The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 program will be released tomorrow, Thursday 6 February. However, below we give you a sneak-peak at 16 films which are on the program for the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020.
The Alliance Française French Film Festival will celebrate its 31st birthday in 2020. Among the program are 49 films and documentaries and 2 TV series. Most of the films to be screened at the Alliance Française French Film Festival have not been on Australian screens before.
As always the festival program has been divided into a number of categories. This year there are 9. We can’t yet tell you about all of them but can let you know that among them are “Eternal Odyssey”, “Intense & Unsettling”, “Voice of the Countryside” , “Magnetic Love” and “City of Lights”. The 2020 program has also placed a heavy emphasis on social engagement and altruistic projects.
Without further ado, here’s your sneak peak at the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 program:
OPENING NIGHT FILM
The Extraordinary is another film by Nakache and Toledano, the duo behind the blockbuster “The Untouchables”. In “The Extraordinary” they continue their depiction of people living with disability.
Despite the difficult subject matter, this film, like the Intouchables, has many moments of both grace and humour. It’s a film from which the lessons about connection, dignity and equality will stay with you long after you leave the cinema.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
The festival will close in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the film Donkey Skin, with a restored version on the big screen. Donkey Skin is a musical fairytale from Jacques Demy, legendary director from the New Wave. Michel Legrand created the soundtrack and the film stars Catherine Deneuve. Morevover, Catherine Deneuve is in 4 films in the Alliance Française French Film Festival program this year.
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Among the films in the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 there is “How to Be a Good Wife”. This will make the international premiere screening of this film by director Martin Provost. It’s a film that takes place at a time when women were still largely expected to be subservient and which stars Juliette Binoche. She plays the director of a house-keeping school, who fights adversity in taking her first steps towards emancipation.
LA BELLE EPOQUE
This film tells the story of (played by Daniel Auteuil), a disillusioned man who is given the opportunity to relive the great love of his youth, and the romantic Notre Dame cathedral (the film was filmed before the fire of last year) and an architect who wins a competition to redesign the Notre Dame esplanade. Given the events of last year, this is a visionary film.
Les Misérables
This film from director Ladj Ly gives a look at the corruption and simmering tensions in modern-day Paris.
School Life
A drama/comedy which takes place in a high school in Saint Denis.
Invisibles
A film which follows the unorthodox actions taken by an illegal women’s shelter to avoid closure.
Oh Mercy!
A darkly convincing exposé on the human condition as observed by a police chief in Northern France.
In the Name of the Land
A poignant rural drama starring Guillaume Canet as a farmer who fights to maintain his dignity when faced with incessant setbacks.
HEROIC CHARACTERS
In this time of social, environmental and political incertitude, cinema looks for heroic characters for inspiration. They can be found across a number of themes in the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 program.
Space travel
Proxima
How to Become an Astronaut
Fairy tale princes
The Lost Prince
Political leaders
Alice and the Mayor
Savages
Underwater soldiers
The Wolf’s Call
Spirits
Zombi Child
DATES AND PLACES
The dates and locations for the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 are:
ADELAIDE: 17 March -14 April Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
AVOCA BEACH: 19 March – 1 April Avoca Beach Picture Theatre
BALLARAT: 17 -19 April Regent Cinemas
BENDIGO: 17 – 19 April Star Cinema
BRISBANE: 18 March -14 April Palace Barracks & Palace James Street
BYRON BAY: 31 March – 12 April Palace Byron Bay
CANBERRA: 12 March – 8 April Palace Electric Cinema
HOBART: 19 – 28 March State Cinema
MELBOURNE: 11 March – 8 April Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas & The Astor Theatre
PARRAMATTA: 26 – 29 March Riverside Theatres Parramatta
PERTH: 11 March – 8 April Palace Raine Square, Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema & Camelot Outdoor Cinema
SYDNEY: 10 March – 8 April Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central & Hayden Orpheum Cremorne
The full program will be released tomorrow and tickets will be on sale from then too. You can access it at https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/
And if you want to get even more of a taste, here’s the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2020 trailer
What’s your favourite French film?
