Unifrance, the French Embassy in Mexico and the IMCINE (Instituto Mexicano de Cinema), with support from the EFM (an organization of French companies based in Mexico), are organizing a new edition of the Franco-Mexican Film Festival in Mexico, to be held from November 18 through 20, 2004. The festival will offer audiences the chance to see 10 French feature films and a program of Mexican short films.
Among the French films showcased at the event, eight titles have already been acquired by Mexican distributors and will be presented in preview screenings prior to their commercial release in the country. Each feature film screening will be preceded by the screening of a Mexican short film selected by the IMCINE (Instituto Mexicano de Cinema).
The films presented will each be screened several times during the three-day event held in the eight theaters of the Diana Cinema. This complex, located in the heart of Mexico City, will be entirely devoted to the festival during the event. This event marks a first for Unifrance, which has allied itself with the Cinepolis, Mexico’s leading theater chain, for the event.
The Franco-Mexican festival is part of a longstanding tradition of cinematic cooperation between France and Mexico, which dates from 1996. The event will be inaugurated by the French Prime Minister, Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the French Culture Minister, Mr. Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, and their Mexican counterparts, directly after a meeting/discussion scheduled for Thursday November 18 on the theme of “Cultural Diversity” at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
Selection:
“After You” by Pierre Salvadori (Gussi)
“Secret Agents” by Frédéric Schoendoerffer
“Arsène Lupin” by Jean-Paul Salomé (PWI)
“A Common Thread” by Eléonore Faucher (Cinema Nueva Era)
“Exiles” by Tony Gatlif (Cinema Nueva Era)
“Immortal (Ad Vitam)” by Enki Bilal (PWI)
“Lila dit ça” by Ziad Doueiri (Cinema Nueva Era)
“Monsieur N.” by Antoine de Caunes (Arthaus – Quality)
“The Nest” by Florent-Emilio Siri (Alfaville)
“Qui perd gagne!” by Laurent Bénégui
Along with Unifrance’s President Margaret Menegoz, the directors Antoine de Caunes, Pierre Salvadori, Ziad Doueiri, Jean-Paul Salomé, Frédéric Schoendoerffer and the actors Marilyne Canto, Lubna Azabal, Romain Duris, Vahina Giocante, Lola Naymark, Linda Hardy, Nadia Fares and Elsa Zylberstein will present their films and meet with Mexican media representatives.
French films in Mexico
Of all the territories of the Latin American continent, Mexico remains the most regular supporter of French films in terms of admissions figures. While average attendance for French films in recent years averages out at around 1 million spectators, in 2003 French films attracted 2.2 million moviegoers. Each year, some thirty French films are released on Mexican screens. The standout performers of recent years are “Amelie,” “Brotherhood of the Wolf,” “The Closet,” “The Piano Teacher,” “The Crimson Rivers,” “Belphegor,” “Children’s Play,” “Le Pacte du silence,” “Wasabi,” “The Pianist,” “Amen” by Costa-Gavras, “The Crimson Rivers 2” and, in 2004, “Irreversible” and “Swimming Pool.”
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