Ammonite

Source: See-Saw Films

‘Ammonite’

The 31st Dinard Film Festival, the annual celebration of British cinema held in northern France, has unveiled its full line-up and secured the European premiere of Francis Lee’s Ammonite.

The festival is set to go ahead as a physical event from September 30-October 4 and its previews strand includes romantic drama Ammonite, which received a Cannes label and has its world premiere at TIFF today.

The six films in competition comprise Nick Rowland’s Calm With Horses; Thomas Clay’s Fanny Lye Deliver’d; Claire Oakley’s Make Up; Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli; Michael Caton-Jones’ Our Ladies; and Simon Bird’s Days Of The Bagnold Summer, which will open the festival.

As previously announced, French actress Emmanuelle Béart will be president of the jury, which includes actor-directors Cédric Kahn, Sara Forestier and Christine Citti as well as actor Vincent Dedienne.

Dinard has also secured Florian Zeller’s The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, which it will screen as its Gala Presentation. The drama debuted at Sundance and is set to screen at San Sebastian and Zurich before going to Dinard.

The festival’s guest of honour will be Oscar-nominated director Stephen Frears (The Queen) and his recent TV miniseries Quiz and A Very English Scandal will be screened in full.

Dinard will also pay tribute to director Alan Parker, who died in July, with screenings of Bugsy Malone and Midnight Express. Parker attended a homage to his work at the festival in 2003.

The Windrush generation and scandal, concerning Afro-Caribbean migration to the UK, will be explored in a dedicated strand that comprises Franco Rosso’s 1981 drama Babylon; Stella Corradi’s recent TV drama Sitting In Limbo; and documentaries Rebel Dread and Rudeboy: The Story Of Trojan Records.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, cinema occupancy will be capped at 75% and social distancing rules will be in place. There will also be no ticket sales at cinemas, with audiences having to buy tickets online or in person from Dinard’s Palais des Art et du Festival.

The festival will be the first under the stewardship of artistic director Dominique Green, after Hussam Hindi stepped down last year after 23 years at the helm.