The 2016 edition of the French Cinema Today event took place in Kazakhstan's cultural capital of Almaty from April 21 through 24.
This event organized by Unifrance and supported by the French Embassy and the Alliance Française attracted around 2,000 spectators spread between six feature film screenings and two short film programs. This annual event serves as a launch platform for films that have been acquired by the exhibition and distribution outfit Arman, who buys films from Russian distributors and schedules their release following the festival in a number of cinemas around the country.
The two directors of Paris-Willouby, Quentin Reynaud and Arthur Delaire, were in attendance at the event, with their film screened as festival opener in the presence of Patrick Renard, France's Consul General in Almaty. Preceded by a cocktail reception, this screening, which was presented to an audience of 300 composed of the general public and invited guests, kicked off this mini-marathon of French films with a helping hand given by Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, lead actor of Francofonia by Alexandre Sokurov.
In addition to a visit to Kazakhfilm and the world's second largest canyon, and to savoring a range of traditional food, the delegation of artists each took part in over a dozen interviews with media representatives, including television journalists.
This festival, which is considered by the local media as the Kazakhstan's second biggest movie event, plays a key role in strengthening the reputation of French films in a country that, despite the fact that around thirty French films gain release here each year, still remains largely unknown to French movie industry professionals and artists.
Media Gallery
Quentin Renaud et Arthur Dolmaire
Joël Chapron d'UniFrance
Rencontres avec la presse
