Rendez-Vous with French Cinema

NEW YORK – The 16th edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Unifrance’s celebrated annual showcase of the best in contemporary French film, hits screens at The Film Society, the IFC Center, FIAF and BAMcinématek, March 3-13. A wide selection of titles will be showcased during the series – all in their New York premieres – including films from Catherine Breillat, François Ozon, Bertrand Tavernier, Benoît Jacquot, Claude Lelouch, Eric Lartigau and the final film from the late Alain Corneau.

Filmmakers who will be in attendance at this year’s festival include – Catherine Breillat, Claude Lelouch, Benoît Jacquot, Eric Lartigau, René Féret, Martin Provost, François Ozon and Bertrand Tavernier. Among the actors/actresses attending are Catherine Deneuve, Judith Godrèche and Gaspard Ulliel.

Opening Night launches with François Ozon’s POTICHE, which will have its New York premiere on Thursday, March 3 at The Paris (4 West 58 Street). Nominated for four Césars, and a bona fide critical and box office hit in France, POTICHE reunites French cinema legends Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu in Francois Ozon’s new comedy about a submissive, housebound ‘trophy housewife’ (or “potiche”) who steps in to manage her wealthy husband’s umbrella factory after the workers go on strike and take him hostage.

“Rendez-Vous with French Cinema is one of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s marquee international programs.  This year, we are thrilled to welcome film legends Catherine Deneuve and Bertrand Tavernier, as well as introduce audiences to the work of emerging talent like Eric Lartigau and Gaspard Ulliel,” said Rose Kuo, Executive Director, The Film Society of Lincoln Center.

Other highlights at this year’s festival include: “A Conversation with Claude Lelouch” and a tribute to the late Alain Corneau. Lelouch, a winner of the Palme d’Or and Academy Award for A MAN AND A WOMAN (UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME), known for his lush visual style, will discuss his career and latest release, WHAT LOVE MAY BRING. FSLC Associate Director of Programming Scott Foundas will serve as moderator.

The tribute to Alain Corneau will feature the screening of his final film, LOVE CRIME (CRIME D’AMOUR), a delicious thriller of rivalry, seduction and humiliation set against office politics starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier as mentor and ingénue that results in murder. Also screening as part of the tribute to Corneau will be the 1979 classic SÉRIE NOIRE. Based on Jim Thompson’s potboiler A Hell of a Woman, Corneau’s SÉRIE NOIRE is considered one of the most remarkable French crime dramas.

“The goal of our Rendez-Vous festival has always been to provide an incisive and broad ranging look at contemporary French cinema, and this year’s selection of films is exceptional in that regard,” says Richard Peña, Program Director at The Film Society.

“We’re happy to provide such a rich selection of new French films for this 16th edition,” says Régine Hatchondo, Executive Director of Unifrance. “The impact of this film festival is underscored by the partnership and efforts of the Film Society, IFC Center, BAM and FIAF this year to offer New York City fans of French cinema greater access to see these wonderful films.”

For Opening Night and Lincoln Center screenings, Film Society of Lincoln Center Members enjoy an advance on-sale priority ordering period beginning on February 10th and Film Society Patrons enjoy priority ticketing starting on that same date. For IFC Center screenings, IFC Center Members enjoy an advance on-sale priority ordering period beginning on February 10th.

General Public Tickets for the 2011 Rendez-Vous series at both locations will go on sale February 17th. Tickets for BAMcinématek will go on sale by mid-February.

Tickets are available online for each participating venue at www.filmlinc.com, www.ifccenter.com, www.bam.org/cinematek, and www.fiaf.org respectively, as well as directly from the box offices. For more information, call The Film Society at (212) 875-5601, the IFC Center at (212) 924-7771, or BAMcinématek at (718) 636-4100 x2 or please visit: www.rendezvouswithfrenchcinema.com.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater’s address is 165 West 65th St. (between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway). The IFC Center is located at 323 Sixth Ave. at West 3rd Street. FIAF’s address is 22 East 60^th Street. BAMcinématek at BAM Rose Cinemas is located at 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn.

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