The American Film Institute (AFI) announced a program of four films selected by Guest Artistic Director Agnès Varda to screen at AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi. Varda, once a resident of Los Angeles, makes a rare return to present and discuss her work at AFI FEST. As an additional tribute to Varda, photos from her influential French New Wave film CLEO FROM 5 to 7 (CLÉO DE 5 À 7) are featured in this year’s festival marketing and programming materials.
As Guest Artistic Director, Varda has selected films that have inspired her throughout her six-decade career: PICKPOCKET (DIR Robert Bresson, 1959), A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DIR John Cassavetes, 1974), THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN (DIR Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1979) and AFTER HOURS (DIR Martin Scorsese, 1985). In addition, the festival will be screening a selection of Varda’s films, including restored versions of CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 (CLÉO DE 5 À 7) and DOCUMENTEUR.
“It’s always good to be chosen, but it’s funny to be chosen to choose, therefore I immediately accepted the invitation from AFI FEST to propose some films for their program,” said Agnès Varda. “They suggested that I pick some films that have influenced me. Alas, I can’t. When I wrote and shot my first film in 1954, LA POINT COURTE, I had hardly seen 10 films. My culture was books, painting and theatre. Alain Resnais, who edited my film, was the one who told me about cinema and suggested that I go to the Cinemathèque, which I had not approached before. If I had seen the masterpieces that I discovered later I certainly would not have dared to create a film at 26. My ignorance gave me freedom and audacity. For AFI FEST I chose four films that have been important in my life. For the subjects, the style that I call cinewriting, the radical choices and specific sensibilities, among some other films, I chose THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN, one pearl of Fassbinder films, PICKPOCKET by Bresson for its singular way of interpreting the art of stealing. As an hommage to two American directors, I chose Scorcese and Cassavetes. From Scorsese, AFTER HOURS, a strange ephemeral nightmare beautifully treated, and from Cassavetes one of my favorite among all: WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, a delicate and complex portrait of a woman as well as of the people around her. Actually, to choose is always painful.”
This year’s festival artwork features iconic imagery from one of Varda’s most influential films, CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 (CLÉO DE 5 À 7), and puts a spotlight on its timeless star Corrinne Marchand, who plays Cleo. In creating a visual dialogue for the moving image, the creative materials represent the global, iconic, independent and auteur influence that defines the festival’s program.
Varda and her daughter Rosalie Varda recently oversaw the restoration of THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG), a film made by her late husband Jacques Demy. AFI FEST will screen the film in honor of its 50th anniversary and restoration.
Varda, often called the “Mother of the French New Wave,” has directed over 30 films, including theCésar winning documentary THE BEACHES OF AGNÈS (LES PLAGES D’ AGNÈS), VAGABOND (SANS TOIT NI LOI), which was awarded the Golden Lion, JACQUOT (JACQUOT DE NANTES) and THE GLEANERS AND I (LES GLANEURS ET LA GLANEUSE).
Varda’s grandson, Valentin Vignet, received his MFA in Cinematography from the AFI Conservatory in 2010.
Varda joins an impressive list of Guest Artistic Directors at AFI FEST that includes Bernardo Bertolucci, Pedro Almodóvar and David Lynch, an alumnus of the AFI Conservatory.
Leading up to the festival, which takes place November 7 through 14 in Hollywood, CA, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will be presenting “Agnès Varda in Californialand” from November 3, 2013 – June 22, 2014, the first U.S. museum presentation of her artwork. This exhibition coincides with LACMA’s efforts, with the support of the Annenberg Foundation and The Film Foundation, to restore four films made by Varda in California: BLACK PANTHERS, LIONS LOVE (…AND LIES), MUR MURS and UNCLE YANCO. “Agnès Varda in Californialand” is accompanied by an extensive film series organized by LACMA. The exhibition is part of LACMA’s Art+Film initiative, a large-scale effort to consider the place of film within a museum context.
For the fifth consecutive year, AFI FEST will offer free tickets to all screenings. Moviegoers may register online to receive a time slot to select free tickets to AFI screenings before the festival begins. Online registration opens on Tuesday, October 8 and closes on Friday, October 18. Festival passes are on sale now and provide priority access to galas, high-demand films and events. AFI members at the Two Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all Patron Packages and Passes. Information about AFI membership is available at AFI.com/membership.
For the 10th year, Audi returns as the festival’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; The American Film Market (AFM); AT&T; Coca Cola; The Egyptian Theatre; Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; National Geographic Channel; Stella Artois and TCL Chinese Theatre, among many others.
Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST and youtube.com/AFIFEST.
