La Danse coming up at the Crest Theatre!

If you have trouble viewing this email, go here 9th Sacramento French Film Festival JUNE 18-27, 2010 Crest Theatre BONJOUR, It's been a while since you have heard from us! We are already in the midst of preparing the 9th annual Sacramento French Film Festival to be held next June (18-27th, 2010) at our favorite Sacramento movie theater: The Crest Theatre! In early 2010 we will hold our 3rd annual Winter Short Films Screening and, for the first time, next Spring we will organize a Short Film Screening for Kids - curated by 5 year-old Clément "Coco" Downs, future Director of the SFFF - at least that's his answer to "what do you want to do when you grow up?"... 7 year-old Maxence will help too! Stay tuned. More information coming up soon. In the meantime, here are 2 great events coming up at the Crest Theatre! We wish you a HAPPY WINTER! CONTENT of this NEWSLETTER SAVE THE DATE for our Special Screening of LA DANSE: LE BALLET DE l'OPERA DE PARIS by Frederick Wiseman at the Crest Theatre - Saturday evening, December 19th. Showtime TBA. SPECIAL OFFER from the COEXIST? COMEDY TOUR: This Saturday, December 5th at the Crest Theatre! 1. LA DANSE: LE BALLET DE l'OPERA DE PARIS SPECIAL SCREENING co-presented by the SFFF and the Crest Theatre - Saturday December 19th - Showtime to be announced soon! Save the Date for a special screening of the latest film by acclaimed director Frederick Wiseman. The screening will be followed by coffee and pastries and a post-screening discussion led by professor Kevin Elstob. Documentary master Frederick Wiseman’s 38th film turns his attention to one of the world’s greatest ballet companies, the Paris Opera Ballet. John Davey’s camera roams the vast Palais Garnier, an opulent 19th century pile of a building: from its crystal chandelier-laden corridors to its labyrinthine underground chambers, from its light-filled rehearsal studios to its luxurious theater replete with 2,200 scarlet velvet seats and Marc Chagall ceiling. LA DANSE devotes most of its time to watching impossibly beautiful young men and women — among them Nicolas Le Riche, Marie-Agnès Gillot, and Agnès Letestu — rehearsing the choreography of Mats Ek, Wayne McGregor, Rudolf Nureyev and Pina Bausch. For balletomanes and the curious alike, LA DANSE serves up a scrumptious meal of delectable moments, one more glorious than the next, made even more precious by their ephemeral nature. (Film Forum) La Danse will play at the Crest Theatre from Friday, December 18, 2009 to Thursday, December 24, 2009. Showtimes TBA. “One of the finest dance films ever made. A feast for ballet lovers. Sumptuous in its length and graceful in its rhythm. Transfixes you with the inner workings of an institution.” – A.O. Scott, The New York Times “ Heavenly!” – V.A. Musetto, New York Post “Frederick Wiseman remains the most prominent invisible man of American documentary film. LA DANSE… does more than offer intimate access to great dancers like Nicolas Le Riche and Agnès Letestu and choreography by Rudolph Nureyev and Pina Bausch… it also ventures beyond the stage and studios and into sewing rooms, cafeterias and administrative offices. It is above all a portrait of an institution. (Wiseman’s) movies reveal the most basic foundations of society. (His) best movies, despite the aura of vérité purity, also have the heft and intricacy of great drama.” – Dennis Lim, The New York Times 2. SPECIAL OFFER from the COEXIST? COMEDY TOUR: Crest Theatre - Saturday December 5th at 8pm The Coexist? Comedy Tour is the perfect holiday show, whatever holidays you might wish to celebrate. Featuring six hilarious comics of six different religions all coming together to savage each other in the name of unity and coexistence. This years line up is spectacular with two new additions: Jew - Moshe Kasher (Comedy Central, winner Best In Fest at The Aspen Comedy Festival). Christian - Mike E. Winfield (Showtime, Comedy Central) And returning funny persons, atheist - Keith Lowell Jensen Hindu - Tapan Trivedi Buddhist - Sammy Obeid Muslim - Tissa Hami Director Larry Brand is coming to tape the whole affair. Come be a part of history! Best of all French Film Festival Fans get a discount!!! Save $5.00 by going to www.CoexistComedy.com, clicking on the buy tickets link and entering the coupon code: peace Support the SFFF: Donate now! Spread the word! Merci. June 18-27, 2010- Crest Theatre. www. SacramentoFrenchFilmFestival.org PLEASE NOTE: You received this email because you told us previously that you were interested in information about the Sacramento French Film Festival. We NEVER sell our email lists or information, and only use them to tell you about the Festival. Please visit this page if you wish to leave this mailing list or modify your subscription. This email was sent by: Sacramento French Film Festival 2634 28th Street Sacramento, CA, 95818, USA

Opening Night Reception

Enjoy these photos from the opening night reception

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS...

