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Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
French Film Fest beckons
PHOTO: ARCHIVE This year's French Film Festival Aotearoa could provide a taste of things to come at Queenstown's new high-end cinema complex Silky Otter. Now in its fourth year, festival director Fergus Grady says the month-long festival, which started yesterday, is the biggest in the country. "When we started, the festival wasn't in a great place, averaging 30,000 to 35,000 tickets sales a year. Now we are up to 100,000 ticket sales. "That makes it the most successful in terms of sale and scope in regional areas, and we plan to keep it that way." Highlights include My Brother's Band, a hit at the French box office, and The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, a biopic from director Guillaume Nicloux set in the dizzying theatrical world of opulent wealth and delicious scandals. There are also plenty of comedies, such as How to Make a Killing, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and Love Boat, along with Beating Heart, ''a big sweeping romance with a fair amount of crime". Being held for the first time at the new Remarkables Park cinema, Grady says if it goes well there, they'll offer Silky the British/Irish festival in October. For more info, see
NZ Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
French Film Festival Aotearoa 2025 comes to Waikato
Alliance Française Hamilton president and Le Rendez-Vous Samantha Wiria said the creperie wanted to team up with Lido during the festival so moviegoers could have 'a full French experience'. The creperie is also changing its operating hours and offering discounts to festivalgoers who can provide a ticket when they order. 'People can come before or after [watching a film] to the creperie.' Wiria said the taste of authentic French food would also help to extend the atmosphere of the festival, the feeling of the 'French moment'. 'I think that the French cinema has something special,' Wiria said. 'Each time the French festival has been here, the quality of the movies is very high. 'It's always a special period of the year.' Alliance Française Hamilton secretary Catherine Neazor Brady said she was most looking forward to seeing the festival's opening night picture Monsieur Aznavour. 'He sang really famous songs like La Boheme which are all going to be in the movie.' Neazor Brady said the film, which tells the story of Charles Aznavour, France's Frank Sinatra, was a must for anyone who liked musical biopics. Alliance Française Hamilton centre manager Marie-Christine Richard said Aznavour was 'iconic'. 'He has been a pillar representing what the French song is all about. So it's very classic.' Richard said audiences would enjoy French cinema's emphasis on soul, story and history. 'I think that people are really missing a good story.' She said festivalgoers would also leave the theatre with good conversation. 'The endings are very puzzling. They open the possibility for reflection because sometimes French cinema is very ambiguous.' Which French Film Festival movie should I see? The Alliance Française Hamilton team have recommended these titles. How to Make a Killing – a dark comedy set against spectacular scenery for people who are not very familiar with the French language. The Count of Monte Cristo – a critically acclaimed adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' epic tale of revenge and redemption. Event details: What: French Film Festival Aotearoa 2025 Hamilton opening night gala Where: Lido Cinema, Hamilton When: Wednesday, May 28 with wine and nibbles from 6.15pm, film screening starts at 7pm.
