Village Connect
Mark your calendars for a cultural extravaganza as the 27th edition of the French Film Festival takes the spotlight at SM Aura and SM City North EDSA Cinemas!
From November 22 to 29, 2024, movie enthusiasts are invited to indulge in magic of French cinema with admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hosted by the Embassy of France in the Philippines in collaboration with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, this year’s festival is particularly special as it showcases Feminist Cinema with a unique cross-cultural lens.
The selection features an impressive lineup of films by emerging female from France and the Philippines, highlighting the vibrant voices of women in the film industry. The festival underscores France’s commitment to gender equality, a principle championed in international circles and now brought to life through the lens of cinema.
- PRODIGIEUSES (Prodigies) follows twin pianists as they fight an illness and compete for a soloist spot, relying on their love for music and family to change their fate.
- UNE HISTOIRE D’AMOUR ET DE DÉSIR (A Tale of Love and Desire) tells the story of a French-Algerian student who falls deeply in love with a passionate Tunisian girl, while exploring a new world of intimate Arab literature.
- SEIZE PRINTEMPS (Spring Blossom) chronicles the life of 16-year-old Suzanne, who finds love and purpose in an unexpected place—with an older man who shares her longing for something more.
The initiative, part of France’s feminist diplomacy launched in 2018, emphasizes the role of film in shaping cultural narratives and influencing societal perceptions. Audiences can look forward to 14 carefully curated films, combining contemporary works with classic French cinema, which aim promote cultural richness diversity.
- SLALOM is about Lyz, a ski prodigy at a prestigious school, who rises under the mentorship of former champion Fred, but soon finds herself trapped under his controlling influence.
- SOUS LE CIEL D’ALICE (Skies of Lebanon) is a poignant love story set in 1950s Lebanon, where a young woman’s idyllic life is shattered by the onset of civil war.
- RIEN À FOUTRE (No F*cks Given) chronicles the life of a flight attendant whose carefree lifestyle unravels after she loses her job and must confront the life she has been avoiding.
In addition to screenings at SM Cinemas, special showings will be held at the Alliance Française de Manille, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, and De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
Opening the on November 22 at the SM Aura Cinema Director’s Club will be Filipina director Sigrid Bernardo, who will lead a roundtable discussion focused on the portrayal of women in cinema.
- FRAGILE centers on an oyster farmer who hides a ring in an oyster to propose to his girlfriend, but when she says no, his friends rally to help him heal.
- MARINETTE revolves around the life of football star Marinette Pichon, who fought for women’s rights in sport while overcoming the challenges of coming out in an era with limited lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other (LGBTQ+) rights.
- LE RAVISSEMENT (The Rapture) follows a midwife, experiencing a breakup, who is drawn into a deceitful journey after crossing paths with a one-night stand while carrying her best friend’s baby.
Before this engaging discussion, attendees can enjoy a special screening of Bernardo’s poignant short film, “May at Nila,” which tells the love story of two Filipino women during the Japanese Occupation.
The festival will welcome French director Noémie Lefort, who will present her film “My Heroin,” inspired by her own journey to Hollywood.
- MON HÉROÏNE (My Heroine) is about Alex, a Hollywood dreamer who defies her overprotective mother to pursue her film career in New York, where an adventure with her aunt and mother brings them closer together.
- LES FEMMES AU BALCON (The Balconettes) centers on three women during a heatwave, entangled in an affair with their neighbor, trapped by their fantasies and yearning for freedom.
- LE COMTE DE MONTECRISTO (The Count of Monte Cristo) follows Edmond Dantès, wrongfully imprisoned on his wedding day, who escapes after 14 years and returns as the vengeful Count, determined to punish the men who betrayed him.
On November 26, Lefort will participate in a roundtable at SM City North EDSA Cinema, discussing women’s roles in film both in front of and behind the camera.
- Quand Vient l’Automne (When Fall is Coming) tells the story of Michelle’s peaceful retirement in Burgundy, which is disrupted when her daughter Valérie arrives with her son Lucas, and nothing goes as planned.
- Annie Colère (Angry Annie) is about Annie, a working mother in 1974 rural France, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and joins the Movement for the Liberation of Abortion and Contraception, finding new purpose in the fight for women’s rights.
Additionally, she will conduct a masterclass on film directing for aspiring filmmakers at the of the Philippines.
- Discover the allure of French cinema at SM Aura Cinema from November 22-26, 2024.
- Celebrate the art of French cinema with inspiring films, happening from November 22-29, 2024, at SM City North EDSA Cinema.
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate feminist storytelling and cultural exchange at the 27th French Film Festival! For more details, follow @smcinema and @smsupermalls on social media.
