Celebrate French film in Cork

By Geraldine Fitzgerald

Say bonjour to this year’s Cork French Film Festival.

Festival organisers are anticipating a larger audience than ever as it will have an online option for film lovers to join in from home to see works by some of the greatest Francophone film directors.

For its 32nd year, the festival, presented by Alliance Française de Cork, will take place at the Gate Cinema from 2-5 September.

Featuring a total of 12 French language films, the festival opens with ‘Sisters’ (Soeurs). The film marks the return of Isabelle Adjani, oft-considered the ‘Grande Dame’ of French cinema. It tells the story of three sisters struggling with their complicated Franco-Algerian family history.

11 of the films make their Irish debut, with many coming straight from their world premieres at Berlin and Toronto festivals. This year marks a diversification in the types of cinema on offer, with the festival screening a programme of short films to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of France’s greatest short film production companies – Autour de Minuit.

This programme will feature films that have won major awards at Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar Best Short Film award winner. There will be an opportunity to catch the Godard classic, ‘Alphaville’, on the big screen.

World-music lovers will enjoy the stirring documentary ‘Africa Mia’, telling the story of the pioneering Afro-Cuban music of the legendary ‘Maravillas of Mali’, and the whole family will enjoy the charming animation, ‘The Bears’ Invasion of Sicily’.

Chairman of Alliance Française de Cork John Mullins said: “During lockdown, French-language films and TV shows have become more and more popular. I hope that this new-found appreciation for French productions will encourage viewers to attend this year’s Cork French Film Festival. It is wonderful to be able to attend the cinema again and I hope that film lovers who can’t make it in person will join some of our screenings online.”

Valérie David-McGonnell, Alliance Française de Cork Board Member and Cork French Film Festival Co-Director, highlighted the diverse selection of Francophone films that will be shown: “Notably, this year’s festival is celebrating not just French cinema but also French-language cinema, with films from Belgium (Madly In Life) and from Quebec (Goddess of Fireflies).

“The diversity of the French language is further included in films such as the documentary ‘Africa Mia’ which follows a band from Mali on their musical journey to Cuba.”

See corkfrenchfilmfestival.com for more.