Festival du film français

It’s a milestone year for the Sacramento French Film Festival. The annual Sacramento tradition turns 10 this year. It’s about more than films, though. The event seeks to bring “people together around films and French culture in a festive atmosphere,” according to the festival website. This year, the festival features an opening and closing party, several midnight movies and a special guest, screenwriter Jean-Louis Milesi. The films are grouped by themes, including premiers, classics, short films and “one that almost got away”—a film that was not shown at previous year’s festival for some reason, and is now being screened for the first time. This year’s “one that almost got away” is 2003’s Un Homme, un Vrai (A Man, a Real Man), a quirky surrealist romance sprinkled with musical intermissions.

A highlight of the festival could be opening night, with a party and a screening of Le Nom des Gens (The Names of Love). The opening night reception begins at 6 p.m. and features an open wine bar hosted by Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, beer by Rubicon Brewing Company, and catering from the likes of Bistro Michel, Cafe Rolle and French Lady Catering. The reception is topped off with the sounds of DJ Christophe and a live concert by the Harley White Jr. Orchestra, performing French jazz classics. The film portion of the evening begins at 8:30 p.m. And, judging by the trailer, Le Nom des Gens seems to be a mélange of a think piece on Arab-Jewish relations, racism and immigration, as well as a sexy and romantic comedy. Impressionnant.

Sacramento French Film Festival takes place from June 17-26. Film times and ticket prices vary. Visit www.sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org for more information.