Atlantic Film Festival Cinéma En Français

Atlantic Film Festival September 12-19, 2013.
Atlantic Film Festival September 12-19, 2013.

The 33rd annual Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) announces a new program featuring French Films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will take place from Friday, September 13th to Monday, September 16th and will feature 18 French language film presentations.

“Every year the Atlantic Film Festival presents a wealth of French language film so it makes sense to approach them in a ‘Festival Within A Festival’ way,” said Executive Director, Wayne Carter. “By offering a banquet of choice within our opening weekend, we are hoping our Francophone and Francophile audience both locally and from other parts of the region, will come to Halifax for a long weekend experience. La sélection de cette année est vraiement, très bonne.”

Leading the Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will be two Gala Film Presentations on Saturday, September 14th. This year’s Gala Français Canadien will be Mathieu Roy’s L’Autre maison (Another House), an intimate and powerful family drama featuring three generations of great Quebec Actors. Marcel Sabourin plays Henri Bernard, an 86 year-old man with a failing grip on reality. His sons, a jet setting, middle aged, photo journalist (Roy Dupuis) and a younger pilot-in-training (Emile Proulx-Cloutier) disagree on a course of action, leaving the father and the younger son inhabiting a rustic cottage in the woods. L’Autre maison blends elements of memory, perception and lyricism into a remarkable cinematic mix that moves the story well beyond direct domestic issues into a visual realm that balances nature and humanity.

In addition, the Gala Français International will be Jeune & Jolie (Young and Beautiful), from leading French Director François Ozon – best remembered for his marvellous ensemble piece, 8 Femmes. Jeune & Jolie pushes Ozon’s vision to frank and carnal territory in an edgy tale of a young woman exploring her sexuality in four sequences, over four seasons. Jeune & Jolie presents an intimate and powerful portrait of life choices, taken after breakthrough experiences.

Cinéma En Français S.V.P. features three to six French films, playing each of the four days, from both Canada and abroad. There are nine Canadian films and nine international films in the program. Passport Atlantique – Programme Francais will be available for $75 and includes admission to all Festival films (both French and English) playing from September 13 to 16.

Atlantic Film Festival’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. Schedule:

Friday, September 13th

Noon Exil, Charles-Olivier Michaud, Canada / Dominican Republic, 10 minutes
2 pm Les 4 Soldats, Robert Morin, Canada, 87 minutes
4 pm Les gamins, Anthony Marciano, France, 95 minutes
8 pm Gabrielle, Louise Archambault, Canada, 108 minutes

Saturday, September 14th

11:30 am Courts metrages, 87 minutes
2:30 pm Vic et Flo ont vu un ours (Vic and Flo Saw A Bear), Denis Côté, Canada, 95 minutes
4:45 pm Roche papier ciseaux, Yan Lanouette Turgeon, Canada, 115 minutes
7 pm Gala Français Canadien: L’Autre maison (Another House), Mathieu Roy, Canada, 100 minutes
9:30 pm Gala Français International: Jeune & jolie (Young and Beautiful), François Ozon, France, 95 minutes

Sunday, September 15th

12:30 pm 2 automnes 3 hivers (2 Autumns, 3 Winters), Sébastien Betbeder, France, 87 minutes
3 pm Grigris, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, France / Chad, 101 minutes
5 pm Sarah préfère la course (Sarah Prefers to Run), Chloé Robichaud, Canada, 97 minutes
8 pm Le passé (The Past), Asghar Farhadi, France / Iran, 130 minutes
10 pm Les salauds (Bastards), Claire Denis, France / Germany, 100 minutes
10:30 pm L’inconnu du Lac (Stranger by the Lake), Alain Guiraudie, France, 97 minutes

Monday, September 16th

11 am Louis Cyr, Daniel Roby, Canada, 130 minutes
2:15 pm Camille Claudel, 1915, Bruno Dumont, France, 95 minutes
4 pm Michael Kohlhaas, Arnaud des Pallières, France, 122 minutes

Tickets for screenings and special events along with ticket packages, group tickets and passes are on sale now. Tickets are available by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at the Atlantic Film Festival website or ticketpro.ca.

Tickets are also available at all Ticketpro outlets in Nova Scotia, including Video Difference (6086 Quinpool Road). Please note that Ticketpro outlets accept cash or debit only. Tickets will be available at the Festival Box Office in Park Lane Mall (5657 Spring Garden Road) beginning September 3rd at noon. For hours of operation, visit the Atlantic Film Festival website

Receive the most up-to-date information, including sneak peeks and Festival highlights on the Atlantic Film Festival website , the Atlantic Film Festival Facebook page and the Atlantic Film Festival Twitter account.

To support these online channels, the Atlantic Film Festival will also offer an all-new Atlantic Film Festival App before the event to help coordinate your festival experience. In addition, the Atlantic Film Festival is pleased to announce a continued partnership this year with iTunes Canada. An Atlantic Film Festival “Super Room” will live on iTunes where people can download the app and purchase/ download past festival favourites. More details coming soon!

Another way to be part of the action is by visiting the Super Channel Festival Lounge located in the Georgian Lounge, at the Lord Nelson Hotel (1515 South Park Street). Open from noon to midnight daily, this is a place for the industry and the public to connect. Scheduled Q&A sessions with filmmakers, music performances along with other highlights will take place throughout the Festival.

About the Atlantic Film Festival

The Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 12-19.

Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Atlantic Film Festival is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Atlantic Film Festival depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.

The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, Atlantic Film Festival Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

Receive the most up-to-date information about the Atlantic Film Festival and its Family of Programs, including sneak peeks and festival highlights on our website, our Facebook page, our Twitter account use hashtag #AFF2013, the Atlantic Film Festival Pinterest profile, the Atlantic Film Festival LinkedIn company page and our Youtube channel.