Welcome to the Alliance Française French Film Festival.

21 years old.

For a long time it was the year that one came of age in France. The age one reaches maturity.

21 years over which the festival has grown, evolved and taken on new forms to finally become the great success which we know today. More than 80 000 spectators in 2009. I am sure that this record will be broken in 2010 when I see the wide range and number of quality films on offer: 43 films in all, comedies, love stories, thrillers of course but also films with a message which say no, no to the injustice of a system, a way of life, no to oppression. At the same time, films which also say yes, yes to human rights, to the freedom of thought and to dignity.

The fame of this festival has made it possible to welcome great stars from French cinema. Catherine Deneuve two years ago, and Gérard Jugnot last year. This year it will be Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the Director of a film which was very popular in Australia, «Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain» but you will also have heard of «Un long dimanche de fiançailles », «La Cité des enfants perdus» and «Delicatessen». He will be presenting his latest feature film «Micmacs à tire-larigot» for the opening night in Sydney and Melbourne.

It’s not necessary to remind you that modern means of communication bring individuals closer. It has nevertheless been a long time that cinema has removed the distances which separate men, allowing people to share and partake in different human experiences.

I am happy that the mutual understanding which exists between France and Australia finds in this festival a new opportunity to live to the full and to express itself.

Michel Filhol
French Ambassador in Australia