Paris Cinema rolls out lineup
PARIS — The 11th edition of Paris Cinema Intl. Film Festival will roll out with a strong lineup of Cannes highlights, from Abdelattif Kechiche’s Palme d’Or-winning “Blue Is the Warmest Color” to Critics’ Week winner “Salvo,” directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza; and Serge Bozon’s “Tip Top,” which nabbed the SACD nod at Directors’ Fortnight.
Other Cannes alums set to play at Paris Cinema include Francois Ozon’s competition drama “Young and Beautiful” and Arnaud des Pallieres’ “Michael Kohlhaas”; two Un Certain Regard titles: Rebecca Zlotowski’s “Grand Central” and Claire Denis “The Bastards”; plus Directors’ Fortnight title “The Congress” by Ari Folman.
Following its Cannes competition unspooling Roman Polanski’s sizzling comedy “Venus in Fur,” an adaptation of the Broadway hit, will kick off the fest.
As the strong lineup suggests, Paris Cinema has established itself as a key promotional launchpad for summer and fall releases of prestige arthouse pics in France. Top local distribs have been using the event to keep the buzz going following Cannes’ premieres.
The competition roster will showcase nine international auteur-driven pics, including American David Gordon Green’s Sundance-preeming “Prince Avalanche,” a comedy toplining Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch; Canadian Denis Cote’s Berlin contender “Vic and Flo Saw a Bear”; Singaporean Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo,” a Directors’ Fortnight standout that won the Camera d’Or; French Justine Triet’s dramedy “Age of Panic”; Brazilian Caetano Gotardo’s music-filled drama “The Moving Creatures”; and “Eka & Nina, chronique d’une jeunesse Georgienne,” which was presented in the work-in-progress session at Les Arcs Film Festival; Belgian Fien Troch’s “Kid,” which bowed in the U.S. at AFI Fest; and two Berlin Panorama players, Israeli Tom Shoval’s “Youth” and Turquish Asli Ozge’s “Lifelong” (working title).
Iranian helmer Asghar Farhadi, whose “The Past” competed at Cannes and earned thesp Berenice Bejo a nod, will be Paris Cinema’s guest of honor. He will be feted with the screening of “A Separation,” a foreign-language Oscar’s winner, and “About Elly.” Farhadi was awarded the Vermeil Medal from the City of Paris on Thursday.
Fest will turn the spotlight on Belgium, with a program celebrating thesp Natacha Regnier, and showcasing the careers of helmers Joachim Lafosse and Felix van Groeningen.
Paris Cinema runs June 28-July 9.
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