2018 Alliance Française French Film Festival

Films À La Carte

Returning to Palace Cinemas from late February until mid-April, the 29th annual Alliance Française French Film Festival, is poised to seduce audiences with an incendiary selection of 47 features, 2 documentaries and a cheeky Parisian TV series, which showcase the passion, artistry and dazzling diversity of contemporary French cinema.

For his second year at the helm, Artistic Director, Philippe Platel, has selected an impressive line-up that resonates with themes of courage, friendship and egalitarianism; motifs reflected via a host of Premiere screenings, delightful special events, and, for the first time, a LGBT strand in celebration of Australia's recent, historic Yes vote for same-sex marriage.

The full programme is available at: http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org

Launching the 2018 edition of this iconic Festival, staged by the Alliance Française in association with the Embassy of France in Australia and generous support of Presenting Sponsor, Renault Australia, will be C'est la vie! (Le sens de la fête), a delicious comedy from Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, the famed directorial team behind the 2011 global hit, The Intouchables.

Screening courtesy of Madman Entertainment, C'est la vie!, which was the Closing Night Film at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, stars the inimitable Jean-Pierre Bacri – in a role penned especially for him - as Max, a famed, but cantankerous caterer and event organiser, tasked with creating a fairytale wedding at a sumptuous 17th century château. Saddled with a hopelessly inept assortment of staff, his pragmatic mantra, "We need to adapt," will be truly tested, as his meticulously planned event threatens to descend into comic farce.

And closing night audiences will be treated to 50 Is the New 30 (Marie-Francine), a Valentine to new beginnings, that won many hearts at the French box-office. In this endearing rom-com, the multi-talented Valérie Lemercier (Royal Palace!, The Visitors) enchants as Marie-Francine, a 50 year-old at life's crossroads. Abandoned by her husband for a younger woman in the same week that she loses her job, she reluctantly returns to live with her kind, but over-bearing parents, who convince her to open an e-cigarette boutique, where romance beckons in the form of Miguel (Patrick Timsit), a neighbouring chef.

Between these two buoyant 'bookends' lie a host of outstanding dramas, paeans to love, comedies, historic epics and tales of self-discovery that will engage and delight the most discerning cinephile.

National dates and venues for the 2018 Alliance Française French Film Festival are:

SYDNEY: 27 Feb – 27 March Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central & Hayden Orpheum Cremorne
MELBOURNE: 28 Feb – 27 March Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas & The Astor Theatre
CANBERRA: 1 – 28 March Palace Electric Cinema
BRISBANE: 8 March - 4 April Palace Barracks & Palace Centro
PERTH: 14 March - 4 April Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX & Windsor Cinema
HOBART: 15 – 24 March State Cinema
ADELAIDE: 22 March - 15 April Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas
RIVERSIDE: 5 – 8 April Riverside Theatres Parramatta
CASULA: 5 – 8 April Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Visit the official Festival website at: http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org