Longwood to host French Film Festival

Longwood University will host a French Film Series beginning January 26 and continuing through February 23. The films, free and open to the public, have English subtitles and start at 7 p.m. Now in its third year, the theme of the festival is en famille; all films concern the trials and rewards of family relationships in one form or another.

"Attendance at the 2009 festival was 50 percent higher than the 2008 festival, and we are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year," said Dr. Wade Edwards, associate professor of French. "For a community the size of Farmville, this is a rare opportunity enjoyed primarily by art-house theaters in large cities that regularly screen international and independent films. We're pleased to be able to imitate that art house experience in Farmville, at least for a month."  The schedule, including location, is:

Tuesday, January 26
Azur & Asmar. 7 p.m., Auditorium, Hull Education Center.

Wednesday, February 3
Entre les murs (The Class). 7 p.m., Auditorium, Hull Education Center.

Wednesday, February 10
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. 7 p.m., Auditorium, Hull Education Center.

Thursday, February 18
A Secret. 7 p.m., Molnar Recital Hall, Wygal Auditorium.

Tuesday, February 23
Le Fils de l'épicier (The Grocer's Son). 7 p.m., Auditorium, Hull Education Center.

The French Film Festival is made possible by grant support from the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Ministry of Culture. The event is co-sponsored by Longwood's Department of English & Modern Languages, the General Education Film Series, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.  The French Film Festival is part of The Tournées Festival, a project to bring contemporary French films to college campuses and to a wider American audience. For more information, phone Edwards at 395.2181 or visit www.longwood.edu/filmfestival.