Week-long French Film Festival commences

Alliance Francaise de Brunei (AF Brunei) raised the curtains on the much-anticipated French Film Festival 2012 last night, bringing hopes of providing a platform and inspiring local film enthusiasts in the Sultanate to explore the beauty of French films through various activities during the week-long event.

The launch of the French Film Festival 2012 was held last night at The Baze, The Empire Hotel and Country Club with a short film promo called “S.T.A.T Episode 10” by local film director, Adam Groves of Visual Dimensions Production.

The ceremony continued with the screening of five critically acclaimed short films from different genres – The Little Dragon (Le petit dragon), It’s Sunday (C’est dimanche), Madagascar – Diary of a Journey (Madagascar – carnet de voyage), Master Plan (Schema directeur) and Ten (Dix).

According to Aurelie Dutrey, Director of AF Brunei, all five short films will be screened at multiple venues including The Empire Hotel and Country Club, Jerudong Park Playground, iCentre, University Brunei Darussalam, Pusat Ehsan and Jerudong International School.

She added that a forum about the perception of French cinema abroad will be held at UBD on April 11 by Dr Wan Zawawi, Adam Groves, Stephen Ong and Aurelie Dutrey, Director of AF Brunei.

Meanwhile on April 12, Elsa Gries will lead a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) role play based on the Frenchfilm and play eight women. Participants will try to unravel the mystery and catch the murderer.

Internationally, this event aims to celebrate French films and create more awareness on the different genres which the French film industry focuses upon and stories as well as perceptions and technicalities of the films portrayed and being conveyed to the general audience globally.

AF Brunei hopes the festival will give awareness to the general public the artistic and technical aspects of the films showcased and to have a glimpse of the French fictional perception of life and creative imagination through films.

The Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam, Mr Louis Le Vert expressed his hopes that the festival will help spur interest amongst more local youths in the creative arts and nurture hidden talents in the way stories are told in order to captivate local audiences.

Also present at the ceremony were distinguished guests from foreign embassies in Brunei Darussalam, along with representatives from various institutions and main supporters of the French Film Festival 2012.

The French Film Festival 2012 will run till April 13. For more information, follow AF Brunei on all social media or visit their website at www.afbruneidarussalam.com. Interested members of the public may also call their headquarters at Jalan Dato Ratna, Kampong Kiarong at 2654245. Admission is free for all public screenings.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin.

Ambassador Le Vert giving his opening remarks

My date for the night

Media buddy trying to decipher French.. LOL