The crème de la crème of French cinema features at the 16th edition of the IFI French Film Festival this November.

The IFI French Film Festival returns this November, with an impressive programme that includes 35 screenings, 16 of which are Irish premieres, a national tour of key titles across Ireland, and a stellar line-up of guests that include Palme d’Or winner Jacques Audiard.

The 2015 festival takes place over 12 days, and features work from Emmanuelle Bercot, Arnaud Desplechin, Philippe Garrel, Guillaume Nicloux, Jérôme Bonnell and, Festival Guest of Honour, Jacques Audiard. There will be a focus on the 1970s with three remarkable films, and a retrospective on one of France’s most respected directors, Audiard, including a masterclass with the man himself.

Celebrating 16 years as the leader of French cinema in Ireland, the IFI French Film Festival continues to delve deep into this world-class film culture to bring new releases, classics and star guests to Ireland, growing year on year ensuring that the Festival remain a vital part of both the local and national cultural scenes.

Announcing the 2015 programme, Festival Director Marie-Pierre Richard said “We are honoured to have Jacques Audiard as our guest; to screen the work of wonderfully talented filmmakers including Emmanuelle Bercot, Stéphane Brizé, Arnaud Desplechin, Joachim Lafosse, Philippe Garrel, Guillaume Nicloux; new works from emerging filmmakers Thomas Bidegain, Simon Rouby, Thomas Salvador; and thrilled to have the rare opportunity to present seminal classics from Maurice Pialat, Alain Corneau and Jean-Pierre Melville.”

The opening movie of the 2015 festival is Standing Tall from actress, writer and director Emmanuelle Bercot, featuring Rod Paradot, Benoît Magimel, and Catherine Deneuve. The film pays tribute to members of the justice system who work with troubled youths to reintegrate them into society.

Jacques Audiard brings his Palme d’Or winning Dheepan to the Festival for its Irish premiere. The Festival will also be screening Audiard’s entire feature filmography, as part of the general November programme (Read My Lips, See How They Fall and A Self-Made Hero) and in a Retrospective Programme (A Prophet, Rust and Bone and The Beat that My Heart Skipped) including a masterclass where he will share his vast experience of filmmaking, and Q&As following Dheepan and A Prophet.

IFI FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

Wednesday 18th November

20.00 Standing Tall (followed by a reception)

Thursday 19th November

18.20 Memories
20.10 My Golden Days

Friday 20th November

18.15 Dheepan + Q&A with Jacques Audiard
20.50 Macadam Stories

Saturday 21st November

12.00 Masterclass with Jacques Audiard
13.30 The Red Circle + introduction by Dr. Douglas Smith
16.15 Fatima
18.00 The Cowboys
20.40 The White Knights