OCTOBER 22 -29, SIFF PRESENTS FRENCH CINEMA NOW

Seattle - SIFF and TV5MONDE present French Cinema Now, a celebration spotlighting the state of contemporary Francophone cinema, with 20 extraordinary features.
The Opening Night film is Dheepan, Winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. This powerful drama from director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, Rust & Bone) follows a former Tamil Tiger soldier as he flees from the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war to begin a new life in a Parisian suburb. An after-party will take place at Bastille Café + Bar in Ballard. 
 Half Sister, Full Love with director Marion Vernoux scheduled to attend and a post-film discussion with Director Lynn Shelton. The French adaptation of Seattle filmmaker Lynn Shelton's Your Sister's Sister (and the second of Shelton's films adapted à la française) introduces Pierre, a young man still suffering after his brother's recent death, who accepts his best friend Tessa's invitation to recuperate at her family home in the French countryside, only to find the house already occupied by her heart-broken sister. In The Chef's Wife two of France's most versatile and accomplished actresses, Karin Viard (Polisse,Delicatessen) and Emmannuelle Devos (Coco Before Chanel, Read My Lips), come together for this crowd-pleasing romantic comedy. Carole can no longer stand working alongside her talented Michelin-starred chef husband Sam, so she meets with Marithé, who helps people explore new career opportunities. The two become friends, but when Marithé meets Sam, their mutual attraction complicates her motives in helping Carole to start over.

Adama, a stunning animated feature combining traditional painted backgrounds with clay sculpted characters, follows 12 year-old Adama, who leaves his small West African village on a quest to rescue his brother from the frontlines of WWI. Adama travels to "the land of breaths" - the village's term for war-torn Europe - for a coming-of-age odyssey that is also a tale of outstanding love, courage, and humanity. Appropriate for ages 8+.

French Master Cédric Kahn's Wild Life is based on a true story, and produced by the Dardenne Brothers. This tale of a father's reckless but all-consuming love follows married couple Carole and Philippe (Céline Sallette and Mathieu Kassovitz, both giving riveting performances) who renounce civilization and lead a nomadic life in their caravan. But when Carole tires of their itinerant lifestyle and moves back to the city, Philippe refuses to allow his sons to be raised according to the societal codes he abhors.

"It's an amazing lineup we've put together this year," says Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director. "We're particularly thrilled to welcome Michel Hazanavicius and Bérénice Bejo - they first came to Seattle with OSS 117: Nest of Spies, which won the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film at SIFF 2006. Also, Michel's Oscar-winning film The Artist was the first film shown at SIFF Cinema Uptown when it opened in 2012. I'm so glad the Seattle audience will have the chance to hear about their exceptionally successful partnership in cinema."
 This week long mini-festival showcases the diversity of Francophone cinema right now, with seasoned directors like Jacques Audiard and Cédric Kahn playing alongside relative newcomers like Elodie Namer and Julie Lopes-Curval. With spectacular performances from celebrated actors in diverse films, explosive dramas to unpredictable comedies, historical epics to family-friendly animation, this year's 20 feature mini-festival truly offers something for everybody.

Ticket & Pass Info:

Individual Tickets: $12 | $11 Youth (20 & under) and Seniors (65+) | $7 Members

Festival Pass: $60 | $40 Members (includes Opening Night Film & Party)

Opening Night Film and Party: $25 | $20 Members

See the Full Lineup

About SIFF

Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 150,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 450 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, repertory, classic, and revival film showings 365 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 120,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 13,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year.

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