Now in its 24th year, the French Film Festival weaves together an eclectic mix of genres and eras, spanning animation, comedy, documentary, drama, thrillers and lesser-seen gems. Showing in no fewer than 36 locations, it’s become one of the foremost UK events for francophiles. As sponsors of the 2016 festival, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a taster menu to help you decide what to tuck into at this year’s filmic feast. Bon appetit!
Film: Kill the Referee! / A mort l’arbitre!
Perfect for: A little dark relief
This pitch-black, pitch-side comedy follows the dire consequences of a referee’s poor call as he’s pursued by the losing side’s supporters – one of whom just happens to be an axe-wielding maniac. Now recognised as a cult classic among French film and football fans alike, Jean-Pierre Mocky’s 1984 satire will be screening in 35 mm splendour.
Film: Dark Inclusion / Diamant noir
Perfect for: Thrill-seekers
This moody revenge thriller/heist amalgam stars Niels Schneider as a diamond dealer indulging in some criminal introspection after his father’s death. Having already received substantial praise for its atmospheric visuals, we expect it to bring more than a little sinister sparkle to the festival line-up. Stay behind after the GFT screening to participate in a special Q&A with director Arthur Harari – he’ll be giving the audience some insight into his feature-length début.
Film: Thanks Boss! / Merci patron!
Perfect for: Dedicated followers of fashion
Activist-turned-filmmaker Francois Ruffin peers behind the velvet curtain of high fashion, confronting billionaire LVMH magnate Bernard Arnault on his questionable business practices. Although Thanks Boss! tackles such weighty topics as factory closure, job losses and labour law reforms, there’s plenty of humour stitched into the seams of this crowd-subsidised documentary to enjoy.
Film: A Journey Through French Cinema / Voyage à travers le cinéma français
Perfect for: Bluffers
If you can’t distinguish Tati from Truffaut, it’s time you learned. And what better guide than director and writer Bertrand Tavernier? A Journey Through French Cinema promises to knit together the gaps in your knowledge with anecdotes, auteur profiles and a treasury of archive footage. Whether you’re a budding cineaste or an enduring admirer of the form, indulge in this excuse to fall for film all over again.
Film: The Red Turtle / La tortue rouge
Perfect for: Everyone
The Red Turtle heralds a first-ever international co-production for Japan’s Studio Ghibli, with Oscar-winning Dutch animator Michäel Dudok de Wit. Its trailer suggests a departure from the dense and complex worlds for which Ghibli is best known, instead embracing a more sparse and tranquil aesthetic that’s entirely free of dialogue. The story follows a shipwreck survivor washed up on a desert island and the bond he forms with a red turtle that gets in the way when he tries to leave. Expect to be gently mesmerised.