Rendez-vous with French Cinema

The Lumière Brothers have plenty to answer for*, but birthing French Cinema is not something they should regret. France’s cinematic output has often led the world and always been a fluid, idiosyncratic and seductive medium. And it’s coming to Scotland in March. This year’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema will see Scottish audiences get a golden opportunity to catch what could be this year’s Amelie, La Haine or even A Bout de Souffle ahead of general release.

From 18-20 March Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Cinema will showcase a series of avant-premieres (so avant indeed that The Skinny and press in general will only catch the films when you do) of five of the best, brand-new French movies, including the latest from heavyweight directors Luc Besson and Bertrand Tavernier. As a serious treat for cinephiles, Tavernier will be holding a Q&A before the screening of his The Princess of Montpensier on the 18th.

The five films – The Princess of Montpensier (18 Mar), Love Like Poison and Point Blank (both 19 Mar) and The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec and Potiche (both 20 Mar) – cover the range from whimsical comedy to thrillers to historical drama. All, hopefully, with the touch of intellectual playfulness and fearless approach to cinema that refuses to underestimate the audience’s capacity that French film is famous for. And, yes, Gerard Depardieu is in one of the flicks.

UniFrance, founded in 1949 to promote French film globally, is the driving force behind Rendez-vous and makes regular forays out into the world to introduce us to the latest crop of Cinema Française. While we mourn the loss of the UK Film Council, we can look with a certain amount of envy at France’s fierce determination to support and promote their own homegrown artistic talent with backing from their own government (spot the difference, ideology fans).

Enter the competition alongside for your chance to win tickets to each and every screening. Allez les auteurs!