France has a strong presence - 5 films in Official Competition - at the 71st edition of the Venice International Film Festival, the world's oldest film festival, which will take place August 27 through September 6, 2014.
"French film has long held a preeminent place on the world cinema scene thanks to the quality of its productions, the prestige of its directors, and the strength of its industry. This year in particular, I am impressed by the number of outstanding auteur films, which combine an original point of view with the power of their storylines and the capacity to address a wide audience, whilst maintaining a certain rigor."
It is with these words that Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice International Film Festival , highlighted the presence of the French films in the 71st edition.
This year, the Official Selection does indeed thrust French films into the spotlight, with 6 French titles (5 in Competition and 1 Out of Competition). In this year's Competition lineup, established auteurs (Benoit Jacquot, Xavier Beauvois, Abel Ferrara, Amos Gitaï) rub shoulders with emerging filmmakers (Alix Delaporte, David Oelhoffen), whose second films have also been selected. The Venice International Film Festival hence proves again that it is open to a new generation of filmmakers while celebrating the work by their well-known peers.
The Orizzonti section offers 4 films in competition, two features and two shorts. Here again, Venice puts the new wave of French cinema to the forefront, with the latest titles by Gustave Kervern and Benoît Delépine (Near Death Experience), who, over ten years, have built up an atypical body of work and who have invited author Michel Houellebecq to join them this time, as well as the new film by Quentin Dupieux (Reality), a genuine UFO in the French cinema landscape.
In terms of short films, two young filmmakers, Andrea Baldini (Ferdinand Knapp) and actor Guillaume Gouix (Mademoiselle), will be presenting their films to the public in the Sala Casino and the Volpi.
There's also a decidedly French program at the Giornate degli Autori villa for the Venice Days section, which presents 4 world premieres: Metamorphoses by Christophe Honoré, Return to Ithaca by Laurent Cantet, Summer Nights by Mario Fanfani, and The Smell of Us by Larry Clark.
Also at Venice Days, Girlhood by Céline Sciamma is in the running for the Lux Prize, in partnership with the European Parliament for the fifth consecutive year. The three films in competition will begin their journey throughout Europe mid-October through until December 2014. Each will be subtitled into the 24 official languages of the EU and screened in more than 40 cities and 18 festivals, thereby allowing many Europeans to discover or see the films again.
The 29th Semaine de la Critique will show a selection of 7 first films from around the world, among which 40-Love, the debut feature by Stéphane Demoustier, starring Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi.
To these 14 French films or majority French co-productions, 12 other minority French co-productions (10 features and 2 shorts) can be added.
Lastly, Venice Classics invites Lido spectators to rediscover three classics of French cinema: L'Amour existe by Maurice Pialat, Mouchette by Robert Bresson, and Stolen Kisses by François Truffaut.
Alongside the screenings and press conferences, the film market will host French sales agents and exporters. 16 French companies will be on board to present their lineups to international buyers.
For the first time, UniFrance Films joins forces with Variety to celebrate French cinema and its artists, present this year at the 71st Venice International Film Festival, presided over by the renowned French composer Alexandre Desplat.
UniFrance Films will be present at the Lido, represented by its president Jean-Paul Salomé and the UniFrance Films' teams responsible for the Italian territory.
The UniFrance Films/Venice 2014 catalog can be downloaded as a PDF below..
OFFICIAL SELECTION
COMPETITION
3 Hearts by Benoit Jacquot
The Price of Fame by Xavier Beauvois
The Last Hammer Blow by Alix Delaporte
Far From Men by David Oelhoffen
Pasolini by Abel Ferrara
OUT OF COMPETITION
Tsili by Amos Gitaï
ORIZZONTI
Near Death Experience by Benoît Delépine & Gustave Kervern
Reality by Quentin Dupieux
Ferdinand Knapp by Andrea Baldini (short film)
40-Love by Stéphane Demoustier
VENICE DAYS
Return to Ithaca by Laurent Cantet
Summer Nights by Mario Fanfani
Metamorphoses by Christophe Honoré
The Smell of Us by Larry Clark.
Girlhood by Céline Sciamma
