OFFICIAL FRENCH ENTRY FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS, “LES MISÉRABLES” TO OPEN THE EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
LES MISÉRABLES which won the Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay Awards at the 40thDurban International Film Festival in July, will open the 6th edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa on Friday, 29 November 2019 at the Rosebank Cinema Noveau in Johannesburg. Presenting the film at the Festival will be producer, Toufik Ayadi and lead actors, Djebril Zonga and Almamy Kanouté. The European Film Festival will be held simultaneously at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town and will end on 8 December.
LES MISÉRABLES which was acquired for distribution in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment, won the coveted Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and is the debut feature film from director Ladj Ly who co-wrote the screenplay with Giordano Gederlini and Alexis Manenti. The film garnered a number of Awards, including the Best International Film and Best Screenplay awards at the Durban International Film Festival; Best International Film at the Jerusalem Film Festival; Audience Award at the Athens International Film Festival and the Michel d’Ornano Award at the Deauville Film Festival.
LES MISÉRABLES inspired by the riots of 2005 in the Paris suburbs, revolves around three members of an anti-crime brigade who are overrun while trying to make an arrest. Stephane, only just arrived from Cherbourg, joins the anti-criminality brigade of Montfermeil in a sensitive district of the Paris suburbs. Paired up with Chris and Gwada whose methods are sometimes “special,” he rapidly discovers the tensions between the various neighborhood groups. When an arrest starts to get out of hand, a drone films every move they make.
Producer, Toufik Ayadi and actors, Djebril Zonga and Almamy Kanouté will also attend the screenings of LES MISÉRABLES at Brooklyn Cinema Nouveau in Pretoria on Saturday, 30 November at 18h00 and V&A Cinema Nouveau in Cape Town on Sunday, 1 December at 18h30 and Monday, 2 December at 18h00. Additionally, they will participate in two workshops, the first of which will be held at Rosebank Cinema Noveau on Saturday, 30 November and the second on Monday, 2 December in Cape Town at the Cape Investor Centre.
Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment’s Director of Acquisition and Distribution said, “We are delighted to have Toufik, Djebril and Almamy attend the European Film Festival screenings of LES MISÉRABLES in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Their presence will certainly enhance the audience experience of the film. LES MISÉRABLES tells a powerful story of a marginalized community in Paris, and as the Official French submission for the 92nd Academy Awards, we believe that it has a strong chance of winning the Best International Feature Film Oscar.”
Peter Rorvik, Director of the European Film Festival, commented, “Underneath and within the fast-moving drama that unfolds in LES MISÉRABLES runs an intrinsic message to societies around the world, not just in Paris where the film is set. That message is a also a warning, that we need to foster cooperative respect for all the complex communities of this increasingly polarized world, lest we reap devastating consequences. This film generates a powerful start to the European Film Festival.“
Photo material: A scene from LES MISÉRABLES (Click to download).
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/369564757/5a35be51fc
For European Film Festival film synopses, trailers and schedules visitwww.eurofilmfest.co.za
