19 French productions and co-productions are selected at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival, including five titles in the official competition. The festival will open its doors February 10 with the screening of Régis Wargnier's latest film, "Man to Man."
The festival's official competition will also showcase "Les temps qui changent" ("Changing Times") by André Téchiné, "Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars" ("The Late Mitterrand") by Robert Guédiguian, "De battre mon coeur s’est arrêté" ("The Beat That My Heart Skipped") by Jacques Audiard and "Les Mots bleus" ("Words in Blue") by Alain Corneau.
The Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming Liang will present "The Wayward Cloud," a film co-produced by France.
"Va, vis et deviens" ("Live and Become"), the new feature by Radu Mihaileanu, will open the Panorama Section. The 2005 Panorama will also feature "Les Mauvais joueurs" ("Gamblers") by Frédéric Balekdjian, "Crustacés et coquillages" ("Mariscos Beach") by Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, "Massaker" ("Massacre") by Monika Borgmann, Lokmann Slim and Herman Theissen (Germany/Lebanon/Switzerland/France), "Waiting for the Clouds" by Yesim Ustaoglu (France/Germany). Finally, "Violent Days" by Lucille Chaufour, "Vers Mathilde" ("Towards Mathilde") by Claire Denis, "Les Yeux clairs" ("Pale Eyes") by Jérôme Bonnell, "Profils paysans, le quotidien" by Raymond Depardon, "Barrage" by Raphaël Jacoulot, "Odessa... Odessa" by Michale Boganim (Israel/France) and "Arlit, deuxième Paris" ("Arlit, the Second Paris") by Idrissou Mora-Kpai (Benin/France) will be presented in the Berlinale Forum Section.
The Film Market will be welcoming 23 French export companies. 20 of these companies will be operating from the Unifrance stand. (Stand N° 60 - Tel: +4930 200 57 360 - Fax: +4930 200 57 359).
To accompany the strong presence of French films at this event, and as an addition to its umbrella stand at the European Film Market, Unifrance is establishing for the first time this year a "meeting point" dedicated to French cinema. Located just a stone's throw from the Berlinale Palast, the Luther & Wegner café will give booking priority to French films crews to conduct their interviews and professional meetings.
And, as was the case in 2004, Unifrance is also handling press relations for French films that have not as yet secured a local distributor.
Finally, Sara Forestier, the actress discovered in the film "L’Esquive" by Abdellatif Kéchiche and nominated for a Cesar award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2005, will represent France in the Shooting Stars program organized by EFP (European Film Promotion). The 2005 Shooting Stars will be presented on the main stage at the Berlinale Palast February 13.
For further information, contact: Magali Montet, Director of Communication
View file
