French Film Festival UK 30th anniversary line-up announced

The French Film Festival UK (FFF UK) has unveiled its programme highlights for 2022. The 30th anniversary edition of the celebration of francophone cinema runs from 2 November to 15 December in more than 40 cinemas across the UK. Viewers can also take part from the comfort of their home thanks to the festival’s partnership with Curzon at Home.

Special guests at the Festival also include Charlotte Gainsbourg and Blandine Lenoir at the Ciné Lumière in London, in a festival focused on female talent; Belgian director Yves Hinant in Chichester, as well as veteran director Patrice Leconte in Edinburgh.

GALA SCREENINGS & Q&As

Opening Gala: Full Time by Eric Gravel, starring Laure Calamy.

Ciné Lumière, London – Wednesday 2 November 19.30 + Q&A with director Eric Gravel

Jane by Charlotte by Charlotte Gainsbourg, starring Jane Birkin – a documentary.

Ciné Lumière, London – Tuesday 8 November 18.15 + Q&A with director Charlotte Gainsbourg moderated by journalist Christina Newland

The Passengers of the Night by Mikhäel Hers, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, first presented at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

Ciné Lumière, London – Tuesday 8 November 20.45 + intro with director Charlotte Gainsbourg

UK Premiere: For a Fistful of Fries by Yves Hinant and Jean Libon, a gripping and humorous documentary thriller.

Ciné Lumière, London – Wednesday 9 November 19.45 + Q&A with co-director Yves Hinant

Angry Annie by Blandine Lenoir, starring Laure Calamy, an inspiring story about the fight for women’s rights in France in the 1970s.

Ciné Lumière, London – Thursday 10 November 19.00 + intro with director Blandine Lenoir

UK Premiere: Maigret by Patrice Leconte, starring Gérard Depardieu as novelist George Simenon’s iconic detective.

Dominion Cinema, Edinburgh – Friday 11 November 18.00 + Q&A with director Patrice Leconte

UK Premiere: Two of a Kind by Olivier Ducray and Wilfried Méance, about separated twin brothers, one Black, one white who suddenly learn of each other’s existence.

Chichester New Park Cinema, Chichester – Friday 18 November 18.00 + Q&A with directors Olivier Ducray and Wilfried Méance

FESTIVAL STRANDS

The Femmes First strand shines a spotlight on a century of French and francophone women filmmakers, and films focused around contemporary women’s issues.. The strand includes short films by pioneer Alice Guy-Blaché, widely considered the first narrative filmmaker back in the 1890s. Charlotte Gainsbourg turns the camera on her mother Jane Birkin in Jane by Charlotte – an intimate portrait. Also featured are two winners from Cannes 2022: Rodeo by Lola Quivoron and Moroccan director Maryam Touzani’s The Blue Caftan.

Panorama features new and recent works by acclaimed filmmakers,including François Ozon, Arnaud Desplechin, Fred Cavayé, Quentin Dupieux and Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne.

Among the Classics titles is Children of Paradise, acclaimed “the greatest French film of all time”. Harking back to the Festival’s origins, Isabelle Huppert stars as Madame Bovary shown at the first Festival in 1992.

Extras showcases recent films audiences may have missed and Discovery celebrates first and second-time directors.

The following new and recent titles will also be available to stream via Curzon at Home:

• Paris 13th District (Dir. Jacques Audiard)
• Casablanca Beats (Dir. Nabil Ayouch)
• Between Two Worlds (Dir. Emmanuel Carrère)
• Everything Went Fine (Dir. François Ozon)
• Both Sides of the Blade (Dir. Éric Gautier)

SCHOOLS AND LEARNING

The burgeoning Festival’s Schools and Learning programmes which attracted a total of 75 schools and reached over 5000 students in 2021, is set to break records this year.

The programme involves free screenings in the classroom and learning resources. Pupils can also win prizes in a critics competition, supported by the Franco-Scottish Society.