November at the IFI

Welcome to the IFI’s November programme and our annual celebration of French Cinema.

The IFI French Film Festival: Beloved

The IFI French Film Festival returns this month with a fantastic programme bringing you the best of new French cinema, and a chance to rediscover the work of some of its greats. We are delighted to be joined by leading figures in contemporary French Cinema: actors Sandrine Kiberlain and Jean-Pierre Darroussin, and directors Yves Caumon and Philippe Ramos. Distinguished critic Michel Ciment returns to the Festival for a screening of his new documentary on Kubrick and for a public discussion with one of our very special guests, distinguished director Claude Miller. This promises to be a fascinating encounter between two people who have done so much to define French Cinema and is not to be missed.

Film director Claude Miller

A focus for this year’s Festival is a special programme to celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the Prix Jean Vigo. Established in 1951 the Prix aims to recognise directors whose work demonstrates a passion for cinema, a sense of innovation, and independence of mind – qualities associated with Jean Vigo himself. This visionary approach has ensured that the list of past winners includes France’s most distinctive filmmakers, and some extraordinary films – a selection of which we have been delighted to screen over the last few weeks. The programme continues during the Festival with the screening of previous winners and two films by Jean Vigo himself. We are honoured that Luce Vigo, President of the Prix and Jean Vigo’s daughter will be joining us to introduce the programme.

Prix Jean Vigo: All The Fine Promises

All this and 21 Irish premieres including some of the most celebrated titles from this year’s Cannes and Venice film festivals.  For more information on the full programme see www.ifi.ie or the separate Festival programme available in the IFI. The Festival would not be possible without the support of the French Embassy in Ireland and we are very grateful to the Ambassador, and all our Festival partners, for their continued support of what has become one of Dublin’s cultural highlights.

The IFI French Film Festival: The Bird

The IFI Irish Film Archive is custodian of one of Ireland’s most remarkable resources – our nation’s film. Preserving and making this extraordinary collection accessible to the public is central to the work of the IFI and we have exciting plans for a much-needed new IFI Irish Film Archive Preservation and Research Centre which will provide the Archive with a secure new home, and allow us to grow and develop in the future. We are launching a major fundraising campaign to help us achieve this and a very familiar face will be popping up on our screens to ask for your help – please take a moment to listen.

The IFI Irish Film Archive

The IFI Irish Film Archive tells the story of Ireland’s cultural, social and political journey throughout the last century and it is essential we make sure this vital resource is there for future generations. Your help with this is very much appreciated.

Sarah Glennie

Director

For more information and bookings, visit the IFI French Film Festival website (http://www.irishfilm.ie/french2011).  

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