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	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michele Robertson / Julie Siegel at MRC, (310) 652-6123 EIGHT ANNUAL CITY OF LIGHTS, CITY OF ANGELS FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FILM LINE-UP Tais-toi! (Ruby & Quentin) To Make Its U.S. Premiere To Kick-Off The Festival LOS ANGELES (XXXX) -- "Tais-toi!" ("Ruby & Quentin") will make its U.S. Premiere kicking-off the Eighth Annual City of Lights, City of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles on Monday, March 29. Writer/director Francis Veber will be on-hand to introduce the film, which will be followed by a Q&A. The festival continues on Tuesday, March 30 with daily screenings through Saturday, April 3 at the Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Joining this year as the new Festival Director is Claudia Durgnat, who created and produced the Festival of the Five Senses and served as P.R. Director for the Montreux Jazz Festival. Francois Truffart, who previously served as Director of La Cinefondation at the Cannes Film Festival and as the head of the Film Department at the French Consulate in Los Angeles, has been appointed the new Program Director. The City of Lights, City of Angels Film Festival is a showcase for French cinema, and spotlights fifteen full-length features and thirteen shorts. The Franco-American Cultural Fund -- a unique collaborative effort among the Directors Guild of America, the Motion Picture Association, Writers Guild of America, west, and France's Society of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music (SACEM) -- funds the festival. The festival is also made possible with the support of L'ARP (France's Association of Authors, Directors and Producers), the French Consulate in Los Angeles and Unifrance. "Après Vous . . ." ("After You") will be the closing night film on Saturday, April 3. The film stars Daniel Auteuil, José Garcia and Sandrine Kiberlain. Also screening at the festival is the fantasy-western, "Blueberry," which makes its U.S. premiere at City of Lights, City of Angels. Directed by Jan Kounen, the film was adapted from the popular comic book by Moebius and Jean-Michel Charlier. The film stars Vincent Cassel, Juliette Lewis, Michael Madsen, Ernest Borgnine, Djimon Hounsou, Eddie Izzard, Tcheky Karyo, Colm Meaney and Temuera Morrison. Also making its U.S. premiere is "The Red Carpet - A Musical," a 26-minute documentary directed by Gilles Jacob, President of the Cannes Film Festival. Screening daily, the documentary is part of a trilogy narrating the history of the festival including memorable moments on the red carpet, the evolution of fashion, and the transformation of the city itself. "The City of Lights, City of Angels Film Festival is unique in that it brings the rich tapestry of French filmmaking to the Hollywood community, celebrating artistic similarities and differences at the same time, under one roof," said DGA President Michael Apted. "The Directors Guild of America embraces the international spirit of this festival and is very proud to be a partner for the eighth-year in a row." "The Motion Picture Association is honored to co-host this year's French film festival," said Jack Valenti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the MPA. "The French film community is home to some of the world's most creative filmmakers and storytellers. We are proud to once again showcase this year's extraordinary films to American audiences." "The Writers Guild of America is honored to join our partners in the Franco American Cultural Fund and bring the best of French film to Los Angeles audiences at the Eighth Annual City of Lights City of Angels Film Festival," said Charles Holland, President of the WGAw. "Under the able leadership of our new festival director Claudia Durgnat and programmer Francois Truffart, the festival continues to grow and innovate." "SACEM is very proud to be a founding father of the French American Cultural Fund, together with the DGA, MPA and WGA, which created and continue to support this great festival, 'City of Lights, City of Angels,'" said Bernard Miyet, President of SACEM. "This is a wonderful example of the cooperation between the American and French creative film communities." "L'ARP is pleased to be associated with an event which takes cross-cultural exchange to another level by bringing French film, in all its richness and variety, to the heart of Hollywood," said L'ARP President Pierre Jolivet. "City of Lights, City of Angels actively