14/08/2006

With French production currently proving very popular, five French films will open in France from August 23 through December 27 2006.

First up is Michel Ocelot’s Azur & Asmar [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (October 25, Diaphana), which was received to high acclaim at Cannes.

Other titles lined up are U [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Grégoire Solotareff and Serge Elissalde (October 4, Gebeka Films); Piccolo & Saxo by Marco Villamizar and Eric Guttierez (December 20, Haut et Court); Franklin et le trésor du lac (lit. “Franklin and the Treasure of the Lake”) by Dominique Monfery (December 20, Mars Distribution ); and Elephant Tales by Mario Andreacchio (October 25, UIP).

Film aficionados will have a chance to discover such arthouse productions as Ces rencontres avec eux (lit. “These Encounters With Them”) by Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet, which Pierre Grise Distribution will release sometime in October.

Meanwhile, Celluloid Dreams plans to unveil Carmen [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Jean-Pierre Limosin and Fragments sur la grâce (lit. “Passages on Grace”) by Vincent Dieutre (both still without release dates).

There will also be no shortage in films from young directors, with Le dernier des fous [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dominique Barneaud
interview: Laurent Achard
film profile] (lit. “The Last of the Crazy People”) by Laurent Achard (November 8, Ad Vitam); Les fragments d’Antonin [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (lit. “Fragments of Antonin”) by Gabriel Le Bomin (November 8, Rezo Films); Pardonnez-moi [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (lit. “Forgive Me”) by Maïween Le Besco (November 29, SND); Violent Days-Dry [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Lucie Chaufour, scheduled for a November release (Shellac); and the French/Belgian co-production Le poulain (lit. “The Foal”) by Olivier Ringer (December 20, Rezo Films).

Distributors also plan to release features expected to be potential box office successes. Lionel Delplanque’s President will arrive on screens on September 20 (Pan Européenne Edition), while Mars Distribution plans to open Le grand appartement [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Pascal Thomas on November 15 and Madame Irma [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Didier Bourdon and Yves Fajnberg on December 6.

Meanwhile, TFM will distribute The Great Meaulnes [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe on October 4, Poltergay [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Eric Lavaine on November 1, and Poor Rich Folks [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Charlotte de Turckheim on September 20. O Jerusalem [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Elie Chouraqui opens on October 18 (Haut et Court).

Other titles slated for last-quarter releases include A Crime by Manuel Pradal (September 27, ARP Sélection); Très bien merci (lit. “Very Well, Thanks”) by Emmanuelle Cuau (at a date yet to be announced by Gémini Films); L’école pour tous (“lit. School For All”) by Eric Rochant, scheduled for an October release (Mars Distribution); Barakat! by Djamila Sahraoui (September 13, Pierre Grise); One To Another by Pascal Arnold and Jean-Marc Barr (September 27, La Fabrique de Films); My Son by Martial Fougeron (at a date yet to be set by Mars Distribution); and Gone For a Dance by Belgium’s Alain Berliner (date to be confirmed by TFM).

Documentaries due to arrive on screens include the docu-fiction The Besieged Fortress by Philippe Calderon (October 18, TFM); Down There by Chantal Akerman, set for a October release (Shellac); Je t’aime, moi non plus by Maria de Medeiros, which Colifilms Distribution will unveil sometime in December; and Return to Kigali [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Jean-Christophe Klotz, whose release date is yet to be confirmed by Sophie Dulac Distribution.

(Translated from French)