French Art and Film Festival 2015 Malaysia

French Art and Film Festival returns to thrill audiences in the Klang Valley and Penang by continuing in its yearly celebration of the arts as a platform for cultural exchange. Organisers of the festival revealed the 2015 programme for the month long celebration of the French Culture at a press conference held last April 28,2015.

The 2014 French Art & Film Festival attracted as many as 8,000 spectators including around 6,000 viewers for the film festival alone. Fans of the festival are made up of various backgrounds and ages including Malaysians as well as French and international citizens residing in Malaysia.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr Jean-Piere Galland, Cultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in Malaysia said: “We see this festival as a shared yearly project with our various partners. We are very lucky to have the continued support of our sponsors, as it is with their participation that we are able to eagerly share what French culture has to offer. We are truly honoured to also have the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, and we hope our French Festival will contribute to the success of the national campaign for the Year of Festivals Malaysia 2015.”

Mr Jean-Piere Galland, Cultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in Malaysia

Mr. Jean-Pierre Dumont Director of Alliance Francais De Kuala Lumpur

Cognac and Champagne Tastings with Martell
Thursday, 21 May 2015, 7:30pm at Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant,
Publika KL
Tuesday, 26 May 2015, 7:30pm at the poolside of Novotel Hotel, KLCC
Thursday, 28 May 2015, 7:30pm at the lounge of Pullman Bangsar, KL
Hosted by festival partner cognac house Martell, come and learn from a professional on how to pair cognac and champagne with Malaysian cuisine. Join the celebration of Martell’s third centennial anniversary while also discovering facts about the history of these favourite beverages. Enjoy delicious food and drink as you meet friends, old and new, over a few glasses.
Tickets will be priced at RM70 per person and guests are advised to register and pre-pay by emailing in to info@faff.com.my

Marché de France (French Market)
Saturday, 13 June 2015, 4pm-9pm at Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur on Lorong
Gurney, KL.
Co-organised by the CCIFM (Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry), a French market will be held on the grounds of Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur. Aiming to promote quality culinary specialties and lifestyle products, the market will offer delectable food and drink both for sampling as well as to take home including wine, coffee, baked goods and traditional French dishes. Also available will be lifestyle products which will include a garage sale by expatriates who will be putting up pre-loved goods for sale, and visitors can also expect to be entertained by a freestyle circus who will perform on the grounds.

Pure Gourmet by Martell with French restaurants around Kuala Lumpur
Gastronomical feasts with local restaurants will once again give food-lovers around the Klang Valley the opportunity to savour true French cuisine with Martell cognac pairings.

French Film Festival with Golden Screen Cinemas:
Klang Valley: 14-31 May 2015, at GSC Pavilion KL, GSC Mid Valley Megamall, KL and GSC 1 Utama in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya
Penang: 4-14 June at GSC Gurney Plaza
A sub-festival within the larger month-long festival, previous editions of the film festival attracted approximately 6,000 movie goers. This year’s film festival will showcase 15 recent releases in French cinema – including comedies, dramas and animated films – to play at selected Golden Screen Cinemas. Among the screenings film-enthusiasts will get to enjoy, are comedies such as Serial (Bad) Weddings, 2 Autumns 3 Winters, 9 Months Stretch and The French Minister; fantasy such as Beauty and the Beast; as well as touching comedy-dramas such as The Finishers.
Tickets will be available for purchase via GSC website or cinema box office.

Cinemix with DVJ Oof
Friday night, 29 May 2015, 11pm at Pisco Bar on Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari, Bukit Bintang KL.
Combining music and video comes an out-of-the-box experience for party goers and music lovers. Fusing the art of DJing with video, “DVJ” Oof has been a pioneer of this new art form in France that presents a fresh take on a wholesome experience for the senses. This multimedia DJ will be playing the music of famous French soundtracks from the 60s against the backdrop of nostalgic imagery in the form of classical French movies and actors that appear on a screen.
RM20 entrance fees to be paid at venue.

Dance Performance by dance company “Standards” run by Pierre Rigal
Wednesday, 3 June 2015, 8.30pm at MaTiC (Malaysian Tourism Centre) on Jalan Ampang, KL.
As one of the most exciting choreographers in Europe, Pierre Rigal has performed with his dance company at some of the most acclaimed venues in the world including London’s Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells, The Gate Theatre, Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York and Sydney Opera House. Performing on a stage bathed in the red, white and blue of the French flag, this dance troupe of 8 krump, lock-pop and break dancers will explore the many meanings of individuality and identity.
Tickets to the performance will be priced at RM53 and will be available for purchase via TicketPro (www.ticketpro.com.my).

Live music Fête de la Musique main act by Gran Kino
Saturday night, 6 June 2015 at Laundry Bar, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara.
Globe-trotting musical quartet Gran Kino, have been travelling the world for the past 5 years with their mission to break the medium of language through music. Offering an evolving sound often described as “world rock”, Gran Kino will present an invigorating show where electric and electronic sounds bump against spoken-word and readings of travel tales.

What other things to expect:

Held from 14 May to 16 June 2015, this year’s programme offers something for everyone whether movie buffs, art enthusiasts, music lovers or foodies. Also promising an exhilarating line-up in live events, this year’s festival will present a travelling photography exhibition as well as four live shows in the categories of music, dance and DJ that will play around Kuala Lumpur.

Classical music recital by acclaimed pianist Célimène Daudet
Tuesday, 16 June 2015, 8:30pm at the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, KLCC.
Praised by French and foreign press, Célimène Daudet is an accomplished pianist and winner of many international competitions. Among her many accolades include the International Competition Jean Francaix in Paris and the Pro-Musics International Prize. In 2013, she made her debuts at the Châtelet (Paris) and Carnegie Hall (New York). She also gives recitals and masterclasses all around the world.
This recital will see Daudet entertain with a Debussy recital, followed by a Debussy piano solo. She will also present a Mozart concerto accompanied by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO)’s chamber musicians. All tickets are priced at RM40 and can be purchased at the Box Office at 03-20517007 or dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my, or via?the MPO website at mpo.com.my .

Imagine France photography exhibition by Maia Flore
Klang Valley: 14-24 May 2015 at WhiteBox Publika, KL
Penang: 3-14 June 2015 at Gurney Plaza, Penang
Featuring a series of 25 works on display, young photographer Maia Flore has created a form of visual poetry by renewing the view of various heritage sites photographed during a 66-day tour of France between July and September 2013. Some of the locations include well-known French sites such as Château de Versailles, Palais des Papes (Papal Palace) in Avignon, Pont du Gard (Gard Bridge) next to Nîmes, the Conciergerie in Paris, the Museum of Mediterranean Civilisations in Marseilles, Carcassonne City and many more. Describing her approach as ‘seeking coincidences between her imagination and what is real’, this particular exhibition was brought to life by Institut Français and the French tourism development agency Atout France, and in partnership with the VU’ Agency.
As a young actor, director and spectator, Flore’s work has been presented in the Instituts Français of Italy in the Spring of 2014, as well as in Rome and Naples; and has been exhibited at the Somerset House in London for the Sony World Photo Awards.

More information on the 2015 lineup is available on the festival’s official website www.faff.com.my, and those on social media can ‘Like’ the Facebook page at facebook.com/frenchartfilmfestival. Follow or contribute to the French Art & Film Festival’s presence on social media with the hashtag #frenchfestivalmy