European Film Festival in full flow

Due to the commencement of the European Film festival, Alliance Française de Kotte will be screening the following French film at Namel Malani Punchi Theatre on 11th of November at 4.00pm.

Jean de La Fontaine, le defi follows the confrontation between Jean de La Fontaine, writer of the world renowned Fables, and Colbert, financial administrator for Louis XIV’s Kingdom of France.

In 1661, Colbert gets his rival Fouquet arrested, a powerful advisor of the young king. While all the other artists support the decision and rush to the Court, poet de La Fontaine confirms his support for Fouquet. Colbert vows to make the rebel admit the truth, but La Fontaine, even when penniless, stands by his convictions. Without money, he resists, observes and writes the Fables, which protest against a despotic government in the height of its decline.

Directed by Daniel Vigne, this  2007, 01h 40mins film stars Lorant Deutsch, Philippe Torreton, Sara Forestier. This screening is free of charge and open to the public at Namel Malani Punchi Theatre, Colombo 08.

The European Film Festival 2010 is a collaborative project involving the European Union Delegation, British Council, Goethe Institute, Alliance Francaise, the French, Dutch, Swiss, Italian and Norwegian embassies and Polish and Belgian Consulates in Sri Lanka, along with the National Film Corporation.

This is the third consecutive year that this festival is taking place in Sri Lanka and this year the organising committee is chaired by the British Council. For the first time, the film festival will extend beyond Colombo, to Kandy and Jaffna and possibly to Galle.  

The main festival in Colombo will be held from 5 to 14 November 2010 with screenings each day at 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm at three venues: the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre Borella, British Council Colombo and Goethe Institut. A total of 29 European films will be screened in Colombo.  

The festival in Kandy will take place from 25 to 29 November with screenings each day at 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm at the E.L Senanayake Library Hall.

The festival in Jaffna will take place from 1 to 5 December with screenings each day at 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm at the Centre for Performing Arts Theatre Complex.

The European Film Festival 2010 is currently the biggest European film event in Sri Lanka, providing the audience with the opportunity of viewing high quality, modern European cinema. The festival was initiated in 2008 with the objective of promoting cross cultural dialogue through the medium of film, and to promote mutual understanding between European countries and Sri Lanka.  

The screenings are free of charge and open to all on a first-come first-served basis.