Highlander Christopher Lambert Heads List of Movie Elite Heading For Cork
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Host of Stars Descend on 21st Cork French Film Festival
MOVIE legend Christopher Lambert is just one of a plethora of movie stars who will appear at the 21st Cork French Film Festival sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy, organisers announced yesterday at their programme launch in Cork’s City Hall.
The eight-day festival, running from February 28th to March 7th, will also see Oscar-nominated screenwriter and Bafta winner for the massive French hit Amelie Guillaume Laurant in town, as well as the founder of the Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight, Pierre-Henri Deleau, who will present a New Wave Cinema Conference in UCC.
Nora Callanan, Festival Director said at the launch: “We are truly proud, to present our 21st Cork French Film Festival sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy. The Festival has grown and developed over the years into one of national significance; screening Irish Premières, commissioning original works and welcoming icons of French Cinema.”
Christopher Lambert will present the Irish Première of his latest movie Cartegna, co-starring his real-life partner Sophie Marceau, at the Bord Gáis Energy Gala Opening night on Sunday, February 28th. Director of the film, Alain Moone, is also flying in from Cartagena, Columbia to be present on the night.
John Mullins, CEO of Bord Gáis said: “Bord Gáis Energy is delighted to be involved in partnership with our French colleagues Storengy in bringing such an amazing line-up of cinematic legends to Ireland. French and Irish connections have always been strong both culturally and from a business perspective and a festival of this quality strengthens those bonds in a very real way.”
The Festival, which will run in various venues throughout the City, from UCC to the Pavillion Night Club to Ballymaloe House, sees a massive programme including a special screening of Home for 2,000 school children sponsored by Cork’s Lord Mayor at the Cork Opera House.
“Sustainability and conserving energy in the home is the way forward and by bringing pupils from all over the city to such a screening we can highlight the small things each of those can do to play their part,” said Lord Mayor Cllr. Dara Murphy at the launch.
Paul Callanan, Curator said: “As a film-maker it has been a great privilege to curate this festival because the possibility of making films is closely linked to the possibility of seeing films. In the same way that young painters go to the Louvre to look at and be inspired by paintings – young film-makers need to see great films and the classics of cinema in order to cultivate their taste and talent.”
Highlights of the Festival include:
• Christopher Lambert presents the premiere of his latest film, Cartagena, co-starring real life partner Sophie Marceau. Director of the film, Alain Moone, is also flying in from Cartagena, Columbia to be present on the night.
• Christopher Lambert also presents his 80’s classic Subway by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, Leon). The iconic film which catapulted both to international stardom is a stylish and atmospheric caper set in the subterranean world of the Paris Metro.
• Also in Cork for the festival is the Oscar nominated & Bafta Award winning screenwriter of Amélie, Guillaume Laurant. Long term collaborator with Jean-Pierre Jeunet on films such as City of the Lost Children, A Very Long Engagement, Amélie and Micmacs. Guillaume Laurant presents a screenwriting masterclass for Irish film-makers.
• Premiere of specially commissioned score by Caoimhín O’ Raghallaigh. Irish fiddle player Caoimhίn O’ Raghallaigh performs his new original score for Marcel L’Herbier’s classic silent film L’Homme du Large (Man of the Sea), a tale of betrayal and redemption set on the wild coast of Brittany.
• Live Soundtrack by Marc Collin of renowned French group Nouvelle Vague. Marc Collin of French band Nouvelle Vague, who conquered the world with bossa nova covers of new-wave and punk classics, performs a live electronic soundtrack of Man with a Movie Camera. His soundtrack features on the recent DVD release of the film in France.
• Irish Premieres include opening film, Cartagena; the warm hearted comedy Masquerades, set in a Berber village in Algeria; and Canadian film-maker Xavier Dolan’s multi-award winning debut I killed My Mother.
• Retrospective of New Wave cinema featuring the films of François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard.
• Pierre-Henri Deleau, New Wave film-maker and co-founder of the Directors Fortnight, Cannes presents a New Wave Cinema Conference in UCC.
• Tribute to Eric Rohmer (1920-2010). Four classic shorts by the legendary French Film-maker and key member of the New Wave.
• Plus great documentaries, new shorts and more
For More Info, Press Packs and Interviews with festival team and guests contact:
Paul Callanan, Festival Curator: paul.callanan@gmail.com
Vytene Laucyte, Festival Administrator: afcorkculture@eircom.net
Film Festival Office: +353 (0) 21 431 0677
www.corkfrenchfilmfestival.com
www.myspace.com/corkfrenchfilmfestival