Montreal: The inaugural edition of Festival du Film Francais unspooled April 6 and runs through April 8 in Quebec City, with Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Louise Beaudoin playing host to a high-powered French delegation including Culture Minister Philippe Douste-Blaz and Unifrance Film International president Daniel Toscan du Plantier

Noted filmmakers slated to attend and premier their new films include Claude Berri, Albert Dupontel, Bertrand Tavernier and Philippe Lioret. Centre National de la Cinematographie head Marc Tessier will also be present.

The timing for the showcase is good as the box office for French films in Quebec has grown by 35% in the past two years, following a period of decline, says Alliance Vivafilm vp Pierre Brousseau.

As many as half a dozen French movies topped the 50,000 admission mark in Quebec last year including Le bonheur est dans le pre (Alliance), Beaumarchais, l’Insolent (Alliance), Le Huitieme jour (cfp), Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud (cfp), Ridicule (cfp) and Les Trois freres (Malofilm).

As a prelude to the festival, Unifrance has been contributing p&a funds for major French day-and-date theatrical releases in the Quebec market, typically on movies with 10 or more prints and tv advertising support, says Brousseau. Quebec distributors buy more than 50 French films annually.

Lioret’s Tenue correcte exigee, distributed by Alliance, is the festival’s opening night film.

The inaugural edition is organized by Unifrance, sodec, the French Consulate in Quebec, cnc and Association Quebec-France. LRB