20th Annual French Film Festival
Francophiles and film buffs: your day is coming very soon. The 20th Annual French Film Festival will kick off on March 24, 2012. The Festival promotes “French language cinema and culture in the U.S. and encourages the study of French by university and high school students”, in addition to placing Richmond on the international map with a world-class event celebrating French culture.
In honor of the festival’s 20th anniversary, the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University are teaming up to offer a free 3-day symposium from March 26 – 29 on French Film: Arts, Science & Technology at Work for Humanity in the new Ukrops Auditorium on the UR Campus. The symposium complements the 12 feature films and 12 short films screened during the festival. Directors and actors from each film attend and participate in discussions of their works. The French Ambassador to the United States generally attends and presents his delegation annually, which is celebrated with a special ticketed cocktail reception.
Tickets to the festival, master class and special reception can be obtained online and are available at special VIP rates to instructors and students. Screenings are held at the historic Byrd Theatre located on W. Cary Street. A reservation at many of the Historic Richmond Inns will put you practically within walking distance of the theater, and close enough to enjoy your gourmet breakfast before the first screening each morning. The festival draws thousands of visitors from all over the eastern United States and around the world, so don’t wait too long to make your travel plans and secure your premium bed and breakfast accommodations.