Another great opportunity to interview a film festival director came up at Scenestr magazine. The French Film Festival with its tour around Australia through various Palace Cinemas is now in its 29th year. I was lucky enough to interview Palace CEO Benjamin Zeccola last year in anticipation of their Italian Film Festival and now I got to talk to Mr Platel who is is the Festival Director of the French Film Festival which is run by Alliance Francaise with Palace Cinemas being their exhibition partner.
This conversation was illuminating for how films get chosen and some of the hidden gems of the festival were cited. You can read the piece here http://scenestr.com.au/movies/alliance-francaise-french-film-festival-keeps-on-rolling
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises, Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane every month. If you’re into music they’re a great read but they do cover all of the arts including festivals, stand-up comics, fashion, theatre and film. I feel very fortunate to get to write for them.
-Lloyd Marken
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 
That must be the most long distance film festival in the world! Unless, of course, there’s a New Zealand-Norway exchange or something like that!
It’s quite ingenious. The headliners get released later on in the exact cinemas for a run so this builds word of mouth. Palace themselves run their own Italian Film Festival and have since established quite a fair few. Festivals for films from Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, Latin America, Britain, Young at Heart and American Independent cinema. I imagine New Zealand at least have film festival that showcase foreign films.
I hope the Brisbane International Film Festival returns this year to my hometown.
Interesting to read about a ‘new French optimism’. That must make a change for most French film-makers. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
I think different moods come and go in response to what is going on. He was interesting to talk to.
O How I wish, I was Australia right now. I checked out the “scenestr.com.au” page. Impressive site you work for.
They’re one of the best street press magazines in Australia and I feel very lucky to get to do work for them. Thanks for checking them out Nuwan. For once I have to agree with you about Australia, our unbearable summer has started to cool down. Early too, only second month of Autumn. 🙂
Very engaging!
Thank you Jay, most kind.