The Museum of Fine Arts, Unifrance and The French Film Office/Unifrance USA, and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in Boston present the 9th Annual Boston French Film Festival, July 8 – 25 at the MFA Boston. Nearly 25 films from France will play over the next three weeks, with several filmmakers in attendance. Look around if you attend any screenings. Chances are you’ll find Georgette Gagne, Head of the Chlotrudis Membership Committee in attendance as well! Georgette has tickets to 14 films throughout the festival! To view the complete calendar of screenings, visit the MFA website.
Special guests for this year’s festival include director Sam Karmann who will be present on opening night with his film NICKEL AND DIME, a thoroughly captivating tale about an ex-con starring the ultimately suave G’rd Lanvin. On Friday, July 9, Pierre-Olivier Mornas, director and star of AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED, a delightful story of love at first sight, will be present along with his starring actress, Alice Carel. On Saturday, July 10, actress and director Isild Le Besco will be present for her debut film HALF-PRICE. Chlotrudis members may recognize Mlle. Le Besco from her roles in GIRLS CAN’T SWIM or SADE, both from 2002.
Other highlights include screenings of works by some of the world’s most esteemed veteran directors: Jacques Rivette (THE STORY OF MARIE AND JULIEN), Manoel de Oliveira (A TALKING PICTURE), Chantal Akerman (TOMORROW WE MOVE, co-presented by the Boston Jewish Film Festival), and Chlotrudis favorite Patrice Leconte (INTIMATE STRANGERS, which closes this festival). Also represented are emerging talents including Xavier Giannoli (EAGER BODIES) and Jean-Marc Moutout (WORK HARD, PLAY HARD). All films were produced in France and are in French with English subtitles unless otherwise noted.
Georgette and Michael enjoyed a lovely press luncheon to kick off the Festival at Lala Rokh. There we learned of the strength of the French film industry today, with a record 212 French films produced in 2003, and the United States becoming the largest market for French cinema abroad. A record 37 French films and 21 co-productions were released in the U.S. in 2003. 24 French films (and 9 co-productions) have opened in the U.S. since January 2004, with an additional 43 French films (and 6 co-productions) scheduled for release in 2004 to early 2005.
This is your chance to catch some of these terrific French films early, or in the case of some, perhaps your only chance! Check out the schedule for this year’s Boston French Film Festval now!