UniFrance hosted the first edition of The French Collection in London from July 1-3 this year, in association with the Everyman Cinema chain, in theaters in Hampstead, Screen on the Green, and Muswell Hill.
The Everyman Cinema Group controls around twenty theaters in the United Kingdom and offers audiences the chance to experience special event screenings at which each film is presented in an original way, involving concerts, food tastings, stand-up comedy routines, and so on.
An eclectic selection of French films was showcased this year, including Mon roi by Maïwenn, Lolo by Julie Delpy, Arrête ton cinéma ! by Diane Kurys, Summertime by Catherine Corsini, Thanks Boss by François Ruffin, and Tomorrow by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent.
Many debates and other sidebar events were held along with film screenings :
- A debate moderated by Weapons of Reason magazine on the theme of "Cinema and Activism" was held following the screening of Tomorrow, which was presented in a UK preview in the presence of its directors Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent, as well as the British activists who feature in the film—Rob Hopkins (Transition Network), Mark Burton, and Ciaran Mundy (Bristol Pound), Mary Clear, Pam Warhurst, and Nick Green (Edible Todmorden).
- Diane Kurys and Sylvie Testud accompanied their film Arrête ton cinéma !, which was also presented in a UK preview. Its screening was preceded by a program of short films and a Q & A session with audiences moderated by the journalist Jason Solomons.
- The screening of Lolo was preceded by a half-hour stand-up comedy act by the British comedian Lou Sanders, while the screening of Thanks Boss was followed by a meeting with documentary filmmakers including Kim Longinotto.
- The program also included a Focus on a series of short films based on the theme of "Music and Cinema" with a montage of music videos created especially for the event by UniFrance.
Media Gallery
Cyril Dion et Mélanie Laurent
Diane Kurys & Sylvie Testud
