The annual Francophone Film Festival kicks off today.
The festival, being held at the University campuses of Msida and Valletta, celebrating the 2013 French language and Francophone Week, is being organised by the embassies of member countries of the International Organisation of la Francophonie in Malta, in partnership with the University of Malta.
Entries for all films are free of charge.
PROGRAMME
Today at Sir Temi Zammit Hall, Msida at 6pm.
The Names of Love (France, 2010), a film by Michel Leclerc, starring Sara Forestier and Jacques Gamblin.
Bahia Benmahmoud’s strong political convictions have made this young woman’s love life an unabated personal commitment. Her struggle had led to positive results until she meets Arthur Martin, an ornithologist by profession, who is a discreet, elegant and charming man, with a somewhat deceptive appearance.
An original and hilarious social comedy, the more serious subjects tackled in the film vary between political commitment, national identity and migration but these are treated in a humorous and insolent manner, thus giving the film an undeniable charm.
Thursday at Valletta Campus, St Paul Street at 6pm
Hidden (Austria, France 2005), a film by Michael Haneke, starring Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche. Winner of Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival and the European Film Awards.
Georges Laurent is a journalist who lives peacefully with his wife, Anne, at their home in Paris. One day, their tranquil life comes to an abrupt end when the couple receives a video showing that they are being anonymously watched. Soon enough, they receive further disturbing videos prompting George to conduct an investigation in order to identify the sender and his motives.
The cold, anxious and uncomfortable setting found in the film is certainly “one of the more accessible and preferred themes of the Austrian director, Michael Haneke, with an excellent performance delivered by the actors”.
Friday at Valletta Campus at 6pm
Plus jamais peur (Tunisia, 2011), a documentary by Mourad ben Cheikh.
Chronicle testimony of the Tunisian revolution.
On December 17, 2010, a young street fruits and vegetables vendor in Sidi Bouzid sacrifices himself after having goods confiscated by the authorities. This event triggers an unprecedented protest movement against the regime of President Ben Ali.
Saturday, March 23 March at Valletta Campus at 6pm
L’immeuble Yacoubian (Egypt, 2006), a film by Marwan Hamed, starring Adel Imam, Nour El-Sherif and Youssra. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Berlin Film Festival.
Meditations on corruption, fundamentalism, prostitution, homosexuality, and drugs. Set in downtown Cairo, the titular apartment building (which actually exists) serves as both a metaphor for contemporary Egypt and a unifying location in which most of the primary characters either live or work and in which much of the action takes place.
Egyptian film based on the novel of the same title by author Alaa Al Aswany. It has been reported to be the highest-budgeted film in the history of Egyptian cinema.
All films will be shown with English subtitles.