The French Film Festival, which attracts movie fans every year with a selection of high-quality French films, will be held again this year from June 26th to 29th. The lineup of films to be screened and guests visiting Japan has been announced, and the festival is gradually gaining momentum. Here are some highlights to look out for.

The French Film Festival, organized by Unifrance Films, began in 1993 and is now in its 23rd year. Screenings focus on the latest releases as well as rare revivals, attracting large audiences. Another unique initiative of this festival is that the French casual brand LACOSTE is a supporter.

The "master of the troupe" at this annual, highly anticipated film festival has previously featured renowned actresses and directors such as Catherine Deneuve, Jeanne Moreau, Sophie Marceau, Juliette Binoche, and Luc Besson. This year, however, the master of the troupe will be Emmanuel Devos, a regular at Arnaud Desplechin's films and a familiar face to French film fans for his work on films such as "Kings & Queens" (2004) and "A Christmas Story" (2008).

One film to watch this year is "Aile!", the opening film of the festival and a smash hit in France, drawing over 7 million viewers. Set in a rural French town, the film is a comical portrayal of the bonds between a family, where everyone except the protagonist, high school student Paula, is deaf, through the medium of music. Luanne Emera, the rising star who won the César Award for Best New Actress for her role in this film, will also be making her Japan debut at the festival.


Another noteworthy music-related film is "EDEN," a film depicting the '90s French electro scene, including artists like Daft Punk, Dimitri From Paris, and Cassius. From the birth of rave and electro music to the global success of French house music, the film traces the trajectory of the "French Touch" generation, portraying the successes and failures, love, and friendships of a DJ who symbolizes the energy and ambition of that generation. Featuring numerous French electro songs, including those by Daft Punk, the film is a must-see for both film and music fans.


A truly quintessential French film will also be screened. A must-see is the latest film from French film icon François Ozon, "He's My Secret Friend." The film depicts how an ordinary housewife's encounter with a "special friend" transforms her mundane life into one filled with excitement and stimuli, enhancing her feminine brilliance. The title character is played by Anaïs Demoustier, one of the most acclaimed actresses in French cinema today, who continues to receive offers from renowned directors. Romain Duris, who appeared in the 2013 hit film The Typist, has been chosen to play the role of the "female friend" who has a man's heart but wears women's clothes and allows her true beauty to blossom.


Other titles include "Actress," starring a star-studded cast including Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, and Chloë Grace Moretz; "Madame Bovary and the Baker," the latest work by director Anne Fontaine, who has depicted the complex desires of human beings in films such as "Dry Cleaning" (1998), "Ecstasy" (2004), and "The Fall of the Picture" (2014); and "Sebastião Salgado: The Movie," a documentary by Wim Wenders that follows the career of photographer Sebastião Salgado, who was said to have the "eye of God." Be sure to check out the 12 beautiful and stylish films being screened, including "Love Letter to the Earth" and the 1953 classic "A Lady in the Darkness" starring Dariel Darrieux.

[Event Details]
"French Film Festival 2015"
Venue: Yurakucho Asahi Hall and TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki
Address: 11F Yurakucho Marion, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
: 9F Yurakucho Marion, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Dates: June 26th - 29th
Price: 1,500 yen
: Adults 1,700 yen, Students 1,200 yen

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