8th Sacramento French Film Festival JUNE 19-28, 2009 Crest Theatre Bonjour ! The SFFF team is working hard on preparing a fabulous program for the 8th Sacramento French Film Festival coming up June 19-28, 2009 at the Crest Theatre. More information to come in the following weeks. In the meantime, we are unveiling our magnificently crazy 2009 poster, designed by the amazing photographer Kent Lacin and the wonderful team at Dane Henas Design. C'EST MAGNIFIQUE ! The French invasion starts on June 19th, 2009 at 6pm! WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS... The excitement regarding the upcoming SFFF cannot make us forget that these are challenging times for arts organizations everywhere and like so many others, the SFFF is struggling and needs you! A little help from you all can make all the difference as we get ready to present this year’s Festival in June 2009. The SFFF is launching a mini-fundraising campaign. Watch the video to learn how you can help teh SFFF, here! Since its first edition in 2002, the Sacramento French Film Festival has known unfailing growth, both in funding and in attendance. But this year is like no other that we have experienced. Funding from businesses, foundations, and individuals has become scarce and the price of admission doesn't cover the cost of producing the Festival. Our budget is extremely tight! If each of you today gives only $20, more if possible or whatever you can afford, it will cover part of the loss in funding that we have incurred this year. And it will ensure that we can present, for your enjoyment, the newest and best French films and provide you with another unforgettable experience this year and in the future! Give what you can, even a little helps a lot! You can Donate Online here or Print the Form here and send a check by mail to: “With a Little Help From Our Friends” / Sacramento French Film Festival 2634 28th Street, Sacramento CA 95818 You can also help by spreading the word about the Festival, inviting your friends & co-workers to Join our mailing list and attending the next SFFF! MERCI and see you in June! The Sacramento French Film Festival is presented by Support the Festival - Spread the word! Merci. In 2009 the SFFF is moving to JUNE! June 19-28 - Crest Theatre. www. SacramentoFrenchFilmFestival.org PLEASE NOTE: You received this email because you told us previously that you were interested in information about the Sacramento French Film Festival. We NEVER sell our email lists or information, and only use them to tell you about the Festival. Please visit this page if you wish to leave this mailing list or modify your subscription. This email was sent by: Sacramento French Film Festival 2634 28th Street Sacramento, CA, 95818, USA The Sacramento French Film Festival is a project of the Alliance Française de Sacramento

Bonjour !
The SFFF team is working hard on preparing the fabulous 8th Sacramento French Film Festival coming up June 19-28, 2009 at the Crest Theatre.
In the meantime, here are some upcoming attractions to occupy your spring evenings!

CONTENT:

1. Join us for the unique screening of LE GRAND DEPART, a French-Canadian comedy - Friday April 3rd, 4pm at the 24th Street Theater. The film is part of the SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.
2. The SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL NEEDS YOU: become an "Ami du Festival"!
3. FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER of COMMERCE of SAN FRANCISCO - SACRAMENTO NETWORKING EVENT, Tuesday March 31st - 6-8pm
4. OTHER NEWS.

1 - The SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009 presents LE GRAND DEPART in partnership with the SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

The 2009 Sacramento International Film Festival, March 28th - April 5th, will present an exciting program of feature and short films, fiction, documentaries and workshops not to be missed! Full program here.

The film selection will include LE GRAND DEPART a French-Canadian comedy by Claude Meunier, on Friday April 3rd at 4pm - 24th Street Theater, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento (Next door to the Sierra 2 Center - between 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue).

Bored with his comfortable and orderly existence, Jean-Paul, a 50-something man, decides to leave his wife and teenage children. But can one really leave a life behind and start from scratch?... Watch the trailer here.

Le Grand Départ is presented with LE FOSSOYEUR (The Grave Digger), a French short film by Sylvie Benavides. A man fills in a hole to the rhythm of a nursery rhyme... His thoughts are drawn to the memory of losing his wife to another woman.

