"Cinema Heritage" International Film Festival : Relive the opening ceremony in pictures!

The opening ceremony of the second edition of the ‘CINEMA HERITAGE’ International Film Festival lived up to all its promises on Monday November 4 in the packed Grand Rex. Under the patronage of UNESCO, the ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in France declared the festival open in front of numerous guests and personalities from the international film world. Four days of screenings of films in and out of competition, restored heritage films, retrospectives and meetings with emerging filmmakers from all over the world, as well as with legends to whom the festival pays tribute, will follow until November 8.

To introduce the event, the ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in France, Sadyk Sher­Niyaz, presented a lifetime achievement award to the festival's guest of honour:  Vladimir Cosma, genius composer, original orchestrator and author of some of the greatest hits of French cinema. His hits include  Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire, La Boum, Rabbi Jacob, Diva, Le Bal, l'As des As, La Chèvre, Le Père Noël est une ordure, La Gloire de mon père, Le Château de ma mère, Le Dîner de cons...

After an initial evening of film extracts, choreography by the  Ethnoballet  dance company (choreographer: Dana Mussa), pieces orchestrated by the  Ensemble Les Virtuoses and original opening music by David Alan­Nihil, guests were able to see or re­see Jean Pierre Melville's The Red Circle starring Alain Delon, Bourvil and Yves Montand.

The film was presented by the composer of the soundtrack,  Eric Demarsan  (Le Samouraï, Les Spécialistes, L'Armée des ombres...), who is also President of the jury. Directors Siddiq Barmak, Géla Babluani and Dinara Drukarova and cinematographer Laurent Daillant rounded out the jury and were welcomed on stage by Diana Ashimova, the festival's executive and artistic director.

Join us on November 8 at 7pm in the Salle Infinite at the Grand Rex for the closing ceremony, during which a number of awards will be presented: President's Prize, Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize and Partners' Prize. And who better than special guest to embody the closing ceremony of the second Cinema Heritage Festival: director  Abderrahmane Sissako, winner of several international awards (Timbuktu, En attendant le bonheur, Black Tea...), will do us the honour of presenting his film Bamako. He will also receive an award for his contribution to world cinema.