Line Renaud warmly applauded by the public

During the opening ceremony on the 15^e Francophone film festival, the co-creator of the event Dominique Besnehard could not contain his emotion for a long time when he mentioned the presence in the room of his friend Line Renaud. “I am really moved that Line is here. She was there 15 years ago. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do but she said: “I come”and she came. Thanks Line!” the 15^e edition of the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival opened on Tuesday evening with a strong tribute to the 94-year-old actress who starred in the opening film A beautiful raceby Christian Carion with Dany Boon.

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Created in 2008, this “festival, regional in its infancy, become national is in the process of becoming international”, rejoiced Dominique Besnehard on stage. This year it is chaired by the actor André Dussollier, who also came to present his new film The Tiger and the President.

The opening of this anniversary edition, which took place in the presence of many guests including the general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, Thierry Frémaux, the patriarch of the Pathé group Jérôme Seydoux or the actress and director Géraldine Nakache, began with a standing ovation from the public upon the arrival of the two co-creators.

The festival, which runs until Sunday, kicked off with the screening ofA great race, dramatic comedy by Christian Carion with the Ch’tis duo, Dany Boon and Line Renaud. In this film, in theaters at the end of September, she very accurately embodies Madeleine Keller, a 92-year-old woman about to enter an EHPAD. It is Charles, played by Dany Boon, who is responsible for taking the old lady to her new home. In the meantime, Madeleine is determined to take advantage of this last trip to revisit the places in the capital that have counted in her life.

After the screening of this twilight film, the room rose and gave the actress and singer a long ovation, who could not believe it. “I’m getting close to the moment…. I have to think about it, I had a beautiful life, an extraordinary life and it will never be forgotten. Even when I’m gone”declared, moved, Line Renaud at the end of the screening.

“The FFA”, as it is nicknamed by festival-goers, faithfully organized by Dominique Besnehard and Marie-France Brière, launches a rather abundant return to French cinema. Of the fifty films that will be shown to the public, ten are presented in competition. Among them: Annie Angerthe second feature film by the actress turned director, Blandine Lenoir, with Laure Calamy in the title role (Antoinette in the Cevennesand the series Ten percent).

This film will echo the news since it will return to the “Movement for the freedom of abortion and contraception” (MLAC) which campaigned in favor of the right to abortion in France in the 1970s. Very also awaited, and essentially addressing the same theme, Olivier Dahan’s film Simone, the trip of the centurybiopic on Simone Veil, played by Elsa Zylberstein promises to mobilize the crowds

On the personalities side, we are also expecting the arrival of Sophie Marceau, who will unveil her new feature film, A woman of our timesigned Jean Paul Civeyrac (released October 5).

As every year, beautiful surprises are announced. Of those who have made this meeting an essential showcase of French-speaking production.