The French Film Festival – Échos
The French Institute in Romania organized the 29th edition of the French Film Festival – Échos
Corina Sabău, 12.04.2025, 14:00
The French Institute in Romania organized the 29th edition of the French Film Festival – Échos between March 20 and 30, 2025, both in Bucharest and in 11 other cities in the country such as Arad, Brașov, Brăila, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Iași, Sfântu Gheorghe, Sibiu, Suceava, Târgu Mureș and Timișoara. This year’s festival had a special significance, because it was part of the “French Spring TOGETHER” season, a central moment of the Centenary of the French Institute in Romania, celebrated between May 2024 and May 2025. The festival was opened in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara by one of the biggest box office successes in France, with four César Award nominations – the biographical musical Monsieur Aznavour, directed by Mehdi Idir and Grand Corps Malade. The film, which includes “a series of sequences of rare beauty” (Cineuropa), tells the story of the famous singer Charles Aznavour, the son of Armenian refugees, who, despite all the obstacles, became a symbol of French music and culture. Monsieur Aznavour was part of the Panorama of the Year’s Films section, which brings together some of the most important recent French productions, appreciated by critics and the public, each with a notable festival evolution.
We spoke with Dan Lupu, a PR officer of the event, about how this year’s selection was made and about the festival sections: “It wasn’t easy. My colleagues who are in charge of selection had to choose among many titles, because last year’s French cinema was quite rich, with films present in important festivals around the world, including Cannes and Venice, films recently rewarded at the prestigious César Awards with many nominations and awards. Therefore, it was not an easy job, but the selection prepared for the audience in Bucharest and the other cities where the festival was held was certainly to the liking of any type of audience, from passionate film lovers to families who wanted to spend an evening at the cinema. I also mentioned viewers who come with their families because we also had a section called Jeune Public- Young Public, obviously intended for the very young audience.”
This edition of the French Film Festival also included a special section: Hommage à Louis Malle. Dan Lupu is back at the microphone with details: “This year marks three decades since Louis Malle, the famous French director, passed away, and the festival paid tribute to him by presenting four films from his creation, the most important titles. Referring to the festival’s theme, Échos, to what younger directors inherit from those from previous generations and to the influence that some artists have over time, Louis Malle is a director who influenced many generations, French and foreign artists. Four of his films could be seen during the festival. At the festival, we also presented a category of films awarded in the most important festivals, Panorama. In that section, we presented films that target different types of audiences. We created this section by grouping genres that are very political or deal with sensitive topics in contemporary society, as well as films that are completely different from these, comedies or productions for families or that are aimed at the general public, and I am thinking especially of The Fantastic Three, directed by Michaël Dichter, a story about adventurous teenagers. In this section Le Roman de Jim by Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu, selected in Cannes Premières, was also screened. In the same section we also presented Wild Diamond by Agathe Riedinger, which was part of the official competition of the Cannes Film Festival, to name just a few examples.”
The Young Talents – Short Film Competition brought to the fore five short films made by young French filmmakers, some of which were also selected at the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. Here is Dan Lupu with more: “Every year this section brings the audience the latest French films. This year there were five films that entered the competition, and the jury was made up of three students from the National University of Theatre and Film “Ion Luca Caragiale” (UNATC) in Bucharest, who decided the winning film. The winning director will be invited to the Résidence de Poche of the French Institute in Romania for a creative stay in Bucharest. And since we are talking about the collaborations and small surprises prepared for this edition of the festival, I would also like to mention the collaboration with the Cărturești bookstore chain. I’m referring to the Shelf of Film and Book Recommendations from France, available at Cărturești Verona for Bucharest residents, and also online on the respective website, for all other viewers throughout the country. These are books written by French authors and films that are co-productions or productions from the French-speaking area.”
Medeea Mocioc, Dakota Tutunaru and Alina Grau, students at UNATC Bucharest, chose the film LOU, directed by Tara Maurel, winner of the Young Talents Competition – Short Film section. (LS)
