In the past year, films such as Intouchables broke box-office records in France and overseas, The Artist scooped many an award, including 5 Oscars, which is totally unprecedented for a French movie. French films are everywhere, whether they are being projected in regular cinemas across the world, opening or appearing on the lists of award-winners in major international film festivals – respectively 38 Witnesses (38 témoins) by Lucas Belvaux and Farewell my queen (Les adieux à la reine) by Benoit Jacquot have opened the Rotterdam and Berlin Film Festivals this year.
Following the success of the first edition of the French Film Festival in South Africa, this exceptional edition features as part of the French Season in South Africa 2012. Relying on the strength of the initial concept which consists in showing the best of contemporary French cinema using a compact format, this exclusive rendez-vous dedicated to French cinema aims to reach as numerous a South African public as possible. This year’s programme includes a medley of the finest films for all tastes and moods ranging from drama to comedy and historical movie, with the presence of French guest stars and glamour opening screenings. The festival also presents a retrospective of films by Claire Denis, whose work is strongly linked with Africa, and a film by prominent South African director, Ramadan Suleman.
For more info check out www.fff.org.za