French Film Festival Takes GC

By Brooke Moore

Bonjour, Bobcats. Georgia College’s chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, will host the third annual Les Tournés Film Festival Feb. 1-6 on campus. This is a free event open to all students, faculty and members of the community.

Each year, the FACE foundation, in partnership with the U.S. French Embassy, awards a number of schools from a across the country a grant that allows them to put on a film festival in hopes of bringing French cinema to American college and university campuses.

“We have received this grant for the last few years, and it has turned out to be a pretty cool thing,” said Taylor Roeck, a senior Mass Communication major and executive officer for Pi Delta Phi.

Pi Delta Phi chose the films that will be shown during the festival, which range from classic and contemporary French film to children’s animation.

“We have a good selection of films that not only show the French lifestyle but also francophone lifestyle and how French culture is portrayed in all continents where French is spoken,” Peggy Elliott, French professor and advisor for Pi Delta Phi, said.

This year, there will be multiple showings of the films each day, one at noon and another at 7 p.m. with the exception of Saturday’s showing at 10 a.m.

“We hope that by having multiple showings it will allow for more people to come,” said Roeck.. “I have never seen these films, so, personally, I am very excited about attending.”

Pi Delta Phi has worked hard to advertise this event in order to spark interest in students on campus.

“I have only seen one French film before at the First Friday Foreign Film Night,” said Anna McGee, a sophomore Nursing major. “I really enjoyed it, and the film festival sounds like a great opportunity to those who enjoy foreign films.”

Each film will be shown in the Peabody Auditorium with the exception of Saturday’s showing in the Mary Vinsen Memorial Library in downtown Milledgeville. Pi Delta Phi is also asking for donations that could give you the chance to get a gift basket full of French themed items. All donations will be used to increase the study abroad scholarship fund.

“I am super proud of the French honor society here on campus,” said Dr. Larbi Oukada, the chair for modern languages and cultures. “They have done a wonderful job securing this grant and organizing this festival and we are hoping to have a good turn out for each of the films.”