For its 15th edition, the French Cinema Today Festival in Russia will take place November 13 through 16, 2014 in Novossibirsk, the country's third largest city.
Hosted, for the fourth time in nine years by the Podeba theater, which Carole Bouquet once described as the most beautiful movie venue she'd ever seen in her life, a French delegation will come and present 4 new films at national premiere screenings. Salaud, on t'aime by Claude Lelouch (acquired by Luxor Entertainment) will be accompanied by Pauline Lefèvre, Babysitting by Philippe Lacheau and Nicolas Benamou (All Media) will be accompanied by Alice David, Goodbye to Language by Jean-Luc Godard (Premium Film) will be accompanied by Zoé Bruneau, and Nicholas on Holiday (A-One/Nashe Kino) will be accompanied by its director Laurent Tirard.
A homage will be dedicated, in his presence, to Gérard Krawczyk, the second French director (after Luc Besson) to generate the most admissions in Russia since the perestroika: 5.6 million spectators with 7 films! In the context of a "French Lesson," he will present Fanfan la Tulipe, in a French version, along with two films whose releases have been prevented by the huge political changes that shook Russia between the 1980s and 1990s: Downhill Summer and Play-Back. Last but not least, Unifrance and the Pobeda theater will organize the traditional Short Film Night (see below) and offer a French breakfast at dawn to all the spectators who've watched the event.
French Cinema Today will be launched in Moscow on November 11, 2014 during a press conference, which will also feature a premiere screening. Taking time out from his Parisian stage performances, Gérard Jugnot will be on hand to present, with Alice David, Babysitting. The film will release in Russia on November 20.
In Russia, 2014 has been marked by a deterioration of the economic situation, but the cinema market has nevertheless shown growth (+9% compared with 2013). Although Russian films are those that have mainly done well, given the general drop in admissions for foreign films, French cinema already seems destined to enjoy an excellent year, which was not the case in 2013. In fact, 30 French language films and 17 foreign language films have been released in Russian theaters. Besides the fine performances of Beauty and the Beast, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants, Land of the Bears, and, amongst the films released on fewer than 50 prints, French Women, it is of course Lucy's exceptional performance that should be highlighted. With nearly 3.3 million spectators (as of October 5, 2014), the film has become the most successful French feature (all categories combined, and including French minority productions) since the USSR ceased to exist more than 20 years ago. It has hence overtaken Taxi 4, released in March 2007, which ended its career with 2.97 million spectators.
Fifteen new French titles are due to screen in Russian theaters during the last quarter of 2014, leading us to believe that the 6.16 million admissions already registered (the best result since 2008) will be greatly exceeded.
Short Film Night
During the French Cinema Today Festival in Russia, an evening of short films will be held on November 14 until dawn on November 15.
Devised by Christine Gendre, this selection presents contemporary French short films in all their diversity. From comedy to drama, romance and suspense, filmmakers tackle various genres and running times. Some favor concision and briskness (Hope, 505g), while others aren't afraid to stretch running times (The Gray Chicken Exodus) so as to capture audiences with ambitious narratives. Animation, a leading genre within French short films, will also feature (Beast, A Shadow of Blue).
This eclectism also reflects the different generations brought together within the program. First films by young filmmakers feature alongside works by more established directors, while styles, like themes, cover a wide range of sensibilities.
Some of the films (The Piano Tuner, La Femme de Rio), selected for and presented with awards at prestitigious festivals, have already experienced the honors of brilliant careers. We feel confident that fine futures also await recent newcomers to the crop.
