The six films in this fifth edition will receive special gala screenings open to the public, ahead of their release by UK distributors.

Unifrance is again organising the Rendez-vous with French Cinema to showcase contemporary and classic French cinematic production and support UK distributors. It will run in London from June 8-11.

The six films in this fifth edition will receive special gala screenings open to the public, ahead of their release by UK distributors, which are Optimum Releasing, Metrodome, Artificial Eye and New Wave Films. The screenings will take place at the London’s Curzon Soho and the Cine Lumiere, with one special screening at the BFI Southbank.

Both up-and-coming and established French actors and directors whose work is being celebrated by the event will be on hand to introduce their films and then discuss them with the public at post-screening Q&A sessions. Guest actors will include Kristin Scott Thomas, Laetitia Casta and Louis-Ronan Choisy while Alain Resnais, Radu Mihaileanu, Francois Ozon, Catherine Corsini and Joann Sfar will number among the directors in attendance.

Regine Hatchondo, general manager of Unifrance told Screen:”Unifrance is very happy to return to London and collaborate with the UK distributors for these great gala screenings of French films. The festival gives support to the great work of the distributors who have bought and promoted French films for many years.”

The line-up of films is:

Gainsbourg (Gainsbourg: Vie heroique) is an imaginative take on the biopic, based on the life story of singer Serge Gainsbourg. This is Joann Sfar’s debut feature and stars Eric Elmosnino, Lucy Gordon, Laetitia Casta, Doug Jones and Anna Mouglalis. 

Leaving (Partir) sees Kristin Scott Thomas playing a wife and mother who pursues an affair in the midst of her idle, bourgeois life. Directed by Catherine Corsini, the drama co-stars Yvan Attal and Sergi Lopez.

The Concert (Le Concert) directed by Radu Mihaileanu, and written by Alain-Michel Blanc follows the fortunes of a renowned Russian conductor who works to revive a career destroyed under Communism.

Francois Ozon’s The Refuge (Le Refuge) starring Isabelle Carre is an intense character drama centred on a pregnant woman in flight from her past.

Alain Resnais’ Wild Grass (les Herbes folles) is a comic romantic adventure with Andre Dussollier, Sabina Azema, Emmanuelle Devos and Mathieu Amalric.

Breathless (A Bout de souffle) -celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jean-Luc Godard’s classic with a specially restored digital version. 

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