French artistry on film
THE Cork French Film Festival, which opens next weekend, will bring a variety of feature films, short films, documentaries and associated events to the city. It is a measure of the success of the festival, which is sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy, that even in these straitened times it continues to grow and evolve after 22 years in existence.
The artistic director of the festival is Paul Callanan, who is happy that the event is not just thriving but attracting international attention. “France continues to be the most active country in terms of film production,” he says. “The success of The Artist at the Oscars and at the box office is an indication of how strong and innovative French cinema is at present. There is a humour and rhythm in French cinema which creates an important counterpoint to the prevalence and overwhelming influence of American productions. As this year’s festival shows, it is also possible to unearth some real French gems from the past which may be known in France, but are largely unknown elsewhere.”
