Unifrance is organizing the fourth edition of the Panorama of French Cinema in China, to be held in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Nankin, in partnership with the French Embassy.
The selection
A selection of 11 feature films and 12 short films, put together in collaboration with the Chinese Film Authorities, will be offered to audiences. Film screenings, presented in original version with subtitles, will be followed by discussions with the public, who will be invited to discover a new crop of films reflecting the diversity of genres in current French film production.
Secret Agents by Frédéric Schoendoerffer, Aurore by Nils Tavernier, Asterix and the Vikings by Stéfan Fjeldmark and Jesper Moller, Bamako by Abderrahmane Sissako, Fauteuils d'orchestre by Danièle Thompson, Jacquou le Croquant by Laurent Boutonnat, The Besieged Fortress by Philippe Calderon, La Tourneuse de pages by Denis Dercourt, Ambitious by Catherine Corsini, I Do: How to Get Married and Stay Single by Eric Lartigau, and A Few Days in September by Santiago Amigorena will be showcased in the feature film selection.
À l'arraché by Fred Cavayé, Ars Longa by Mathieu Robin, Big Family by Cyril Cohen, J'attendrai le suivant... by Philippe Orreindy, La Routine by Cédric Babouche, Le Baiser by Stefan Le Lay, Recto Verso by Gabriel Jacquel, Stricteternum by Didier Fontan, Cut! by Alain Riou, Flammes by Samuel Miralles, Matopos by Stéphanie Machuret, and Roucoulements sourds et inquiets by Jean-Christophe Thomann make up the short film selection.
The delegation
An artistic delegation led by Jérôme Seydoux (CEO of Pathé) will be in attendance in China, and during the first part of the festival will take part in promoting their films with the local media. Delegation members include Santiago Amigorena, Carole Bouquet, Laurent Boutonnat, Philippe Calderon, Catherine Corsini, Denis Dercourt, Eric Lartigau, Frédéric Schoendoerffer, Abderrahmane Sissako, Nils Tavernier, and Danièle Thompson.
Following the opening ceremony to be held in Beijing on April 27, some members of the delegation will travel to Chengdu, with another group traveling to Nankin, to meet with audiences. They will then reunite in Shanghai, where a second opening ceremony will be held on May 1st. In addition to the actors and directors included in the delegation, French film sales agents will also be in China for the event.
This initiative aimed at promoting French films among film buyers, the media, and Chinese filmgoers will also provide an opportunity to present French film actors and directors to Chinese audiences. The long-term goal of this event is to expand the distribution possibilities for French films in the Chinese market. At this time, 20% of foreign films authorized for release in China are French productions. Ten French films hit Chinese screens in 2006, compared to only a single title in 2001: the figures speak for themselves!
