From May to July, KL and three other cities in the country will be playing host to this delightful cultural exchange event.
Le French Festival, co-organised by the Alliances Francaises de Malaisie and the French embassy, will run from May 29 to July 14.
For those who recall the Le French Film Festival of previous years, this is its rebranded iteration, encompassing far more than just movies this time around.
This once-a-year event thus celebrates the best facets of French culture, including in the realms of sports, family and inclusivity.
Thus, for its 22nd edition, the festival welcomes visitors to participate in its various events and activities.
Given that this year’s Olympics will be held in Paris, there will also be an emphasis on sports as the event’s theme. Malaysian sports enthusiasts, take note!
As with previous years, the festival will be moving throughout the country; specifically, Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Johor Bahru and Kuching.
In addition to the customary showing of French films at Golden Screen Cinemas, there are many other activities to look forward to in the coming weeks.
June 30 will see the launch of “The Little Champions,” an Olympic-inspired series of events for youngsters.
That same day will also see “Breaking Battles,” which features French and Malaysian breakdancers showing off their skills.
For July 7, get your running gear ready as there will be a Fun Run through Titiwangsa Park, followed by a leisurely stroll through the flea market at Académie Française KL.
And as always, there will be theatrical plays, concerts, exhibitions and workshops throughout the festival period, with more information available online.
Of course, for local cinephiles, there are up to 16 films that will be screened on local silver screens in conjunction with the festival.
Highlights include the action-packed “The Three Musketeers: Milady”, the dramatic “The Taste of Things” and the family-friendly “Epic Tails.”
During Le French Festival 2024’s press conference, FMT Lifestyle was treated to a complimentary viewing of “Divertimento”, a film released in France last year.
The film, based on a true story, focusses on the early life of Zahia Ziouani, a real-life classical music conductor from a lowly background.
Did you know that in France, only 4% of all maestros are women? Needless to say, she had quite a few roadblocks to tackle from the start.
In the film, Zahia (Oulya Amamra) and her twin sister, Fettouma (Lina El Arabi) are promising musicians with a working-class background.
When they move to a fancy Paris school for their final year, they are subjected to both sexist and classist treatment by their peers.
By chance, however, Zahia’s talent is discovered by veteran conductor Sergiu Celibidache (Niels Arestrup) who takes her under his wing.
Under his tutelage, Zahia is inspired to break the glass ceiling and to become a conductor in her own right, by starting her own orchestra group named “Divertomento”.
An inspiring story through and through, the film is a love letter to anyone fond of classical tunes and music in general.
It also offers an interesting insight into the tight competition which exists within the world of music, in which women are increasingly making their presence felt.
Actors Oulya and Lina give a great performance in their respective roles, earning the audience’s sympathy as they struggle against existing biases.
An inspiring watch for women, this film is just one of many delightful examples of what French filmmakers have to offer.
So, if you’re up for some cultural enrichment these coming weeks, don’t miss out on Le French Festival 2024.
Movie tickets for LeFF films are available from May 23 onwards on the GSC app and e-kiosks. For more information, click here.