promotes communication through film." The festival is sponsored by Air France, Vivendi Universal Games, Champagne Mumm Cordon Rouge, Variety, TV5, the Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas, Valrhona, The Standard Downtown L.A., L.A. Weekly, Airstar Space Lighting and Final Draft. All screenings are in French with English subtitles. Tickets are available for purchase for the general public. General admission is $9 and $6 for students, seniors, members of the American Cinematheque and LACMA Muse members. The festival also offers an All You Can See Pass for $65, and a Hat Trick Pass (three movies of choice) for $20. Advance tickets are available for purchase in the DGA (7920 Sunset Boulevard) lobby during the weekend of Saturday, March 20 - Sunday, March 21 from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., and Monday, March 22 - Friday, March 26 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tickets are also on sale one hour before each screening subject to availability. For further information regarding tickets and event details, visit the festival website: http://www.colcoa.com. Since its inception, the festival has steadily increased its audience, reaching more than 4,000 attendees last year. Filmmakers who have attended the festival over the years include Bertrand Tavernier ("Laissez-Passer"), Coline Serreau ("Chaos"), Claude Miller ("Betty Fisher et Autres Histoires"), Francis Veber ("Le Placard"), Emmanuelle Seigner ("Place Vendôme") and Patrice Chereau ("Those Who Love Me Will Come By Train"). U.S. participants have included Steven Soderbergh, Randall Kleiser, Randa Haines, Howard Rodman, Stephen Hopkins, Michael York, John Frankenheimer, Michael Tolkin, Allison Anders and Taylor Hackford. The following is an overall schedule of the festival: Monday, March 29 VIP Opening Night Gala and reception with a screening of "Tais-toi!" ("Ruby & Quentin"). Note: Tickets are not for sale to the general public; by invitation for this event only. Followed by a Q&A with writer/director Francis Veber. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard); Theatre 1. Screening Time: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30 Theatre 1: " Nathalie . . ." Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Anne Fontaine. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:30 p.m. Theatre 2: " La Petite Prairie Aux Bouleaux" ("A Birch Tree Meadow") Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Marceline Loridan-Ivens. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 Theatre 1: " Les Sentiments" ("Feelings") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:30 p.m. Theatre 2: " Tais-toi!" ("Ruby & Quentin") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 1 Theatre 1: " Le Coût de la Vie" ("The Cost of Living") Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Philippe Le Guay. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:30 p.m.(more)City of Lights Line-Up / Page FiveThursday, April 1 (continued) Theatre 2: " Les Corps Impatients" ("Eager Bodies") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 7:15 p.m. Friday, April 2 Theatre 2: " Blueberry" Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 5:15 p.m. Theatre 1: " France Boutique" Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 6:00 p.m. Theatre 2: " Le Pharmacien de Garde" ("The Pharmacist") Followed by a Q&A with writer/director Jean Veber. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 8:15 p.m. Theatre 1: " Pas Sur La Bouche" ("Not On the Lips") Followed by a Q&A with actor Lambert Wilson. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 8:30 p.m. Theatre 2: " Haute Tension" ("High Tension") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 11:00 p.m. Saturday, April 3 Theatre 2: A Special Showcase of Short Films: "At the Window," "Bloody Christmas," "Boulette," " Carcan," "E-motion Sickness," "Heavenly," "Life and Death of a Moment of Boredom," "Mouth to Mouth," "One God For All," "Pacotille," "The Bourchnikov Method," "The Man Without A Head" and "The Wallet." Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 12:45 p.m. Theater 1: " Peau d'âne" ("Donkey Skin") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 1:30 p.m. Theater 1: " Le Convoyeur" ("Cash Truck") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 3:30 p.m. Theatre 2: " La Petite Prairie Aux Bouleaux" ("A Birch Tree Meadow") Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Marceline Loridan-Ivens. