Angoulême 2024: AlloCiné shares its Festival favorites – Cinema News

An unmissable back-to-school event for French cinema, the 17th edition of the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival was held from August 24 to September 1, 2024. AlloCiné was there and reveals some of its favorites!

The day after the awards ceremony for this 17th edition, we invite you to discover some of our favorites from the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, which ended this Sunday, September 1st, after 5 busy days that brought together the talents of French cinema, both established and new generation.

The ever-growing public responded, going so far as to fill all the rooms – eleven – of the CGR multiplex in the city center for a single film. And this, several times during the week.

Angoulême 2024 Awards: Noticed at Cannes, this film with non-professional actors wins the Valois Diamond

The jury chaired by Kristin Scott Thomas viewed the 10 films in competition and gave its verdict on Sunday, September 1, rewarding Twenty Gods, the first film by Louise Courvoisier. The director's first feature film made a strong impression at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was presented in the Un Certain Regard section. It was awarded the Youth Prize.

Mobilized, as every year, to cover the event, the AlloCiné editorial team had the opportunity to discover the many feature films that will punctuate this 2024 cinema season and the months that follow. Several favorites stood out.

Live, Die, Be Reborn – Released September 25

What is it about? Emma loves Sammy who loves Cyril who loves her too. What could have been a romantic flirtation at the end of the last century will be blown up by the arrival of AIDS. While they were expecting the worst, the destiny of each character will take an unexpected turn.

Why we like it: For his new film, Gaël Morel pays tribute to a youth struck by the AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s. Far from siding with the melodramas already made on the subject, the filmmaker this time offers a story of love and friendship as tragic as it can be luminous. The real success lies in particular in his trio of actors – Victor Belmondo, Lou Lampros and Théo Christine. All three shine on screen and take the viewer on a journey through different emotions thanks to an authentic energy that never seems manufactured. Thomas Desroches

Barbès, Little Algeria – released October 16, 2024

What is it about? Malek, in his forties, single, has just moved to Montmartre and will soon welcome his nephew Ryiad, who has just arrived from Algeria, into his home. Together they discover Barbès, the neighborhood of the Algerian community, very lively, despite the current health crisis. His meetings with local figures will allow Malek to find a part of himself that he had buried, and to reconcile with his origins.

Why we like it: Barbès, little Algeria is a beautiful chronicle in the streets of Barbès. The director Hassan Guerrar – a famous press attaché in the film industry who is going behind the camera for the first time – tenderly conveys his love for the life of this working-class district of Paris. For the writing, he surrounded himself with Audrey Diwan, director of L'Evenement (and soon Emmanuelle). A film full of breath, carried by actors who are all very accurate, Sofiane Zermani (Fianso) in the lead. Brigitte Baronnet

Rabia – released on November 27th

What is it about? Driven by the promise of a new life, Jessica, a 19-year-old French woman, leaves for Syria to join Daesh. Arriving in Raqqa, she joins a house for future wives of fighters and quickly finds herself the prisoner of Madame, the charismatic director who runs the place with an iron fist. Inspired by true events.

Why we like it: For her first feature film, director Mareike Engelhardt impresses. She tackles a difficult subject and delivers a powerful closed-door film that takes the viewer inside the walls of a house of future wives for jihadist fighters. The tension is maintained, the direction inspired and the performance of the two actresses – Megan Northam and Lubna Azabal – impresses with their strength and total dedication. Shocking. Thomas Desroches

In Fanfare – Released November 27, 2024

What is it about? Thibaut is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns that he has been adopted, he discovers the existence of a brother, Jimmy, a school canteen employee who plays the trombone in a marching band in the north of France. On the surface, everything separates them, except their love of music. Detecting his brother's exceptional musical abilities, Thibaut makes it his mission to repair the injustice of fate. Jimmy then begins to dream of another life…

Why we like it: It's impossible not to be carried away by the emotion that this feature film gives off! En fanfare, a musical film whose plot is largely set in the North of France, takes us to meet two brothers (Pierre Lottin and Benjamin Lavernhe) who are originally complete opposites, two terribly endearing and moving brothers. En fanfare has all the ingredients of a feel-good movie, while addressing tough subjects, such as illness and social misery. Emmanuel Courcol achieves the perfect balance of humor and emotion. Brigitte Baronnet

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