Half of the box-office proceeds will benefit the SFFF! We hope to see you there! Buy your tickets here or at the theater.

2 - Les AMIS du SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

These are hard days for arts organizations everywhere. Like so many others, the SFFF is struggling and needs you! To help us produce the best Festival possible, become an AMI DU FESTIVAL (Friend of the Festival)!

Becoming an Ami du Festival is an opportunity not only for you to help the Festival and participate in Sacramento’s cultural growth, but also to obtain passes at a special price. Other great benefits include a guarantee of attending the opening reception and the inclusion of your name in the SFFF program and on our award-winning website.

More information on our attractive individual sponsoring levels is available on our website.

3 - FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER of COMMERCE of SAN FRANCISCO - SACRAMENTO NETWORKING EVENT, Tuesday March 31st - 6-8pm

The French-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, the French American Accountancy, and the Alliance Française de Sacramento invite you to join us for a Networking event with francophiles in Sacramento!

Tuesday, March 31st from 6pm to 8pm
French American Accountancy
2725 Riverside Blvd - Sacramento
See directions here.

SFFF patrons can benefit from the AF/FACC member price of $10 (regular price is $20 / $25 at the door). Buy your tickets in advance here or email Marie Brun We hope to see you there!

4 - OTHER NEWS

The acclaimed comedy, LE FILS DE L'EPICIER (The Grocer's Son), winner of the 2008 SFFF Audience Award, is now available on DVD! You can buy it here from Film Movement!

ENTRE LES MURS (The Class) by Laurent Cantet, Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival, is currently playing at the Tower theatre in Sacramento.

