French Film Festival

Overview

Though it’s stolen much international limelight, and not to mention that little Best Picture gong at last month’s Oscars, The Artist wasn’t the only stellar film to come out of France in 2011. Judging by the talent this year’s French Film Festival is boasting, there’s plenty more where that came from.

In its 23rd annual showing and across four Sydney venues, Alliance Francaise will present another quality collection of cinematic experiences. Staged at Palace Norton Street and Paddington’s Palace Verona as well as the nearby Chauvel Cinema and Cremorne’s Orpheum Theatre, films such as the highly acclaimed Declaration Of War, which received a 15-minute standing ovation at Cannes last year, and Jane Birkin’s documentary Souvenirs of Serge are bound to attract crowds. Film lovers will be especially treated on the evening of Thursday, 15 March when Birkin herself will stage an in-person Q&A with her audience. An unbelievably hot ticket, though there’s a string of similarly impressive events outlined on the festival’s website.

Other bound-to-be-popular films will include the two new Audrey Tautou flicks, Against The Wind and Delicacy, as well as the new provocative Juliette Binoche drama, Elles. As last year’s festival attracted about 100,000 people across the country, you’d best start reserving those seats now.

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