FRENCH CINEMA NOW RETURNS FOR ITS SIXTH YEAR SHOWCASING THE BEST FRENCH LANGUAGE FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

SEATTLE -- September 6, 2017 -- SIFF and TV5MONDE present French Cinema Now, a celebration spotlighting the state of contemporary Francophone cinema. The week-long event runs September 28 through October 5 at SIFF Cinema Uptown, and features 19 extraordinary French language features and documentaries from 12 different countries around the world.

The festival kicks off with a musical tribute to Django Reinhardt by Northwest jazz favorite Pearl Django Trio in honor of our Opening Night film, Django, about the legendary jazz guitarist. The film begins during the German occupation of Paris in 1943, when Django was already packing houses with his inventive "hot" jazz virtuosity. After being asked to alter his gypsy-influenced music in favor of Nazi approved music, he had to make a dangerous decision - to take his family and flee France. Join us after the film at Bastille Café + Bar in Ballard for delicious wine and hors d'ouevres.

Other French Cinema Now films were created by seasoned directors like Cédric Klapisch, Agnès Varda, and Arnaud des Pallières, playing alongside relative newcomers like Anne Émond, Alain Gomis, and Karim Drifi. Highlights include the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival, Senegalese drama Félicité, about an independent nightclub singer's odyssey through the streets of Kinshasa as she seeks a way to save her hospitalized son; Orphan, an ambitious and uncompromising portrait of a woman, played by four different actresses including Gemma Arterton (Gemma Bovery) and Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Color); as well as two films starring the incredible Isabelle Huppert, Souvenir, a bittersweet romance about a factory worker with a secret past, and Luc Bondy's final film, False Confessions, a 21st century take on Marivaux's comedy of errors, co-starring Louis Garrel.

On Monday, October 2, director Raja Amari, will attend the screening of her film Foreign Body, about an illegal refugee who finds a safe haven at her old friend's apartment in Lyon. The situation gets further compromised when she finds work with a wealthy woman and the trio become ensnared in a complicated love triangle. Director Amari will stay for a post-film Q&A.

Lastly, French Cinema Now would not be complete without a wine tasting event. On Sunday, October 1, Chateau St. Michelle will be offering samples of their wine at a pre-reception for the film Back to Burgundy, a story about sibling camaraderie and familial strife at a Burgundy winery from writer-director Cédric Klapisch (L'Auberge espagnole).

SIFF Festival Programming Manager, Stan Shields, is particularly enthusiastic about this year's program, "2017's French Cinema Now lineup is one of the most thrilling in years - with four US premieres and a North American premiere - featuring award-winning films from master filmmakers to first time directors. The world of Francophone Cinema is better than ever!"

Beth Barrett, SIFF Artistic Director, says "We're very excited about this year's lineup, being able to bring such a diverse group of films to the Francophile Seattle audience. Our continued partnership with TV5 Monde has allowed French Cinema Now to reach not only the Seattle viewers, but nationally through the TV5 Monde channel."

For screeners, interview requests, and press passes please contact Leah Anderson.

Tickets:

Individual Tickets: $14 | $9 SIFF Members

Festival Pass: $100 | $75 Members

Vouchers and year-round passes are valid for admission.

About TV5MONDE

TV5MONDE is the global French language entertainment network, broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without commercial interruptions. TV5MONDE USA is a premium pay-tv channel reaching 1.5 million viewers in the U.S., and has been carried on COX in Louisiana since 2001. American viewers enjoy a wealth of high quality French language programming, subtitled in English, including up to 300 classic, recent and never-before-seen in the U.S. French language films, around the clock newscasts live from Paris, the latest series and TV dramas, premium documentaries, cultural programs and international sports coverage. To find channel information and more information about TV5MONDE USA and its programming, please visit: www.tv5mondeusa.com

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 400 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 Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 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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