French Film News & others - February, 25th 2009

Bonjour a tous! Thanks to all of you who attended the Winter Short Films Screening last Saturday. It was a fun evening, full of good energy. It was nice to see you all. Please join us this Friday at 8:15pm at the Crest Theatre for a special screening of A SECRET by Claude Miller. At the end of this message you will find a sneak peak at the upcoming Sacramento French Film Festival... In the meantime, Sacramento is such a wonderful place for arts lovers and we have fantastic offers to occupy your Winter weekends! Sacramento arts organizations keep Sacramento culturally alive, please support them! CONTENT of this NEWSLETTER A SECRET by Claude Miller opening at the Crest Theatre - SFFF Special Screening on Friday, February 27th, 2009! The 2009 ALL SKETCH COMEDY FESTIVAL starts this Thursday: enter to win 2 tickets for the show of your choice. THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, at the Wilkerson Theatre. Special offer for SFFF patrons: only $10 per ticket! A SNEAK PEAK A THE UPCOMING SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2009: the Fashion show is coming back plus news on the classic films selection! 1 - A SECRET by Claude Miller opening at the Crest Theatre - SFFF Special Screening on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 8:15pm! If you missed it on the SFFF 2008 closing night, now is your chance to discover this wonderful film! The special screening will be followed by coffee and pastries and a post-screening discussion led by Professor Kevin Elstob. We look forward to seeing you there! François is a sickly child who doesn’t fit in at school or at home. Lonely, he plays with his imaginary brother and dreams up an idealized past for his secretive parents. When he becomes a teenager, an old friend of his parents reveals to him his family’s deep and tragic secret, which goes back to the Second World War and the French Occupation. The devastating truth allows François to find himself at last and reconnect with his parents. The all-star cast includes Patrick Bruel, Cécile de France (The Russian Dolls, Avenue Montaigne), Ludivine Sagnier, Julie Depardieu and Mathieu Amalric (The Diving bell & the Butterfly, James Bond Quantum of Solace). Based on the autobiographical novel by psychoanalyst Philippe Grimbert (who participated in the writting and shooting of the film), Un Secret is one of Claude Miller’s best films, a deeply moving historical drama. This story of passion and guilt in troubled times was praised in France by critics and audiences alike. Watch the trailer here! AWARDS - Nominated for 11 Césars in 2008, winner for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Julie Depardieu - Winner Grand Prix des Amériques, Montreal World Film Festival 2007 MEDIA I was not prepared for the climactic emotional devastation, but as all the pieces fall into place, the film crystallizes as perfectly as Tania's flawless backward high dive piercing through the clear water with beauty and precision – Urban Cinefile Critics Un secret makes for compelling viewing and Cécile de France and Patrick Bruel finally prove they are bona fide star material. - Boyd van Hoeij - European-films.net 2 -The 2009 ALL SKETCH COMEDY FESTIVAL starts this Thursday: enter to win 2 tickets for the show of your choice. The 2nd annual All Sketch Comedy Festival brings together the best from around the world. With funny folks coming to our town from Tokyo, New York, LA, San Francisco and even Auburn, yes I said Auburn. It all happens this week: Thursday February 26th, Friday February 27th and Saturday February 28th. Full schedule and more here! Two lucky French Film Festival Fans will get free tickets to the All Sketch show of their choice. If you choose to attend the Aardvark Fancy show on Saturday evening, maybe you'll see actors who will remind you of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg... To win just reply to this email with the name of "France's favorite American comic". The first 2 people to answer correctly will each win 1 ticket for the show of their choice. Ready? Go here! 3 -THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT - Special offer to SFFF patrons! Beyond the Proscenium Productions (BPP) is offering you a $5 discount on tickets to their newest play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot currently playing at the Wilkerson Theatre on Friday & Saturday nights at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm - February 13th to March 15th. To get your tickets for only $10, please call 456-1600 or email nick@beyond-pro.org and say that you saw the ticket offer in the Sacramento French Film Festival newsletter. About Judas, not a lot is known except that he was chosen to be an apostle, he betrayed Jesus, and then he hung himself. Not a lot to go on especially when we're meant to relay on facts. Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a courtroom drama taking place in downtown purgatory. This play modernizes and humanizes the cautionary tale of Judas, allowing for big laughs, tears, and questions along the way. Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? And if there is, does Judas belong in it? Witnesses called to the stand range from Mother Teresa to Satan, and even Judas' mother testifies. The play focuses on choices and free-will, love and judgment, hope and despair, what it means to be "good", and what it means to be ourselves. The Last Days of Judas doesn't claim to answer any of these questions, but asks them and lets the audience ponder. Read the SN&R review here! Strong language is used, no one under 16 w/o adult, no one under 13 admitted. Regular price tickets: $15 general admission / $12 for seniors, students - $10 for SFFF patrons! The Wilkerson Theatre (formerly California Stage) is located 1723 25th St. Sacramento (between Q & R Streets) in the same complex as the Alliance Française. 4 -A SNEAK PEAK A THE UPCOMING SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2009: the Fashion show is coming back plus news on the classic films selection! I met yesterday with Joni Jacobs from Opaline. We started planning the 2009 fashion Show! You loved it in 2008: it will be bigger and better on Saturday, June 20th! Prepare yourself for a fun evening! More information to come in the following months... An array of terrific new films will be selected in May. The SFFF is excited to announce 2 of the 4 classic films in our 2009 selection: one of Jean Renoir’s masterpieces, the social pre-WWII drama La Règle du jeu (The Rules of the Game,1939) and the surreal poetic fairytale by Jean Cocteau La Belle et la Bête (The Beauty and the Beast,1946). To help us produce the best Festival possible and get passes at a discounted price, become an AMI DU FESTIVAL! Visit our website to learn more about this opportunity.

WINTER SHORT FILMS SCREENING & UNSECRET OPENING AT THE CREST on FEBRUARY 27th

CONTENT of this NEWSLETTER

1. REMINDER! Join us on Saturday February 21st for our 2nd Annual Winter Short Films Screening! 7pm, Midtown Monthly Gallery.
2. A SECRET by Claude Miller, coming up at the Crest Theatre! Save the date for the SFFF Special Screening on Friday, February 27th, 2009!

1 - 2nd Annual WINTER SHORT FILMS SCREENING

The Sacramento French Film Festival invites you to its
2nd annual WINTER SHORT FILMS SCREENING
Saturday February 21st at 7pm at the Midtown Monthly Gallery!

All films are presented in French with English subtitles!

We will present a surprise program of favorites from previous Festival editions as well as French short films never shown before in Sacramento!

The program will include among others, two films that premiered at the 2008 SFFF: JULIE JULIE by local filmmaker Liam Creighton (who moved to France last Summer!) and VIVE LA FOOD! Raphael Hitzke's acclaimed documentary that recently won the "Best of Best Film Award" at the Tucson Slow Food & Film Festival.This documentary introduces two French chefs who run one-man operations in Sacramento, Daniel Pont from La Bonne Soupe and William Rolle from Cafe Rolle. Raphael is also a member of the SFFF Planning Committee!
Listen to Raphael on Insight with Jeffrey Callison - KXJZ

Wine and snacks will be served at the intermission.

