Organized by Unifrance with support from the Ambassade de France, the City of Yokohama, and Nissan, the 30th French Film Festival in Yokohama will take place from December 1 through 4, 2022, in the Minato Mirai district of Yokohama. The first edition of the event was held in 1993 in the famous port city, located half an hour from Tokyo. It is now the oldest established event organized by Unifrance in the world and the most important French film festival in Asia.
For this anniversary edition, 55 films were viewed by journalist and critic Kuriko Sato, resulting in the following selection:
FEATURE FILM PROGRAM
Eiffel by Martin Bourboulon
Opening Film + Drive-In Theater
In the presence of Martin Bourboulon (director) and Romain Duris (actor)
Distributor: Kino Films / Exporter: Pathé Films
Full Time by Éric Gravel
In the presence of Éric Gravel (director)
Exporter: Be For Films
Lost Illusions by Xavier Giannoli
In the presence of Benjamin Voisin (actor)
Distributor: Hark&Company / Exporter: Gaumont
No Dogs or Italians Allowed by Alain Ughetto
In the presence of Alain Ughetto (director)
Exporter: Indie Sales
Happening by Audrey Diwan
In the presence of Audrey Diwan (director) and Anamaria Vartolomei (actor)
Distributor: Gaga / Exporter: Wild Bunch International
The Passengers of the Night by Mikhaël Hers
In the presence of Mikhaël Hers (director)
Distributor: Bitters End Inc. / Exporter: mk2 films
Maigret by Patrice Leconte
In the presence of Patrice Leconte(director)
Distributor: Unplugged / Exporter: SND
Rodeo by Lola Quivoron
In the presence of Lola Quivoron (director) and Antonia Buresi (actor and screenwriter)
Distributor: ReallyLikeFilms / Exporter: Les Films du Losange
One Fine Morning by Mia Hansen-Løve
In the presence of Melvil Poupaud (actor) and Pascal Greggory (actor)
Distributor: Unplugged / Exporter: Les Films du Losange
Vortex by Gaspar Noé
In the presence of Gaspar Noé (director)
Distributor: King Records Co. / Exporter: Goodfellas
SHORT FILM PROGRAM
“SPOTLIGHT ON FRENCH STOP-MOTION”
Sororal by Louise Mercadier & Frédéric Even
In the presence of Louise Mercadier & Frédéric Even (co-directors)
Producers: JPL Films – Papy3D Productions
To the Dusty Sea by Héloïse Ferlay
In the presence of Héloïse Ferlay (director)
Producer: EnsAD - École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs
The Girls of the Wind by Héloïse Ferlay
Producer: Tant Mieux Prod
Inglorious Liaisons by Chloé Alliez & Violette Delvoye
In the presence of Chloé Alliez & Violette Delvoye (co-directors)
Producers: Vivement Lundi ! – Zorobabel
Memorable by Bruno Collet
In the presence of Bruno Collet (director)
Producer: Vivement Lundi !
Raymonde or the Vertical Escape by Sarah Van Den Boom
In the presence of Sarah Van Den Boom (director)
Producers: JPL Films – Papy3D Productions
The opening ceremony will be held on December 1 at Minato Mirai Hall, a recently reopened theater. In addition, the films of the selection will be programmed in various cinemas of the Minato Mirai district: AEON Cinema, Yokohama Burg 13, and Kino Cinema Yokohama.
A master class focusing on the acting profession will take place at the Yokohama City University while two others will be organized at the Yokohama Creative City Center, one on the legacy of Éric Rohmer and the other on French stop-motion animation, which is the subject of the special focus mentioned above and which will also include a day of professional meetings.
For the first time, the artistic delegation will be hosted at The Westin Yokohama, a festival partner, which opened its doors in June.
Market
Prior to the festival, Unifrance will also organize the French Film Market in Tokyo on November 30 and December 1 at Trunk Hotel, located in the central Shibuya neighborhood. 19 French companies will participate: Artedis, Charades, Film Constellation, France tv distribution, Gaumont, Indie Sales, Kinology, Le Pacte, Les Films du Losange, Loco Films, Luxbox, mk2 films, Pathé International, Pulsar Content, Reservoir Docs, SND, STUDIOCANAL, Newen Connect a TF1 Group Company, The Party Film Sales, and Urban Sales.
Each year, the festival is organized under the patronage of a muse, embodied this year by actor Yuriko Ishida.
Photo from the press conference held in Yokohama on November 7, 2022.
From left to right: Mr. Joji Tagawa, Vice President of Nissan / Ms. Yuriko Ishida, Muse of the Festival / Mr. Takeharu Yamanaka, Mayor of Yokohama / Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance / Mr. Philippe Setton, Ambassador of France to Japan
Media Gallery
