Artistic director Philippe Platel names his top picks at Cremorne Orpheum’s French Film Festival

PHILIPPE Platel has chosen 45 films for this year’s Alliance Francaise French Film Festival. It was a tough job, he said, because of the prolific nature of the French film industry.

Lily-Rose Depp and Natalie Portman in a scene from the film Planetarium, which features in the French Film Festival.

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PARISIAN Philippe Platel felt right at home at the Cremorne Orpheum.

The cultural attache was at the cinema last week to launch the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival.

Platel is the festival’s artistic director having been plucked from his job in charge of artistic programs at the Grand Palais on the Champs Elysees.

Artistic director of 2017 French Film Festival, Philippe Platel.

The Hayden Orpheum is among cinemas in seven cities in Australia that are hosting the film festival.

“I love this theatre,” said Platel.

“It is very European, it reminds me of the Grand Rex in Paris. I feel right at home.”

Catherine Deneuve and Catherine Frot in a scene from film The Midwife.

Platel has chosen 45 films for this year’s festival. It was a tough job, he said, because of the prolific nature of the French film industry.

He said actors like Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu and Juliette Binoche are “workaholic”.

Platel described French films as “feel good dramas”.

“They can be sad and dark but then they suddenly spark with hope,” he said.

Lambert Wilson as Jacques Cousteau and Audrey Tautou as his wife Simone in the film The Odyssey.

Platel listed his favourite films in the festival The Odyssey a biopic about oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, A Bun in the Oven, 150 Milligrams, Standing Tall, Things to Come, The Midwife and Planetarium starring Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp’s daughter Lily-Rose Depp.

The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival opens at the Cremorne Orpheum next Tuesday, March 7, with a screening of The odyssey and screens 41 films until March 30. Details: orpheum.com.au