The Renault French Film Season gears up for 2005

For the third year running, the Institut Français and Unifrance, in co-operation with UGC Cinemas and Renault, have come together to present a season of French films - the Renault French Film Season.
Each of the four selected titles is scheduled for release in the UK in 2005 and the Renault French Film Season is an initiative aiming to promote these releases, giving audiences across the UK an opportunity to experience and enjoy four new French films and equally to throw a spotlight onto French cinema in a wider sense.
This year's season will be launched on March 30 in Edinburgh and Glasgow and on March 31 and April 1 in London. In attendance will be a delegation of talent from the four titles that is expected to include Kristin Scott Thomas and the director of each film - though the full delegation line-up has yet to be announced.
The featured films include: 'A Common Thread' ('Brodeuses') directed by Eléonore Faucher (Cannes Critics Week Winner 2004); 'Kings And Queen' ('Rois Et Reine') directed by: 'Arnaud Desplechin', a film in which Mathieu Amalric won Best Actor at the César Awards 2004; 'Clean' directed by Olivier Assayas; and Arsene Lupin directed by Jean-Paul Salome; starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Romain Duris, Pascal Greggory, and Eva Green.
Frederic Lavigne, Deputy Director of the Institut Français said: "We are delighted that this year's Renault French Film Season features four such varied films, testimony to the diversity and dynamism of contemporary French cinema. Each film will be premiered in London and Scotland in the presence of its director and lead. We are very proud of our ongoing support of independent distributors who are releasing these films throughout the UK."
The wider objective of the Season is to encourage audiences across the UK to be open to experiencing French cinema, and to this end, the Institut Français, Unifrance and UGC Cinemas regularly support the work of British distributors in releasing French films.
Their aims are to promote the great diversity of French cinema, positioning it not only as a source of enjoyment, but equally as a means of promoting debate and ideas beyond the more familiar Multiplex product.
For more information visit, www.institut-francais.org.uk/renault2005
(SP)