SPORT TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT CORK FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

Organised by Alliance Française de Cork, the 35th Cork French Film Festival presents a remarkable lineup of French-language cinema, with many Irish Premieres including films about sport, aligning with the excitement surrounding the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. 

The festival, which will take place from March 2nd to 10th at the Arc Cinema in Cork, was launched at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City by MEP Deirdre Clune, Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, Marianne Barkan-Cowdy (Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in Ireland), and Cork French Film Festival Directors Valérie David-McGonnell and Josselin Le Gall. 

Marianne Barkan-Cowdy said: “The French Embassy is delighted to support the 35th Cork French Film Festival which is an important cultural connection between France and Ireland. This collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment to strengthening cultural ties, celebrating the arts, and promoting mutual understanding between our two nations in the context of the 2021-2025 French-Irish joint plan of action.”

Valérie David-McGonnell and Josselin Le Gall highlighted the significance of the festival: “In the past 35 years, the Cork French Film Festival has gone from strength to strength to become a cornerstone of the vibrant cultural diary of Cork, attracting diverse audiences from different counties in Ireland. This year again, we are thrilled to direct the festival and be part of the programming team, with Úna Feely and Mick Hannigan, to present the best of French-language films, by French, Canadian, and Belgian-Congolese directors. You don’t need to speak French to enjoy our programme, as all our films are subtitled. There is something for every cinephile in our festival.” 

Kicking off the event is the Irish premiere of ‘Jeanne du Barry,’ a historical drama that opened the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Directed by the highly acclaimed French filmmaker Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp, this fascinating biopic sets the stage for a powerful cinematic experience.

A number of popular sports are represented in this year’s lineup; Canadian film ‘Nadia, Butterfly’ tells the story of 23-year-old Nadia who makes the controversial decision to retire from professional swimming after the Olympic Games. Meanwhile, tennis is the subject of ‘Final Set’ about young professional French tennis prodigy, Thomas (César-winner Alex Lutz), who never had the career he had hoped for. At 37, despite his declining physical fitness and shattered knee, he decides to return to international competition.

Staying with the theme of sport, the film proposed this year for post-primary schools is French film ‘Tempête’ (‘Ride Above’) by Canadian director Christian Duguay, about a girl who learns how to overcome a terrible accident in order to realise her dream of becoming a jockey like her father. There will be three venues for school screenings this year, in Cork, Mallow and Midleton. In 2022-2023, over 1200 students and teachers from Munster travelled to Cork City for the festival.

Three of this year’s 18 films won at the recent César Awards, including science-fiction film ‘Animal Kingdom,’ one of this year’s biggest César winners taking home six accolades. ‘Three Musketeers’ is another highlight on the programme, Parts 1 and 2 of which were honoured with the César Award for Best Design. Also included is ‘All Your Faces’ for which Adèle Exarchopoulos won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress. 

In addition to the headline films, the festival presents a diverse array of cinematic gems, including the Irish premiere of “The Crime is Mine,” a captivating comedy from acclaimed director François Ozon featuring an impressive cast of French actors, such as Dany Boon and Isabelle Huppert, and a restored version of the cinematic masterpiece “Orphée” by Jean Cocteau. This year’s programme also includes a special screening of the history documentary ‘D-Day: Normandie 1944’  by French filmmaker Pascal Vuong who will be in attendance for a Q&A session.   

The Cork French Film Festival is made possible through the generous support of the French and Canadian Embassies in Ireland, the Arts Council, the Cork City Council, Air France, Amarenco, Brittany Ferries, EirGrid, Eurotranslations Cork, Port of Cork, the AIPLF (Irish Association of French-Language Teachers), Institut Français, Explore France, the Metropole Hotel, and Cork Airport.

For tickets and more information, visit www.corkfrenchfilmfestival.com.

Trailer available here: https://youtu.be/-PD7UO-lBbE