Mumbai: The 16th annual Virginia Commonwealth University French Film Festival will be held from 28 – 30 March at the historic Byrd Theatre in Richmond. It will present an unparalleled selection of feature films and short films, including several North American premieres.

French director Jean Becker and actor Thierry Lhermitte will lead a delegation of more than 30 directors and actors who will present their films and participate in question-and-answer sessions with the audience.

This year, the festival offers a selection of 11 feature films and 14 short films to the public, all illustrating the diversity and richness of current French cinematographic production. All films have English subtitles.

The VCU French Film Festival draws a large American audience from across the United States. This time the festival is making an unprecedented connection between eight directors associated with the FEMIS, France’s top cinema school, who will stay a week after the event to shoot in 35mm cinemascope format a series of short films with VCUArts Cinema students.

The festival is sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Unifrance, l’ARP (Guild of French Directors and Producers) and the SACD (Society of Dramatic Authors, Directors and Producers). The Community Idea Stations (PBS) and the TV channel TV5MONDE are also partners of the festival.