French films and Unifrance at the 72th Berlinale

07 FEBRUARY 2022

Isabelle Huppert to receive an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement, Juliette Binoche and Isabelle Adjani on the red carpet... Things get back to "normal" at the 72th physical Berlinale, which will take place from February 10 through 16 in the presence of a large French delegation, led by François Ozon, Claire Denis, Mikhaël Hers, and Rithy Panh who will present their new films in Competition. Parallel to the festival, the EFM (European Film Market) will mainly take place online this year.

Nine French films (or French coproductions) have the honors of the official selection this year, including Peter Von Kant, the new film by François Ozon, which will open the festival, in the presence of the director and his cast Isabelle Adjani and Denis Ménochet. Claire Denis will also be accompanied by her actors Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lindon for the presentation of Both Sides of the Blade, and Mikhaël Hers will attend with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmanuelle Béart, Quito Rayon Richter, and Thibault Vinçon for his third feature, The Passengers of the Night.

A French film will also open the Panorama strand: Alain Guiraudie's Nobody's Hero. Guiraudie will present his film along with cast members Noémie Lvovsky, Doria Tillier, and Iliès Kadri. France also heads Generation: the documentary Rookies by Alban Teurlai and Thierry Demaizière will open this section. Lastly, Alain Gomis, who received the Silver Bear for Félicité at the 2017 edition of the Berlinale, will present his film, Rewind & Play, in the Forum sidebar.

An honorary Golden Bear will be awarded to Isabelle Huppert for lifetime achievement, and on this occasion Laurent Larivière's film, About Joan, starring Huppert, will be screened in the director's presence.

Almost forty French artists will travel to the festival to encounter Berlin audiences and the international press. Strict protocols will be in place, due to the pandemic, which will allow the festival to take place physically in traditional style

The following artists will be present (to be confirmed): Quentin Dupieux, Léa Drucker, Benoît Magimel, and Anaïs Demoustier (Incredible But True), Bertrand Bonello, Julia Faure, and Louise Labèque (Coma), Mitra Farahani (See You Friday, Robinson), Éric Baudelaire, Oxmo Puccino (A Flower in the Mouth), Thierry Demaizière, and Alban Teurlai (Rookies).

Market

Despite the virtual nature of the EFM, several international French sales representatives will still be in Berlin to accompany the teams of selected French films and/or present their line-ups to buyers who will also be present. However, most professionals have opted to participate online.

Virtual screenings, digital stands for the usual exhibitors (international vendors, institutions, etc.), a coproduction market, online conference program (EFM Industry Sessions), and daily podcasts will be on the program.

Unifrance's presence at the Berlinale and EFM 2022

Unifrance will represent French exporters participating in the EFM through a virtual stand (reserved for market accredited persons) that will showcase the French works screened at the EFM, as well as the organization's latest activities to promote French cinema (10 to Watch, etc.)

We should also mention that four French series (or French coproductions) will be presented online as part of the Berlinale Series Market Selects label: Podezření (Suspicion) by Štěpán Hulík, a series also programmed in the Berlinale Series section, as well as Diana Boss (created by Marion Séclin), Narvalo, Season 2 (created by Matthieu Longatte), and Parlement, Season 2 (created by Noé Debré).

Unifrance's virtual stand at EFM 2022 benefits from the "Choose France" label.

--> Click here to access Unifrance's virtual stand at the EFM 2022
(access reserved to EFM accreditees)

Unifrance also wanted to add a "physical" dimension to the event by organizing screenings of selected French films in the main sections of the festival in six countries, where buyers will benefit from sessions on the big screen in partner theaters: Spain (Madrid), Italy (Rome), United Kingdom (London), Australia (Melbourne), New Zealand (Wellington), and Japan (Tokyo).

In terms of the, press, the international media who have made the trip to Berlin will be able to meet French film teams in a warm space decorated with Unifrance colors and in the heart of Potsdamer Platz, dedicated to its interview sessions.

Lastly, each year Unifrance proposes an actress or an actor for the EFP Shooting Stars, which has been promoting young European actresses and actors for twenty-five years. This year Anamaria Vartolomei (Happening), proposed by Unifrance, will represent France.