Florida Tech’s Third Annual French Film Festival Starts April 3

Outdoor Event at Eau Gallie Arts District Kicks Things Off 

MELBOURNE, FLA. — The Third Annual French Film Festival from Florida Institute of Technology’s Foosaner Art Museum kicks off Friday, April 3 with April in Paris, an outdoor festival in the Eau Gallie Arts District featuring French culinary treats, plenty of red wine and a screening of the Albert Lamorisse’s classic film, White Mane, in Eau Gallie Square.

The free public festival, held in partnership with Brevard Parks and Recreation, runs from 5:30-11 p.m. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

The Crepe Company, La Macaron French Pastries Melbourne, and Continental Flambe will provide food. Green Turtle Market will provide wine and Intracoastal Brewing Company will provide craft beer. Cosmic Café will provide espresso and other coffee drinks.

Music performances at the festival will include “The Cook Trio” from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Foosaner Art Museum; Paul Anquez, a pianist and composer from the Paris Conservatory who is currently serving a spring residency at Florida Tech, in the park from 7-8 p.m.; and musicians from the Brevard Symphony Orchestra.

There will also be shopping and hands-on art activities at the festival, which coincides with the Eau Gallie Art District’s First Friday Art Walk.  Participating merchants include Eau Gallie Florist, Art Expressions, Electric Oranges Vintage Clothing, Rehab Vintage Market and Nave Event Design.

And the Renee Foosaner Education Center will provide free art activities for kids from 5:30-8 p.m., and Derek Gores Gallery will present a French-themed Dr. Sketchy event in the park from 6-8:30 p.m.

As for the movie, White Mane, or Crin Blanc: Le Cheval Sauvage, tells the story of a boy, a white-haired stallion and their budding relationship. It is the first of five French films to be shown through April 17 as part of the film festival.

The additional films will be screened in the museum’s Harris Auditorium.

• A Woman is A Woman (Une femme est une femme) (1961) at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, with a post-film discussion by Jeff Johnson, Eastern Florida State College professor of English and liberal arts.
• Sѐraphine (2008) at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, with post-film discussion by Carla Funk, director of university museums at Florida Tech.
• Orpheus (Orphee) (1950), at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, with a post-film discussion by John Christopher Frongillo, assistant professor of humanities at Florida Tech.
• La Vie en Rose (La Môme) (2007) at 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, with a post-film discussion by Anne Smith, professor of humanities at Florida Tech.

For the first time, a festival pass will be available for patrons wishing to attend all of the films shown in Harris Auditorium.  The pass is $15 for Foosaner members and $20 for non-members. Pass-holders will receive reserved seating and complimentary popcorn at each screening.

To purchase the pass, visit www.foosanerartmuseum.org and go to the “events” tab or call Sara Russo, curator of education, at 321-674-8915.  Supply is limited. Individual admission for each film is $5 at the door. Concessions will also be sold.

For more details about April in Paris, contact Russo by phone or at russos@fit.edu or visit http://411.fit.edu/filmfest/aprilinparis/.

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