The second edition of French Film Festival Kolkata began in Kolkata on Saturday. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, National Award-winning director Goutam Ghose, director Anubhav Sinha and actor Anasuya Sengupta were among the guests of honour who were present at Nandan on the opening day.
Didier Talpain, the consul general of France in Kolkata, and Nicola’s Facino, the director of Alliance Française du Bengale hosted the festival’s inauguration where Naseeruddin Shah received a standing ovation.
Alliance Française du Bengale is organising the second French film festival in association with Nandan, West Bengal Film Festival Centre, and the Consulate General of France in Kolkata. The festival, which will run till March 1, will showcase over 80 films.
🎬✨ It’s time to indulge in the ultimate cinematic affair! ✨🎬
— Alliance Française (@AFduBengale) February 16, 2025
The official teaser of the French Film Festival, 2025 is here, offering a glimpse of what’s to come! 🎥🍿 pic.twitter.com/oD0OqEvqCi
The festival opened with the world premiere of Ali Bougheraba and Redouane Bougheraba’s Délocalisés. This much-anticipated French film was shot extensively in Kolkata between February and April 2024.
Building on the tremendous success of its first edition, Alliance Française du Bengale will bring through the festival the finest of French cinema alongside Indian films that earned acclaim at Cannes.
Director Anubhav Sinha and Anasuya Sengupta at the inauguration of the second edition of French Film Festival Kolkata | Salil Bera
On Sunday, Naseeruddin Shah will present the iconic film Manthan, in which he starred, as a tribute to its late director, Shyam Benegal, who passed away on December 23 last year. On Monday, Goutam Ghose’s Raahgir will be screened, followed by a discussion with the director and the film’s producer.
The festival will feature six curated sections of films that is Animation, Classic, Contemporary, David Foenkinos Retrospective, Call of the Mountains and India in Cannes. The Classic section will feature masterpieces from Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Costa-Gavras, and Claude Sautet.
The Shameless, for which Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian actress to win the Best Actress Award in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, will be screened as part of the Indian in Cannes section.
As a culturally rich city with a deep love for cinema, Kolkata will not only experience the masterpieces of legendary French filmmakers but also gain insights into various aspects of filmmaking through dynamic panel discussions featuring acclaimed directors, actors, and writers.
