Full spectacle of French film at Cork French Film Festival

The 31st Cork French Film Festival's opening night film Proxima was the French film nominee for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The 31st Cork French Film Festival is set to feature some of the finest French cinema at The Gate Cinema.

Taking place between Wednesday, March 4 and Sunday, March 8, the programme for the festival has been curated by guest festival programmer, Marie-Pierre Richard.

The sales of the opening and closing films were launched today by the Directors of Alliance Française de Cork, Valérie David-McGonnell and Josselin Le Gall.

The opening night film is Proxima starring Eva Green and Matt Dillon, which was the French film nominee for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and a nominee for a French César Award.

Directed by French filmmaker Alice Winocour, Proxima was shot in various real training facilities at the European Space Agency. The film tells the story of Sarah, a woman trying to balance her work as an astronaut with her family life while preparing for a year-long mission on the International Space Station.

The closing night film is The Truth (La Verité). This is a 2019 French-Japanese drama film, written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche and Ethan Hawke. It is the director's first film set outside Japan and not in his native language.

Chairman of the Cork French Film Festival, John Mullins took the opportunity to congratulate Alliance Française de Cork "on providing us [Cork French Film Festival] with an excellent programme for 2020". Mullins also thanked the festival's sponsors and said: "We are very grateful for the support of the Embassy of France in Ireland and to Cork City Council for their generous support of the Festival.”

The Ambassador of France in Ireland, H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, highlighted the historic cinematographic ties between Ireland and France: “In 1897, the Lumière brothers recorded the first ever images from Ireland. This footage marked the beginning of vibrant cinematographic ties between France and Ireland."

Valérie David-McGonnell and Josselin Le Gall, Directors of Alliance Française de Cork praised the Festival organisers' team and explained the wider purpose of the festival's programme: "Besides bringing a French-language cinematic experience to Cork audiences, the Cork French Film Festival aims to provide an insight into French and Francophone cultures and societies."

David-McGonnell and Le Gall also looked forward to System K which they described as "an exciting documentary about the art street scene in Kinshasa," that is "presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland as part of the Francophonie Festival and in resonance with the upcoming Africa 2020 Season in France.”

Alliance Francaise de Cork is the organiser of the Festival and sponsors include the French Embassy in Ireland, the Arts Council, and UCC.