05/03/2020 - 22 feature films are gracing the programme of the event’s 25th edition, organised by UniFrance and the Lincoln Center Film Society and running 5 to 15 March

The majority French production The Truth [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hirokazu Kore-eda
film profile] by Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda will open the 25th Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York this evening, a mini-festival set to run until 15 March under the aegis of UniFrance and the Lincoln Center Film Society. The event will be far less glamorous than usual, given that - as a result of Coronavirus - the agency promoting French film abroad has decided to cancel the appearance of a great many French artists (filmmakers and actors) who were due to deliver the usual film presentations and take part in discussions with New York audiences.

Of course, the key ingredients, from a cinephile’s perspective, remain unaffected: the films. This year, 22 full-length works are featuring in the programme, including four titles set to enjoy their North American premieres: An Easy Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rebecca Zlotowski
film profile] by Rebecca Zlotowski (unveiled at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight), Isadora’s Children [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Damien Manivel
film profile] by Damien Manivel (which scooped a prize in Locarno), School Life [+see also:
trailer
interview: Zita Hanrot
film profile] by Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir (1.8 million admissions in France) and Spellbound [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Pascal Bonitzer.

Six American premieres are also on the agenda, namely The Specials [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano (which closed the Cannes Film Festival and won over a total 2.1 million viewers in France), Joan of Arc [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bruno Dumont
film profile] by Bruno Dumont (which scooped an award on the Croisette, within the Un Certain Regard section), Burning Ghost [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Stéphane Batut (crowned the Jean Vigo prize-winner in 2019), South Terminal [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche (unveiled in competition in Locarno), Who You Think I Am [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Juliette Binoche
film profile] by Safy Nebbou and Spread Your Wings [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Nicolas Vanier.

Stealing particular focus among the 12 New York premieres topping the bill are Alice and the Mayor [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicolas Pariser
film profile] by Nicolas Pariser (which was well-received at the Directors’ Fortnight and just won Anaïs Demoustier the 2020 Best Actress César) and five films by female directors: Proxima [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alice Winocour
film profile] by Alice Winocour (awarded prizes in Toronto and San Sebastian), Cuties [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maïmouna Doucouré
film profile] by Maïmouna Doucouré (awarded prizes at Sundance and in the Berlinale’s Generation line-up), Papicha [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mounia Meddour
film profile] by Mounia Meddour (which took home the 2020 Césars for Best First Film and Best New Actress last Friday), The Dazzled [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Sarah Suco and Perfect Nanny [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Lucie Borleteau.

Also set to be showcased are three further feature films coming via Cannes (Deerskin [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Quentin Dupieux
film profile] by Quentin Dupieux, On A Magical Night [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Christophe Honoré
film profile] by Christophe Honoré and The Best Years of a Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claude Lelouch
film profile] by Claude Lelouch), alongside Happy Birthday [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Cédric Kahn and Someone, Somewhere [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Cédric Klapisch.

(Translated from French)