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Paris Cinéma 2008 – Paris’ very own international film festival

Couldn’t get to Cannes? Neither could we. And why would we want to when there’s so much going on here on our doorstep? 😉
Hotel Paris

From 1st – 12th July the 6th Paris film festival starts up with a programme of films in competition, guest stars, nearly thirty preview showings, re-releases of classics with new copies and other events.

French actress Nathalie Baye (who has starred in over 80 films) will be assisting. You can meet her on 5th July at 5pm at the BNF for a talk with Jean-Pierre Lavoignat (and it’s free), and she’ll also be attending a special preview showing of Les Bureaux de Dieu (God’s Offices) by Claire Denis in which she stars, the same day at 8.30pm at the Arlequin Cinema in Saint Germain.

David Cronenberg will present a special screening of two films called The Fly (his version and Kurt Neumann’s) to celebrate the adaptation of the film into an opera (we’ve told you about it here). That’s at 8pm on Thursday 3rd July at the Châtelet Theatre (10 euros).

Aki Kaurismäki will be around as his entire work is shown (2nd – 5th July). You can meet him during a talk with Pascal Mérigeau at midday on 4th July at the Cinémathèque française (free), or at the showing of Mies vailla menneisyyttä (The Man without a Past) at 8pm on 5th June at the Reflet Médicis cinema, 3 rue Champollion, Paris 5th arrondissement.

And the Philippines is the invited country of honour with numerous films being shown.

Other events include:

– Cinéditions – a European fair for cinema-related books, magazines and DVDs
– Paris CinéMômes – film showings for kids (including Kung Fu Panda), numerous different workshops, storytelling and a concert
– concerts accompanying the showings of four silent films by Ernst Lubitsch at Le Balzac cinema just off the Champs Elysées
– “The Golden Nights of Short Films” – showings of short films from around the world that have won prizes, from 7pm – 1am on Friday 11 July

…plus loads of instructive lectures about how to finance a film, get it distributed, cinema lessons with directors, debates…

…and a lot lot more. Events are spread over the city, so make sure to look at the official site in French, or the few pages in English (click ‘English’ at the top right of the site)to make sure you know where to go.

Paris Cinéma 2008 runs from 1st – 12 July 2008. Individual tickets are 5 euros, or there’s a pass for all events costing only 25 euros.
Hotel Paris