2008 is off to an excellent start!
Industry events
As part of the 10th Rendezvous with French Cinema in Paris held from January 11 through 14, 72 French artists met with 131 journalists from 29 countries. Over 500 foreign distributors attended the event’s film market to acquire a fresh crop of French films from 34 film export companies present.
Unifrance traveled to Bombay from January 27 through 30 to host the first Rendezvous with French Cinema in India, held in collaboration with the French Embassy in India. Unifrance was accompanied by a delegation of 9 French artists who presented 8 films at the event.
Master classes led by Patrice Leconte were held at two New York universities from January 27 through 30 as part of the On Set with French Cinema program.
Festivals/Delegations
In January, Unifrance provided travel assistance for 13 French artists presenting 49 films at 2 international feature film festivals: Rotterdam International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.
Unifrance assisted the presence of 1 artist and 25 films at 4 international short film festivals: Rotterdam International Film Festival, Filmwinter - Stuttgart Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and Flickerfest – Sydney Short Film Festival.
Festivals/Awards
Sundance Film Festival (Feature films)
I Always Wanted To Be A Gangster by Samuel Benchetrit - Best Screenplay
Durakovo: Village of Fools by Nino Kirtadze - Best Direction of a Documentary
Filmwinter - Stuttgart Film Festival (Short films)
Un dimanche à Pripiat by Frédéric Cousseau and Blandine Huk - Team Work Award
Grants awarded in support of commercial release
Unifrance provided support for the release 2 French films in foreign territories through travel grants awarded to 3 French artists: Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold for the release of One to Another in the UK, and Nadine Labaki for the release of Caramel in the USA.
