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LA ROCHE-SUR-YON 2018

Over 50 films due to have their French premiere at La Roche-sur-Yon

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- The festival in the Vendée department, managed by the new Cannes Directors’ Fortnight General Delegate, will raise the curtain on its ninth edition from 15-21 October

Over 50 films due to have their French premiere at La Roche-sur-Yon
Maya by Mia Hansen-Løve

The final preparations are now in full swing ahead of the kick-off for the ninth La Roche­-sur­-Yon International Film Festival, which will unspool from 15-21 October and will be opened by Fred Cavayé’s Nothing to Hide [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fred Cavayé
film profile
]
. Constantly attracting more and more attention ever since its creation and recording skyrocketing attendance levels (more than 24,000 audience members in 2017), this year the event in the Vendée department is able to bask in some additional limelight, as Paolo Moretti, who has served as its general delegate since 2014, has been chosen to take charge of the fate of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight (see the news) while still being firmly invested in his role at La Roche-sur-Yon. It’s therefore a great opportunity for film buffs to dissect his cinematic tastes through this programme of 70 films, including more than 50 set to have their French premiere.

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In the international competition, the jury, comprising French producer Marie-Ange Luciani (Les Films de Pierre), Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid and Italy’s Giona A Nazzaro (Venice International Film Critics’ Week), will be tasked with judging ten titles. Standing out among them are Maya [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mia Hansen-Løve
film profile
]
 by France’s Mia Hansen-Løve (unveiled at Toronto), the Irish-UK-US production The Favourite [+see also:
film review
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]
 by Greece’s Yorgos Lanthimos (Grand Jury Prize and Best Actress Award at Venice), the Berlinale Golden Bear winner Touch Me Not [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Adina Pintilie
film profile
]
 by Romania’s Adina PintilieThe Innocent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Simon Jaquemet
film profile
]
 by Switzerland’s Simon Jaquemet (in competition at Toronto and San Sebastián), the documentary What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire? [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Roberto Minervini
film profile
]
 by Italy’s Roberto Minervini (in competition at Venice) and Styx [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Wolfgang Fischer
film profile
]
 by Germany’s Wolfgang Fischer (Europa Cinemas Label in the Berlinale Panorama and a finalist for the LUX Prix). Other movies locking horns are Museum by Mexico’s Alonso Ruizpalacios (Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at Berlin), Animal by Argentina’s Armando Bo (co-produced by Spain), Genesis by Canada’s Philippe Lesage (in competition at Locarno) and Profile [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Russia’s Timur Bekmambetov (Audience Award in the Berlinale Panorama). 

The Perspectives section, dedicated to unique but accessible offerings, will present titles such as Paper Flags [+see also:
film review
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]
 by young French director Nathan Ambrosioni, the documentaries Ceres [+see also:
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]
 by the Netherlands’ Janet Van den Bran and Lorello and Brunello [+see also:
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]
 by Italy’s Jacopo Quadri (unveiled in competition at Turin), L'animale [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Katharina Mückstein
film profile
]
 by Austria’s Katharina Mückstein (revealed in Panorama Special at the Berlinale) and two titles that took part in Venice: Real Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claire Burger
film profile
]
 by France’s Claire Burger (awarded in the Giornate degli Autori) and School’s Out [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sébastien Marnier
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]
 by her fellow countryman Sébastien Marnier.

Among the ten features, medium-length films and shorts in the Nouvelles Vagues competition we find the documentary Time Trial [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by British director Finlay Pretsell, while the array of special screenings includes High Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claire Denis
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]
 by France’s Claire DenisLoro [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Italy’s Paolo Sorrentino, Widows [+see also:
film review
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interview: Steve McQueen
film profile
]
by the UK’s Steve McQueenOur Time [+see also:
film review
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interview: Carlos Reygadas
film profile
]
by Mexico’s Carlos Reygadas, the docs Of Fathers and Sons [+see also:
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trailer
film profile
]
 by Syria’s Talal Derki and Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. [+see also:
trailer
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]
 by the UK’s Steve Loveridge, as well as Blaze by US director Ethan Hawke, who will actually be making the journey to La Roche-sur-Yon. Lastly, among the eight titles that border on genre and fantasy in the Variété section are Suspiria [+see also:
film review
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]
 by Italy’s Luca GuadagninoCutterhead [+see also:
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interview: Rasmus Kloster Bro
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]
 by Denmark’s Rasmus Kloster BroGirls With Balls [+see also:
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]
 by France’s Olivier Afonso, and Heavy Trip [+see also:
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]
 by Finnish duo Jukka Vidgren and Juuso Laatio

The festival’s guest of honour will be French actress Karin Viard (plus 12 of her films will get an airing), and the programme also comprises a Focus on Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi (including her latest opus, The Summer House [+see also:
film review
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interview: Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
film profile
]
), a master class by Quentin Dupieux, a tribute to Ermanno Olmi, chats with Anna Karina and Mia Hansen-Løve, animated films (Dilili in Paris [+see also:
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]
 by Michel Ocelot and Pachamama [+see also:
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]
 by Juan Antin) and a screening of The Ideal Palace [+see also:
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film profile
]
 by Nils Tavernier, which will bring the gathering to a close.

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(Translated from French)

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