French film fest to delight Delhi cine buffs

New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) For movie buffs, it is a treat. A week-long French film festival kicks off in the capital Friday, showcasing some critically acclaimed cinema as well as commercial hits.

The French Embassy, Alliance Francaise, a leading French language institute, and multiplex chain Fun Cinemas have come together to present the Oct 5-11 fifth edition of the festival. During the fest, one select film will be showcased everyday at Fun Cinemas at Cross River Mall, Shahdara, at prime time.

'There has been an increasing patronage for French cinema in India over the last few years. This year's festival promises to be an interesting mix of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films that mirrors the French culture of today,' Shirish Handa, senior vice president marketing Fun Cinemas, said Thursday.

In order to reach out to a wider audience, all the films will have sub-titles in English.

'Through this platform we are able to give the young urban multiplex audience the opportunity to discover a new genre of cinema, and more importantly, access to world cinema, in particular French,' stated Mohamed Bendjebbour, head French Films at the French embassy.

'We hope in the long term the French cinema will create its own niche among this young audience. We at the French embassy feel that Indian audiences deserve a wider choice of cinema,' added Bendjebbour.

The festival offers award-winning films like 'Le Couperet' (The Axe), which kicked off a new trend in French cinema, mixing social issues with action. The film has won the film and literature award at the SEA International Film Festival 2006 and Maharashtra Government Prabhat International Award.

'Je Ne Suis Pas La Pour Etre Aime' ('Not here to be Loved'), a film based on the intimate theme of crazy love, is another film to be screened. It bagged the CEC Best Film award at the San Sebastian International Film festival. And Cannes Film Festival 2005 award winner 'Petite Jerusalem' (Little Jerusalem), the story of an 18-year-old girl torn between her religious education and upbringing, is to be shown.

Some of the other films include 'Les Mauvais Joueurs' (The Gamblers), which was awarded at the Berlin International Film festival, 'Le Petit Lieutenant' (The Little Lieutenant), which won at the Venice film festival - Etoiles d'Or and Cesar awards, 'Bled Number One', which won the Cannes film festival - Award of the youth, and 'Changement D'adresse'.

After Delhi, the festival will move to Lucknow from Oct 19-25, and Ahmedabad from Oct 26 to Nov 1 this year.