Mumbai Film Fest to screen best of contemporary French cinema

The 15th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) along with the French Embassy in India, Institut Français en Inde and Unifrance films 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. The MFF will welcome renowned French cinema personalities on 17th of October when renowned filmmaker Costa Gavras will receive the Lifetime AchievementAward in the presence of His Excellency Mr François Richier, Ambassador ofFrance to India. Among others, Nathalie Baye, jury member of the international section, Mahamat Saleh Haroun, director of the film Grigris, Guillaume Bracdirector of Tonnerre (competition) and well known film maker Leos Carax 3will be conducting a masters class. Speaking about the association and the program, Jean-Raphaël Peytregnet, theConsul General of France in Bombay said, “In 1896, the first ever films shot by the Lumi?re 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 15professionals from the cinema field to carry the legacy of the Lumi?re Brothersforward.” The special section “Rendez-vous with French cinema” seeks to establish anexhilarating 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 18 October, the Rendez-Vous with French cinema section will open withacclaimed director François Ozon’s film Young and Beautiful at Liberty Cinema. Other important films that will be screened as part of this sectioninclude Abdellatif Kéchiche’s Blue is the warmest color, A Castle in Italy by ValeriaBruni-Tedeschi, Grigris by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Jealousy by Philippe Garrel, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants by Thomas Szabo & Hél?ne Szabo, Missand The Doctors by Axelle Ropert, Mood Indigo by Michel Gondry, The Nun byGuillaume Nicloux and The Past by Asghar Farhadi. Observed Festival Director, 15th Mumbai Film Festival Srinivasan Narayanan, “It is my privilege to collaborate with Unifrance films, Institut Français de Parisand 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 atCannes. I am glad that the MFF is bestowing the Life Time Achievement Award to one ofthe 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 internationaljury 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.”