The curtain will raise on the Panorama of French Cinema 2006 on
February 9 in Beijing, introducing film buffs to the latest
European movies.
The series of screenings, held for the third time, will allow
audiences in Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai to take in 11 recent
French offerings from February 10 to 14.
Featured films include L'Avion, Joyeux Noel,
Le courage d'aimer, Zaina, Cavaliere de l'Atlas,
L'enfant, L'anniversaire, La maison de
Nina, Je ne suis pas la pour etre aime, Mon petit
doigt m'a dit, Cache, and Frankie, according
to Christine Pernin, chief representative of Unifrance in
China.
The directors of the films, and some of the actors that feature
in them, are expected to attend showings in the three cities to
discuss their works.
The event has been jointly organized by Unifrance, a promoter of
French films overseas, the French Embassy in China and the Beijing
Huaxia Film Distribution Co Ltd.
"With France and China building up closer ties in recent years,
we have noticed a growing interest in French culture among Chinese
people, including French-made movies," said French Ambassador
Philippe Guelluy during a press conference last week in
Beijing.
In 2004, three French movies were released in cinemas nationwide
by domestic distributors, and last year there were four.
The ambassador hopes Chinese audiences will watch more French films
in the coming years and encourages more cooperation between
professionals from both countries.
The annual event was originally held in 2004 as part of the Year
of France in China cultural exchange program, and has continued to
function as an effective way to nurture an increasing fan base in
China.
Meanwhile, a retrospective show of six films starring Jean Reno,
a French film actor popular among older Chinese audiences, will
also be held at the Beijing-based China Film Archive and French
Culture Centre (Beijing) starting on February 10.
Jean Reno will be present at the Beijing premiere of his latest
work L'Empire des Loups, which will be on general release
across China from January 30.
(China Daily January 24, 2006)
