Adventurer, your adventure starts here! Getting bigger and more exciting with every passing year, the Jules Verne Festival guarantees a maximum amount of thrills with a selection of unreleased films and famous guests…

Who would have believed that this festival would become something so BIG? Started in 1991 and celebrating ‘exploration and the authentic adventure spirit’ (or so says James Cameron), a Los Angeles edition is also held every year and the Paris lineup is quite impressive.

This year the festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 with a special concert (Georges Méliès’ groundbreaking masterpiece : « Le Voyage dans la Lune » with music created specially by John Scott), a special preview showing of the film ‘The Wonder Of It All’ by director Jeff Roth, and a special guest: Buzz Aldrin! If you reserve quickly you might be able to get hold of one of the 30 VIP passes (100€) that allow quick access to the cinema (on a red carpet no less), a VIP seat, free entrance to the champagne cocktail party and buffet with Buzz Aldrin the astronaut in attendance and…a gift bag! Click here to find out how to reserve.

For the documentaries, you have the choice between 9 films in competition and 3 that aren’t (including an exclusive preview showing of Morning Light).

The festival increasingly includes TV series too. After the special screening of Heroes last year, this year will see a screening of the first episode of the final season of Battlestar Galactica (in English!), with three of the actors from the series present.

But for us, the most important event (because we are mad fans) is the screening of the first episode of the 5th season of LOST!!! With Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse!!! And two actors from the series!!! (names to be confirmed on the day). However, at 29€ per person, only fans who have not yet downloaded it all may be interested…

Another guest, more Gallic this time, is French monolith Gérard Dépardieu. During the awards ceremony (when awards for best film, best director, best nature film, the kids prize and public prize will be given out) Gérard will receive a heavy piece of metal higher than it is wide to say ‘thanks for all your wonderful work over the years’.

If you want to go to see several films, perhaps the Pass VIP Gold or even the VIP Gold Champagne Pass (!) might be good for you. You’ll have entrance to all the films and events, the red carpet treatment, a special seat reserved for you (extra soft and lovely) free program and poster (whoopee!) and surpise gift to pick up at the welcome desk!!!

The 17th Jules Verne Festival runs from 24th – 26th April at the Grand Rex cinema (map here).

Official festival site: www.jva.fr