Bonjour, it’s time to get your French on!
The 20th edition of the Le French Film Festival (LFFF2022) kicked off recently after a two-year hiatus.
While it honours the diversity of French films, the festival is also about celebrating the best of "art de vivre” or as we call it, the French art of living.
This means the weeks-long series of events will not only feature award-winning French films, but also host dining and culinary activities, musical performances and more.
Alliance Francaise of KL President Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said the team excited to light up Malaysia with the various festivities.
"For those who prefer an evening of dining or exploring a theatrical performance, we are certain our line-ups this year will not disappoint,” she said.
Meanwhile, France Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Mr Roland Galharaque expressed his joy of being able to be back after the pandemic and how the film festival this year will benefit the community in terms of culture and values.
"There is really a whole diversity of films that will be shown throughout this festival, but it’s not only about films. We have some exhibitions, from a French architect and he invented something called ‘Machines for Living’ so it’s all about life, really.
"I think it will be a good opportunity for everyone to have fun and also it’s a small window into the vibrancy and diversity of French culture and people will find out that in fact, there are many common traits of life in Malaysia and France,” he said.
The first movie that kicked off the film festival is ‘Aline’, a hilarious and touching biopic on world-famous singer Céline Dion, played and directed by French stand-up comedian Valérie Lemercier which has been screened after the grand opening that night.
He described the movie as a great story which is a tribute to the strength of life and believing in yourself could be the power to manage all the obstacles in life.
"I think it is a great message to deliver after this pandemic. We all need to be re-energised with movies like this.
"I hope the Malaysian audience will enjoy this as much as we enjoy putting it together and I hope it will bring all of us closer,” he added.
A total of 21 latest award-winning French films (with English subtitles) with various genres such as heartwarming, tearjerker and comedy will be presented during the festival, in addition of online participation as the festival collaborated with streaming platform MUBI through a curated selection of 10 French movies with the theme "Bewitching Outsiders”.
A brand new interactive programme for kids, "Le Petit Festival”, is also introduced where the young ones and adults can enjoy movies from the line-up of films available.
Other programmes lined up for the festival are ‘Les Arts de la Table’, ‘Élans Radieux’ and ‘Le Corbusier’ as the exclusive exhibitions to awe people with their outstanding aesthetics and prime production, gastronomy-related workshops and events, night of music ‘La Fête de la musique’, ‘Solstice Lunaire’ - multi-sensorial concert that brings together Malaysia, France and Columbia, along with Electro Acoustic Latin Jazzy House Performance brought by No Black Tie.
For those eager to catch any of the films from LFFF22, get your movie tickets via the GSC app, website www.gsc.com.my or through the e-kiosks in participating GSC cinemas.
For more information, visit the website www.lefrenchfestival.com.my or Facebook page facebook.com/lefrenchfestivalmy.