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Women Shine at 18th Cinéfranco 2015 taking place at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto from April 10 – 19, 2015

Featuring films from directors such as Micheline Lanctôt, Kaouther Ben Hania, Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
Starring Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Carré, Agnès Jaoui, Brigitte Pogonat, among many others

TORONTO – Cinéfranco 2015, English Canada’s largest celebration of international Francophone cinema finds a new home at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto from Friday, April 10, 2015 to Sunday, April 19, 2015.

In its 18th year, Cinéfranco once again explores the diverse cinemas of the Francophone diaspora, the riches of Francophone cultures and showcases the talents of established as well as rising Francophone filmmakers and artists. With 22 feature films and 7 shorts, including many award-winning and highly acclaimed films from festivals around the world, there is something for all lovers of cinema, from comedy fans to thriller aficionados. Films from Belgium, Canada, France, Tunisia, The United Arab Emirates and Morocco will grace the big screen, including 7 North American Premieres, 9 English Canadian Premieres, 1 Canadian Premiere and 1 Ontario Premiere.

Women are at the forefront of this year’s festival, standing out both behind and in front of the camera. Female filmmakers shine as they tell their stories with undeniable dramatic intensity. A powerful presence in Quebec cinema for decades, Micheline Lanctôt’s Autrui goes straight to the heart of homelessness. Kaouther Ben Hania daring mockumentary (The Slasher of Tunis/ Le Challat de Tunis) denounces the machismo of Tunisian society with skill and humour. Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar (Once In A Lifetime /Les Héritiers) takes us to a multicultural and multiethnic grade 10 class of unruly pupils, who connect with Jewish teenagers of the Holocaust generation, in a film full of surprises and optimism.

Based on a true story, the remarkable Party Girl features Angélique Litzenburger, who plays herself, as the aging nightclub hostess who has to face the prospects of leaving behind her friends and the only life she’s known. Angélique’s real life son, Samuel Theis, one of the three co-directors and writers of the film, has also cast his siblings Mario, Severine and Cynthia in the film which opened Un Certain Regard at Cannes.

Female talent heats up the screen with strong, heroic performances: they fight tooth and nail to save a daughter (In the Name of My Daughter/L’homme qu’on aimait trop), they struggle to keep their dreams alive (Now or Never /Maintenant ou jamais), they defeat adversity (Marie’s Story/Marie Heurtin). Played by Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Carré, Agnès Jaoui, Brigitte Pogonat and so many more, the talent of these women comes through loud and clear.

Marcelle Lean, Founder-Artistic Director of Cinéfranco says of this year’s line-up, “I love this year’s film selection as it features strong characters mostly inspired by true stories or acclaimed novels. The directing and acting are amazing!”

Isn’t it Romantic?
Love opens and closes this year’s festival.

Welcome to Cinéfranco 2015!