Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

When the 31st Francophone Film Festival in Jamaica opens on Tuesday, November 6, there will be two notable changes from the numerous previous stagings.

For the first time it will be held at the Alliance Française, which is now located at 12b Lilford Road, Kingston 10. Pele Lamier, president of Alliance Française in Jamaica, told those gathered at the Alliance on Friday morning that "we will have a big tent in case it rains", as the films will be shown on the expansive, well-groomed grounds.

In addition, Lamier said, "We are not going to open the festival with a feature film, but a documentary. It is a long film." That film is the 52-minute long Le Mozart Noir a Cuba (The Black Mozart in Cuba), a Stephanie and Steve James production originating from France, which traces the life and work of Chevalier de Saint Georges from Guadeloupe.

That film will be shown to the public on documentary night, Thursday, November 8, along with The Way I Look At You from Switzerland and La Danseuse d'Ebene (The Ebony Dancer), also from France.

Marie-Rose Lafleur of the Alliance Française noted that "This year I am happy that there are two new presenters, Senegal and Switzerland."

And with the ambassadors from Canada, Belgium, Haiti, Senegal and France present at the launch to speak about their countries' contributions, it was stressed that the festival is a Francophone, not a French event.

Films in french with english subtitles

All the films will be in French, with English subtitles.

On Tuesday, Morocco, The Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be contributing films, with Pieces d'identite (ID Card) from the last staging of the festival.

And by the time Camp de Thiaroye (Thiaroye Camp) from Senegal closes the festival on Friday, November 16, 12 other films would have been shown in-between.

Lafleur noted that Wednesday November 7, will be children's night, with the cartoon Kirikou et les Betes Savages (Kirkou and the Wild Animals), the animation Madame Tutti Putti) being shown at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., respectively. And after the children should have gone to bed, the comedy thriller Bon Cop, Bad Cop (Good Cop, Bad Cop) will be shown.

She said that the festival's theme is "multicultural encounters" and Lamier noted that "We decided to have films that will represent what Francophone is all about, the diversity of Francophone."