an unparalleled selection of feature films and short films, including 10 North American premieres.

The VCU French Film Festival will be held March 31 through April 2 at the historic Byrd Theatre in Richmond. The festival will pay a special tribute this year to award-winning director Bertrand Tavernier, who will lead a delegation of more than 30 directors and actors who will present their films and participate in question-and-answer sessions with the audience. 

Two films selected for this year’s festival just received Cesar Awards, the national film award of France, which is similar to Academy Awards in the United States. The 2006 Cesar film “De battre mon soeur s’est arrête” won awards in five categories. Actor Jalil Lespert will present the film “Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars,” which won the 2006 Best Actor award for Michel Bouquet’s performance as François Mitterrand. 

Other notable delegation members include actor Patrick Bouchitey, who directed the film “Imposture;” Patrick Braoudé, director/actor of the film “Iznogoud;” and Philippe Torreton, who stars in the film “Jaurès: naissance d’un géant.” The festival kicks off Friday with two films by Bertrand Tavernier: “Ça commence aujourd ’hui,” which he will present with actor Philippe Torreton, and “Coup de torchon,” which Tavernier will present with noted director/cinematographer Pierre-William Glenn. Both Tavernier and Glenn will teach master’s-level classes in filmmaking at VCU before the festival starts.

Each year, the VCU French Film Festival offers a selection of 13 feature films and 11 short films to the public, all illustrating the diversity and richness of current French cinematographic production. All films have English subtitles.

The VCU French Film Festival draws a large audience from Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York. Last year’s festival attracted a record-breaking 17,500 patrons made up of a diverse American public, including film enthusiasts, families, art aficionados, teachers and students.

The festival is sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unifrance, l’ARP (Guild of French Directors and Producers) and the SACD (Guild of Authors, Composers and Directors). The French Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency, Jean-David Levitte, will attend this year’s festival.

All screenings will be presented at the Byrd Theatre, 2908 Cary St., in the heart of Richmond’s cultural and commercial neighborhood, Carytown. Visit www.frenchfilm.vcu.edu for the 2006 festival schedule and a synopsis of each film.