The 29th Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, a celebration of modern French films, is set to take place from February 29 to March 10, hosted by Unifrance and Film at Lincoln Center. The festival will kick off with the New York premiere of Thomas Cailley’s “The Animal Kingdom” as the Opening Night film. This movie, which has been nominated for 12 Cesar Awards, explores a unique story where an infection transforms people into animal-human hybrids.
Daniela Elstner, the executive director of Unifrance, expressed her excitement about featuring “The Animal Kingdom,” noting its success in France both critically and at the box office. She praised the film for exemplifying the energy and variety in French cinema today. Elstner highlighted the diverse mix of new and seasoned filmmakers and the participation of acclaimed actress Marion Cotillard as key elements of this year’s festival. She also pointed out the recent Oscar recognition as evidence of French cinema’s appeal to American audiences, offering a different perspective on human relationships and global issues. This year’s festival lineup includes 21 feature films, with over half directed by women and eight by first-time filmmakers.
Other notable films at the festival include Pascal Bonitzer’s “Auction,” Robin Campillo’s “Red Island,” Marie Amachoukeli’s “Àma Gloria,” Michel Gondry’s “The Book of Solutions,” Vanessa Filho’s “Consent,” and Ladj Ly’s “Les Indésirables.” The festival showcases a variety of genres.
Two documentaries, “On the Adamant” by Nicholas Philibert and “Little Girl Blue” by Mona Achache (featuring Marion Cotillard), will also be shown. Achache’s film is particularly intriguing as it mixes reality and fiction to tell a compelling story about her own mother. Both Achache and Cotillard will attend the festival.
New York's Rendez-Vous With French Cinema to Feature 'The Animal Kingdom,' Films by Michel Gondry, Ladj Ly (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/s9uBv5chDy
— Variety (@Variety) January 25, 2024
The event will also be graced by the presence of numerous talents, including Marie Amachoukeli, Nathan Ambrosioni, Pascal Bonitzer, Robin Campillo, Jean-Pierre Daroussin, and many others, who will participate in person. This gathering of filmmakers and actors highlights the richness and diversity of contemporary French cinema. Source
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