Aaah, springtime in France – that’s basically what Gateway Film Center will recreate. From March 29 through June 14, the film center will screen a new French film or program by emerging filmmakers every week.
“It’s amazing how rapidly the feel of French cinema, and independent film around the world, is evolving year by year,” Jason Tostevin, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for GFC, said. “As technology continues to allow more voices and unique visions to get to the screen, you can see distinct differences between programs. I love seeing how filmmakers reflect and explore the most current issues in their work.”
Gateway’s Young French Cinema series is the result of a combined effort among GFC, UniFrance and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
“We were eager to bring the lineup to Columbus, and Unifrance was excited to present the series with us,” Tostevin said. “And with the help of a grant from the Puffin West Foundation, we were able to bring the program here.”
The program consists of features, shorts and a couple of visits.
On March 29, Olivier Babinet will introduce and take questions on Swagger, a documentary on minority teens in a troubled Paris neighborhood. And, rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and now film director Orelsan will visit GFC with his directorial debut, Uncompleted Song, on April 26.
“We’re excited that we’ll have two of the directors here live to present their films,” Tostevin said.
Tostevin and GFC Programmer and President Chris Hamel believe the series to be right at home with the foundational values of the film center.
“Young French Cinema is right at the core of what we do,” says Tostevin. “We’re about presenting films Columbus can’t see anywhere else, and about discovering something you love that you might not have watched otherwise.”
“People have come to trust us as a place to discover new favorites. We carefully curate our maverick mix. So, if you like one thing we play, there’s a really good chance you might like something else that is in our lineup,” he continued. “And here, you’re rewarded for adventuring into new places.”
New French Cinema showcases a new feature or short program each Wednesday at 7 p.m., with an encore the following Sunday at 2 p.m.
Full line-up:
Swagger (2016)
March 29 – 7:00 p.m.
April 1 – 2:00 p.m.
A Young Poet (2014)
with short film Love (2016)
April 5 – 7:00 p.m.
April 8 – 2:00 p.m.
Les Ogres (1976)
April 12 – 7:00 p.m.
April 15 – 2:00 p.m.
A German Youth (2015)
April 19 – 7:00 p.m.
April 22 – 2:00 p.m.
Uncompleted Song (2015) with
The Geneva Convention (2016)
April 26 – 7:00 p.m.
April 29 – 2:00 p.m.
Much Loved (2015)
with short film When You Hear the Bells (2015)
May 3 – 7:00 p.m.
May 6 – 2:00 p.m.
Tomorrow (2015)
May 10 – 7:00 p.m.
May 13 – 2:00 p.m.
Ville-Marie (2015)
May 17 – 7:00 p.m.
May 20 – 2:00 p.m.
The Woods Dreams Are Made Of (2015)
May 24 – 7:00 p.m.
May 27 – 2:00 p.m.
Struggle for Life (2016)
with short film Campo De Viboras (2016)
May 31 – 7:00 p.m.
June 3 – 2:00 p.m.
Shorts Program (Alive, Haramist, Joint-Tenants, Partner, Love)
June 7 – 7:00 p.m.
Spartacus & Cassandra (2014)
June 14 – 7:00 p.m.
June 17 – 2:00 p.m.
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