She speaks French fluently and has hung out with Harrison Ford in a French café. Julia Zemiro is the perfect choice to be the inaugural Festival Patron at the Alliance Française French Film Festival.
What's the coolest thing you can say in French?
Well I speak it fluently so I can say lots of cool AND dumb things. And angry things. And beautiful things. So whether you have one language or six, use your words wisely, kindly, purposefully.
The things you find most appealing/ interesting about French films are...?
They often tell very simple stories about everyday life. They are films made for grown-ups. I can happily sit and watch a story set in a French city, not necessarily Paris, about a couple just meeting in cafés and arguing.
Cheese or wine?
You’re making me choose? Comté cheese from the Jura region. And bread please.
Champagne or croissants?
You’re making me choose again? Champagne. It always feels special.
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Your suggestions for this year's films? What looks good?
Be bold and just go when you are free. Walk in and be surprised.
The French Film industry makes over 100 films a year, so statistically there will be some good ones. Any funny/ weird/ crazy France-related stories you can share?
A perfect day: I was in Paris once on a date with the aforementioned Dane. We wandered in to one of the big Brasseries, and had the most delicious lunch. And then Harrison Ford walked in with Calista Flockhart. Now, I am huge fan of HF. Or rather, he was my first real adult male crush as a teen, and I couldn’t quite believe he was there. They sat, and had cake, and no-one annoyed them or approached them and we just enjoyed being a booth away. Us and Harrison and Calista. Not talking. Bliss.
2014 French Film Festival Dates
04 Mar – 23 Mar - Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema & Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace (Syd)05 Mar – 23 Mar - Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema, Como, Palace Westgarth & Kino Cinemas (Melb)
06 Mar – 25 Mar - Palace Electric Cinema (Can)
06 Mar – 25 Mar - Palace Barracks & Palace Centro (Bris)
18 Mar - 6 Apr - Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX & Windsor Cinema (Perth)
20 Mar - 8 Apr - Palace Nova Eastend (Ade)
24 Apr – 28 Apr - Palace Byron Bay (Byron Bay)