Midtown Monthly Gallery is located 1719 25th Street (between Q & R Streets). We hope to see you there. There are still some seats available, please RSVP if you plan to attend. It's free for all!

VIVE LA FOOD! - Raphael Hitzke, Director & John A. Jimenez, Director of photography.

2 - A SECRET by Claude Miller, coming up at the Crest Theatre! Save the date for the SFFF Special Screening on Friday, February 27th, 2009!

If you missed it on the SFFF 2008 closing night, now is your chance to discover this wonderful film! Showtime TBA next week!
The special screening will be followed by coffee and pastries anda post-screening discussion led by Professor Kevin Elstob.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

François is a sickly child who doesn’t fit in at school or at home. Lonely, he plays with his imaginary brother and dreams up an idealized past for his secretive parents. When he becomes a teenager, an old friend of his parents reveals to him his family’s deep and tragic secret, which goes back to the Second World War and the French Occupation. The devastating truth allows François to find himself at last and reconnect with his parents. The all-star cast includes Patrick Bruel, Cécile de France (The Russian Dolls, Avenue Montaigne), Ludivine Sagnier, Julie Depardieu and Mathieu Amalric (The Diving bell & the Butterfly, James Bond Quantum of Solace).

Based on the autobiographical novel by psychoanalyst Philippe Grimbert (who participated in the writting and shooting of the film), Un Secret is one of Claude Miller’s best films, a deeply moving historical drama. This story of passion and guilt in troubled times was praised in France by critics and audiences alike. Watch the trailer here!

AWARDS
- Nominated for 11 Césars in 2008, winner for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Julie Depardieu
- Winner Grand Prix des Amériques, Montreal World Film Festival 2007

MEDIA
I was not prepared for the climactic emotional devastation, but as all the pieces fall into place, the film crystallizes as perfectly as Tania's flawless backward high dive piercing through the clear water with beauty and precision – Urban Cinefile Critics

Un secret makes for compelling viewing and Cécile de France and Patrick Bruel finally prove they are bona fide star material. - Boyd van Hoeij - European-films.net

French Film News - February 2009

8th Sacramento French Film Festival JUNE 19-28, 2009 Crest Theatre Save the Date! In 2009, the SFFF will be held in June. Crest Theatre - June 19-28th, 2009 CONTENT of this NEWSLETTER Join us on Saturday February 21st for our 2nd Annual Winter Short Films Screening! 7pm, Midtown Monthly Gallery. The Sacramento French Film Festival needs you: Become an "Ami du Festival"! 1 - 2nd Annual WINTER SHORT FILMS SCREENING The Sacramento French Film Festival invites you to its 2nd annual WINTER SHORT FILMS SCREENING Saturday February 21st at 7pm at the Midtown Monthly Gallery! We will present a surprise program of favorites from previous Festival editions as well as French short films never shown before in Sacramento! The program will include among others, VIVE LA FOOD! Raphael Hitzke's acclaimed documentary that premiered at the 2008 SFFF and recently won the "Best of Best Film Award" at the Tucson Slow Food & Film Festival.This documentary introduces two French chefs who run one-man operations in Sacramento, Daniel Pont from La Bonne Soupe and William Rolle from Cafe Rolle. Raphael is also a member of the SFFF Planning Committee! Wine and snacks will be served at the intermission. Midtown Monthly Gallery is located 1719 25th Street (between Q & R Streets). We hope to see you there. Seated is limited, please RSVP if you plan to attend. It's free for all, don't miss it! VIVE LA FOOD! - Raphael Hitzke, Director & John A. Jimenez, Director of photography. 2 - Les AMIS du SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL To help us produce the best Festival possible, become an AMI DU FESTIVAL (Friend of the Festival)! Becoming an Ami du Festival is an opportunity not only for you to help the Festival and participate in Sacramento’s cultural growth, but also to obtain passes at a special price. Other great benefits include a guarantee of attending the opening reception and the inclusion of your name in the SFFF program and on our award-winning website. More information on our attractive individual sponsoring levels is available on our website. Support the Festival - Spread the word! Merci.