15th Mumbai Film Festival to feature 29 French films and “ 6th Rendez-vo-us with French Cinema ”

15th  Mumbai Film Festival to feature 29 French films and

 “ 6th Rendez-vo-us with  French  Cinema ”  

·    Costa Gavras, highly acclaimed French film maker to receive the “Lifetime Achievement Award”

·    Nathalie Baye, an actress with a career span of 40 years to be an  International Jury member

·    2013 Cannes Palme d’or Winner “Blue is the warmest color” (Abdellatif Kéchiche)

·    15 French cinema professionals will attend the 15th Mumbai Film Festival, including journalists, distributors, producers, directors and actors like Costa Gavras, Nathalie Baye, Leos Carax,

Mahamat Saleh Haroun (Grigris) and Guillaume Brac (“Tonnerre” in the official competition)

·    29 French  features to be screened

Mumbai, October 16, 2013: The 15th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) presented by Reliance Entertainment and organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) is all set to showcase the best of contemporary French cinema and welcome artists for the 6th  edition of the Rendez-vous with French Cinema co-organized with the French Embassy in India, Institut Français en Inde and Unifrance films.

On the 17th of October, the MFF will welcome renowned French cinema personalities. Costa Gavras will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening ceremony in the presence of His Excellency Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France to India who will grace us with his presence specially for this occasion.  Among  others,  Nathalie  Baye,  jury  member  of  the  international  section,  Mahamat  Saleh Haroun, director of the film “Grigris”, Guillaume Brac, director of the film “Tonnerre” (Competition) and Leos Carax, well known film maker who will be conducting a masters class.

Speaking about the association and the program, Jean-Raphaël Peytregnet, the Consul General of France in Bombay says “In 1896, the first ever films shot by the Lumière Brothers, Louis and Auguste were shown in Mumbai and as this year India celebrates the centennial of Indian cinema. As the Consul General of France in Bombay, I am very proud that France will be represented with 29 films and 15 professionals from the cinema field to carry the legacy of the Lumière Brothers forward.”

The special section “Rendez-vous with French cinema” seeks to establish an exhilarating platform for showcasing the various facets of French contemporary cinema, helping Indian distributors to promote new French films and celebrate the growing Indo-French ties.

On the 18th of October, the “Rendez-Vous with French cinema” section will open with acclaimed director François  Ozon’s  film “Young  and  Beautiful”  at  Liberty  Cinema.  Other  important  films  that  will  be screened as part of this section include, Abdellatif Kéchiche’s “Blue is the warmest color”, “A Castle in Italy” by Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, “Grigris” by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, “Jealousy” by Philippe Garrel, “Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants” by Thomas Szabo & Hélène Szabo, “Miss and The Doctors” by Axelle Ropert, “Mood Indigo” by Michel Gondry, “The Nun” by Guillaume Nicloux and “The Past” by Asghar Farhadi.

Srinivasan  Narayanan,  Festival  Director,  15th   Mumbai  Film  Festival  says  “It  is  my  privilege  to collaborate with Unifrance films, Institut Français de Paris and the Embassy of France in India for the third consecutive year. The 6th  Rendez-vous with the French Cinema which is part of the 15th  Mumbai Film Festival will showcase ten beautiful French films including the Palme d’Or film at Cannes. I am glad that the MFF is bestowing the Life Time Achievement Award to one of the greatest French Film makers, Costa Gavras which was for me a dream come true. One of the greatest French actresses, Nathalie Baye is part of our international jury and Leos Carax will be conducting a Masters Class.  Hope our patrons will enjoy the best of contemporary French Cinema and we look forward for more collaborations with France”.

Isabelle Giordano, General Manager, Unifrance films says “I am delighted that the French cinema is again in the spotlight of this year's Festival of Mumbai. It is a great pleasure to see our beautiful cinema crossing all boundaries. It also allows our artists, actors, actresses, film makers to be known outside France which

for me is a cultural issue and of economic importance today, in a world where the business multiplies day by day. I look forward to these wonderful encounters that will be rich and fruitful without any doubt.

Mumbai Film Mart (MFM) : 5 French professionals will be participating at the Mumbai Film Mart. Marc Baschet, Producer (coproducer of the film « Lunchbox »), ASAP Films.

Agilane Pajaniradja, distributor of Indian films in France, Aanna Films. Isabelle Dubar, distributor, Happiness Distribution.

François Da Silva, Producer.

Anne Delseth, Member of the Selection Committee, Director’s fortnight, Cannes Film Festival