The 2014 AFI-EU Film Showcase opens today at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland. Presented by the American Film Institute (AFI) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States and EU Member States, the festival showcases the best in current European filmmaking and this year's selection includes more than 50 films shown throughout the month of December (the 27th edition of the festival runs from December 3-21, 2014.) French and French-language films are well represented, as always: The Dardenne brothers' "Two days, one night" (showing Fri, Dec 12, 7:30 and Sun, Dec 14, 3:40), Belgium's official selection for the Oscars Girlhood (Thu, Dec 4, ...
Grand Ecran
Wine Wednesday: A Special Screening of American Wine Story on November 13
A couple of years ago, my husband and I ran the Lawyers Have Heart 10K through Georgetown to benefit the American Heart Association. That was fun. But you know what sounds like an even more fun way to benefit that same association? Not running, and watching a documentary on American winemakers followed by Q&A and tasting reception instead. Definitely. You've heard the claims before... drinking red wine (in moderation) may lower the risk of heart disease, and every year the American Heart Association hosts an amazing 4-days wine auction event in Washington, DC, called Heart’s Delight. The fundraiser celebrates exceptional food and wine and has raised more than 13 million dollars for ...
Finding Your Identity at DC’s First Films on the Green
Since 2008, Francophile New Yorkers have been able to enjoy French flicks al fresco through Films on the Green, a free outdoor French film festival produced annually in New York City Parks by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy with the City of New York Parks & Recreation. This summer, they had the opportunity to catch Purple Noon at Central Park's Cedar Hill, The Women on the 6th Floor and La Haine at Tompkins Square Park, Les Tontons Flingueurs at Washington Square Park and The French Minister at Columbia University. This year, thanks to American University and the Cultural Service of the Embassy of France in Washington, DC, we're getting our own (shorter) edition of this ...
Give Your DC Summer a French Twist
Stuck in the city for the summer? Luckily, there are a ton of events across town to help you pretend you're in France. CHEER FOR LES BLEUS DURING THE WORLD CUP Head to Redline on game day to join the French Expat Meet-Up and L'Union des Français de l'étranger de Washington in supporting l'Equipe de France as they fight to get out of Group H. And if you want to learn more about Les Bleus, head to l'Alliance Francaise after the game on Friday, June 20. Sports historian Lindsay Krasnoff will moderate a panel of sports journalists on the history and importance of the 1998 World Cup champions in French society. LA FETE DE LA MUSIQUE It's one of my favourite events every year. New York goes ...
Angelika Pop-UP at Union Market
The Angelika Film Center in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood is a cultural institution for arthouse cinema. Its affiliate at the Mosaic District in Fairfax is FABULOUS! It's an elegant, state of the art, 8 screens theater where you can nibble on tadoori popcorn and reserve your seat in advance. If it weren't so far in Fairfax, I'd go there all the time! Luckily, soon enough, there will be an Angelika movie theater near Union Market, right here in downtown, DC. Until then (then being 2015), Union Market is giving us a little preview of what it will be like with an Angelika pop-up. The pop-up opens this weekend with screening of Queen Margot, a French period drama featuring Daniel Auteuil ...
French Films at the 24th Washington Jewish Film Festival
The Washington Jewish Film Festival kicks off its 24th year this week. Between February 27 and March 9, 64 films from 18 countries will be shown in the District. While the festival is honouring legendary Israeli film maker Avi Nesher and showcasing Polish cinema, there are (as always) a number of great French films on the agenda. A complete schedule of the festival can be found on at wjff.org. One of the films I'm personally curious about is The Jewish Cardinal, about former Archbishop of Paris Jean-Marie Lustiger. Known as the Jewish priest, he maintained his Jewish identity despite converting to Catholicism at a young age and rising through the ranks of the Church. I'm also looking ...
Léa Seydoux Graces Vanity Fair’s Annual Hollywood Issue Cover
Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood issue is out and getting a lot of praise for being one of its most diverse. Shot by Annie Leibovitz, the cover features a diverse group of A-listers. Some like George Clooney and Julia Roberts are Hollywood veterans, others are up-and-comers. I was particularly surprised to see fellow Frenchie Léa Seydoux in the bottom right corner, though I barely recognized her at first. Currently known for her part (and blue hair) in Blue is the Warmest Color (la Vie d'Adele), mademoiselle Seydoux has been a feature of French cinema since 2006. She's actually kind of French cinema royalty since her grandfather is the president of Pathé, one of the oldest film production ...
My french Film Festival Point Com
MyFrenchFilmFestival.com was quite a success last year with 750,000 film viewings in different 189 countries so it's not a surprise that the leading worldwide French film festival on the Internet is back on our computers. The 4th edition of MyFrenchFilmFestival.com takes place between 17th January and 17th February and feature 10 features and 10 shorts in 13 different languages. That's all great, but my favourite part of the whole festival? The poster! I find it quite brilliant of course ;-) You can download the film on iTunes for a fee but if you're in DC, you can also screen them for free at Malmaison and Napoleon Bistro and Lounge. Starting on February 3rd, Napoleon will ...
Fifty Shades of European Films
As the European Union gets bigger and bigger so does the AFI European Union Film Showcase . This year, some 50 films from 27 different European countries will be shown between December 5th - 22, 2013 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring. That's 10 more than last year, and at least one film from every European country except Malta... Countries with large film industries, like France, Germany or the UK are represented with more than one film. And speaking of France... Here's a schedule of French, French-language or somewhat related to France movies that will be shown during the two weeks festival: La Tendresse (Belgium/France/Germany, in French with subtitles - ...
5 New (Delicious) Reasons to Visit Union Market This Weekend
It's been a few months now since I published my "10 Delicious Reasons to Visit Union Market This Weekend" post. Some of the reasons I listed are still relevant. It's still great to support local food artisans, Gina Chersevani still makes a mean egg cream and Rappahannock Oysters still has the best crab cake in the city (the lamb and clams is pretty standout as well!). But I'd like to add in a few more reasons, delicious or otherwise, why you should visit Union Market before the end of the summer. 1) Gin and Tonic on Tap at Red Apron Butchery - Cocktails on tap are popping up all over the city (Sangrias at Hogo, Margaritas at Bandolero, Rickeys and Americanos at Teddy & the Bully Bar ...
