For those of us who are local to Los Angeles, the esteemed Raymond Kabbaz Theatre in West Los Angeles, known for its dedication to promoting French culture through arts and cinema, has brought its annual Week of French Language Cinema back—as in, live and in person!
As a filmmaker and great admirer of French film, I eagerly anticipate this week-long mini film festival every year, and since the festival went virtual last year, I’m thrilled to finally be heading back to the theatre.
From March 18-23rd, each evening highlights an independent film from a different Francophone region—including Québec, Belgium, Rwanda, Switzerland, and of course, France. These art-house films are all shown in French with English subtitles, and have been celebrated in various prestigious festivals, some including Cannes—and many have won or been nominated for some of the industry’s highest awards, including Cesars, Golden Globes, and Oscars.
Join me on opening night as we virtually travel to France to screen Saint Laurent on Friday, March 18th. Tickets cost $5 per film, or $25 for a week long pass, and each film includes a reception with complimentary vin et fromage, as well as an exhibition by local artist of French heritage, Renée Caouette.
To read more about the films and purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.
See you au cinema!
Theatre Raymond Kabbaz
10361 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA, 90064
SAINT LAURENT (2014)
NIGHT 1: France
Friday, March 18th
8:00 pm
Trailer
”Following a young assistant's meteoric rise to the height of haute couture's elite class in the wake of Christian Dior's unexpected death, YVES SAINT LAURENT is at once a captivating story about the making of a fashion icon and a testament to the power of enduring love.”
Awards
40th César Awards: Best Costume Design
20th Lumières Awards: Best Actor
5th Magritte Awards: Best Supporting Actor
International Cinephile Society Awards 2016: Best Actor
Nominated for:
2014 Cannes Festival: Palme d’Or
40th César Awards in 9 categories including Best Actor for Gaspard Ulliel
Globes de Cristal Award: Best Actor
Louis Delluc Prize: Best Film
20th Lumières Awards in 5 categories
OLGA (2021)
NIGHT 2: Switzerland
Saturday, March 19th
8:00 pm
Trailer
“Half-Swiss, half-Ukrainian Olga is a talented gymnast exiled in Switzerland. Like all athletes at the top of their game, she dreams of Olympic gold. Olga tries her best to focus on her goals and fit into her new national team but, as the European Championship draws near, developments at home unsettle her and test her will.”
Awards
Oscar of the Best International film (2022): official selection to represent Switzerland
Cannes Festival (2021): « Semaine de la critique » selection, SACD Prize
Angers European First Film Festival (2020): Visio Foundation award for feature film script
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (2021): Audience award (international competition), TV Prize
*Wine for this evening is generously provided by the Alliance Française de Los Angeles.
JE M’APPELLE HUMAIN (2020)
NIGHT 3: Canada
Sunday, March 20th
8:00 pm
Trailer
"Savage," says Josephine Bacon, "means to be completely free." When the elders leave us, a link to the past disappears with them. The Innu woman of letters, Joséphine Bacon, embodies this generation that witnessed a time that is soon to be over. With charisma and sensitivity, she leads a fight against oblivion and the disappearance of a language, a culture and its traditions. Following in the footsteps of Papakassik, the caribou master, JE M'APPELLE HUMAIN proposes an incursion into the History of a Multi-millennial People alongside a free woman who has devoted her life to transmitting her knowledge and that of her ancestors. In her language, Innu means "human".
Awards
Prix Gémeaux: Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Original Music (2021)
FCVQ: College Prize (ex aequo) & Special Mention Grand Prix Competition – feature film (2020)
VIFF: Best Canadian Documentary (2020)
CIFF: Best Canadian Documentary & Audience Award (2020)
Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival: Audience Award (2020)
Cinémania: Faces of Francophonie TV5 (2021)
PCCQ: Prix collégial du Cinéma québécois 2021
LA MISÉRICORDE DE LA JUNGLE (2018)
NIGHT 4: Rwanda
Monday, March 21
8:00 pm
Trailer
“War-weary Sergeant Xavier and fresh recruit Private Faustin are accidentally separated from their Rwandan battalion inside Congolese territory when it is called out suddenly on nighttime raid. They face a lack of water, food, and threats from malarial fever and jungle wildlife. The two seek to reunite with the battalion by heading westward but must remain wary of interacting with the local population given Congolese antipathy to the Rwandan Army and the presence of irregular rebel factions.”
Awards
Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), 2019: Best Director Prize, Best Achievement in Make-Up Prize, Best Achievement In Costume Design Prize
Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou: Golden Stallion of Yennenga
Nominated for:
10th Magritte Awards, 2020: Best Actor
Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), 2019: nominated in 5 other categories
14 JOURS, 12 NUITS (2019)
NIGHT 5: QUEBEC
Tuesday, March 22
8:00 pm
Trailer
”Isabelle Brodeur embarks on a journey to Vietnam, her adopted daughter's birthplace. Her path leads her to the woman who was once her daughter's nanny. Doing so, Isabelle learns the existence and whereabouts of her daughter's biological mother. Throughout this stunningly beautiful journey, Isabelle discovers her daughter's country through the eyes of the woman who brought her into this world. This pilgrimage of sorts, leads the two women to unveil their innermost secrets.”
Awards
Prix Iris: Best Cinematography (2020)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Film Festival: Audience Award – World Cinema (2021)
Nominated for:
Canadian Screen Awards: Best supporting Actress (2020)
Prix Iris: Best Actress & Best Editing (2020)
PLAYGROUND (2021)
NIGHT 6: Belgium
Wednesday March 23
8:00pm
Trailer
”A seven-year-old girl witnesses her older brother being bullied. Though he swears her to secrecy, she tells their father and soon finds herself the victim of bullying as well.”
Awards
FIPRESCI Prize of Cannes Festival’s section « Un certain regard »
Sarajevo Film Festival 2021 : section Kinoscope, Special Award for promoting gender equality
Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF) 2021 : Best International Film
Haifa International Film Festival 2021 : Golden Anchor of the Best First Film
BFI London Film Festival 2021 : Sutherland Award
Pingyao International Film Festival : People's Choice Award - Best Film
Festival cine por mujeres, Madrid : Best Interational Film