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French Film Fest Survival Guide

The French Film Festival fires up this weekend.

You know what time it is, Richmond. Time to grab your beret and head to Carytown for the French Film Festival.

With three days, 12 feature films, 19 short films, and 20,000 viewers, there will be plenty to see and do at this weekend's festival. The only question is: where do you get started?

Here are a few highlights to check out at this year's festival:

Star Power

Thirty-eight French actors, directors and producers will be in town to present and discuss their films. At this year's festival, French actress Josiane Balasko will be spotlighted.

"She's the Whoopi Goldberg of French Film," film fest director Peter Kirkpatrick says. "She's one of France's best known actresses. Everyone knows her as a comedian. But this festival will allow you to see a side of her that no one has ever seen before."

Josiane Balasko will be spotlighted in five different films at the festival. Such as:

"L'Auberge rouge"
Friday, March 27, 4 p.m.
A slapstick comedy set in the late 19th century where a family of innkeepers routinely rob (and murder) their travelers. But the tables turn one dark and stormy night with the good Father Carnus stops into the inn. "L'Auberge rouge" will be followed by the master class "Laughter and Cinema," featuring a discussion with director Gérard Krawczyk and actress Josiane Balasko.

"J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka"
Friday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Josiane Balasko plays the French novelist Marguerite Duras in this drama about Georges Figon, the man who blew the whistle on the Ben Barka scandal that shook up the Gaullist government. Followed by a discussion with director Serge Le Péron and actress Josiane Balasko.

Places to Eat
*Next to River City Cellars: Secco is coming to this spot, but for the French Film Festival, there will be a caterer serving box lunches for the French Film Festival. $8.95 per box lunch.

*Weezie's: Will be doing lunch specials for the Festival

*Jean Jacques Bakery: Good sandwiches, even better bread

*Coppola's: Grab a sandwich, eat it on the street.

*Ellwood's Coffee: Ellwood Thompson's sister coffee shop will be packed with sandwiches and yummy salads to-go.

"Cliente"
Saturday, March 28, 4 p.m.
Josiane Balasko does quadruple duty in "Cliente." Not only does she star in it, but she also wrote the screenplay, directed and produced the film about a woman in her '50s who runs a home shopping show and has a secret: she treats herself to sexual services from young men whom she hires from an online escort site. Things get complicated when she meets and falls for Patrick, a young and handsome escort who is married. Followed by a discussion with Josiane Balasko and actor George Aguilar.

"Françoise Dolto, le désir de vivre"
Last film of the festival, Sunday, March 29, 6:15 p.m.
Josiane Balasko stars as Francoise Dolto, the real French psychiatrist who created child psychoanalysis, in the North American premiere of the film. Followed by a discussion with director Serge Le Péron and the actress.

Other Films to Check Out:

"15 ans et demi"
Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m.
The story of a workaholic father reconnecting with his teenage daughter. North American premiere. Followed by a discussion with directors François Desagnat and Thomas Sorriaux and associate producer Sandrine Paquot.

"Magique!" Places to People Watch
Don't want to go to the festival, but eager to people watch? Check out these froggie-friendly people watching spots:

*Can Can Brasserie. Festival folks flock to this spot.

*The Jefferson Hotel. The big French brass are staying here. Don't get in their way at brunch. They will elbow you out with a butter knife.

*European Market. Frenchies love it, even if it's a hike from the Byrd.

*Carytown. It'll be crowded, but you will see some fantastic fashion from our French friends.

Sunday, March 29, 12:40 p.m.
"A musical comedy that's not like any musical comedy you've seen before," Kirkpatrick says. "Magique!" is the story of a mother and her son and how the son tries to make his mother happy. This is the North American premiere and it will be followed with a discussion with director Philippe Muyl.

The Short Films
Saturday, March 28 at noon. Sunday, March 29 at 8 a.m.
"People love the short films," Kirkpatrick says. The short films cover a wide variety of subject matter: from animated gems to comedies to darker material. They're unlike anything you'll see anywhere else and often draw a packed crowd.

Ticket Prices
Tickets for individual films are $12 each and available at the Byrd before each show, if available. Festival passes are $85 for instructors and $95 for everybody else ($45 student passes sold out.). If you do plan on seeing more than one film, it's a good idea to purchase the pass because most of the films sell out. If you know you only want to see one movie, get in line immediately (we're talking two hours early) to secure yourself a spot. More info on our Events Calendar.