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 3:45 p.m. Theatre 1: " Père et Fils" ("Father and Sons") Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Michel Boujenah. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 5:45 p.m. Theatre 2: " Les Corps Impatients" ("Eager Bodies") Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 6:00 p.m.(more) City of Lights Line-Up / Page Seven Saturday, April 3 (continued) Theatre 2: " Blueberry" Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 8:15 p.m. Theatre 1: Closing Night Ceremony and screening of "Après Vous . . ." ("After You") Note: Tickets are available to the general public. Followed by a Q&A with director/co-writer Pierre Salvadori. Location: Directors Guild of America (7920 Sunset Boulevard). Screening Time: 8:30 p.m. The following is further background on this year's films: " Après Vous" ("After You") (West Coast Premiere) Antoine (Daniel Auteuil) is a waiter in a French café. One night, on his way home from work, he stops a stranger, Louis (José Garcia), from committing suicide. Louis is furious, he had everything planned and now he's still alive. For his part, Antoine feels guilty for having interfered, so he decides to help Louis. Within a few weeks, Louis has a new job, a new life, and a new friend in Antoine. But he can't forget Blanche, the love of his life and the woman who drove him to suicide. Antoine decides to find Blanche, but things don't go as planned when they meet: Blanche is attracted to Antoine, and she is beautiful. Directed by Pierre Salvadori, who co-wrote the script with Benoît Graffin based on an original idea by Danièle Dubroux, "After You" is a hilarious look at the rituals of male bonding in extreme circumstances. It is also a pairing of two of France's top comedic actors, Garcia and Auteuil, who received a nomination for the César for Best Actor for his role as Antoine. Sandrine Kiberlain admirably fills out this comic ménage à trois. For more information, visit: www.marsdistribution.com/site/apresvous/ " Blueberry" (U.S. Premiere) " Blueberry" is a fantasy western adapted from the popular comic book by Moebius and Jean-Michel Charlier. Mike Blueberry is Marshall in the small town of Palomito. Initiated to Indian culture by Runi, the shaman "brother" he grew up with, Blueberry tries to maintain a fragile balance between two cultures. Everything changes when Wally Blount, a mysterious adventurer, arrives in town in search of an Indian treasure. Directed by Jan Kounen, who co-wrote the script with Matt Alexander and Gérard Brach, the film stars Vincent Cassel, Juliette Lewis, Michael Madsen, Ernest Borgnine, Djimon Hounsou, Eddie Izzard, Tcheky Karyo, Colm Meaney and Temuera Morrison. For more information, visit: http://www.blueberry-lefilm.com " Peau d'Ane" ("Donkey Skin") (U.S. Premiere) This digitally-restored classic from director Jacques Demy tells the story of a dying queen, who asks her king to promise her one thing: that he will only re-marry a woman whose beauty is superior to her own. But in the entire kingdom, the only woman more beautiful than she, is her own daughter. "Donkey Skin" is Jaques Demy's sumptuous musical adaptation of Charles Perrault's fairy tale. The film stars Catherine Deneuve, Jean Marais, Fernand Ledoux, Jacques Perrin, Micheline Presle and Delphine Seyrig. " France Boutique" (L.A. Premiere) France and Olivier have been married for ten years. They never found the time to have children. Their baby is a television shopping program called "France Boutique." They host the show together, surrounded by a lively crew: Estelle, a very sexy and fashionable assistant host; Yvan, another assistant host, in conflict with himself and afraid to show his real personality; and Marcus, the enthusiastic director, who loves to "discover" young actresses. A feeling of repetition creeps into the lives of France and Olivier. Business is not doing well either. To break the monotony of it all, they partner with an internet company, run by Sofia. Sofia has one goal in mind: to drive them to bankruptcy. Directed by Tonie Marshall, who co-wrote the script with Pierre-Erwan Guillaume, the film stars Karine Viard, François Cluzet, Judith Godrèche, Nathalie Baye, Bernard Menez, Micheline Presle, Mikaël Chirinian, Julien Lucas, Hélène Fillières, Jean-Yves Chatelais, Valérie Bonneton, Vincent Debost and Noémie Lvovsky. For more information, visit: http://www.franceboutique-lefilm.com " Haute Tension" ("High Tension") (L.A. Premiere) Marie accompanies her best friend to the countryside, where they long to spend a quiet vacation at the family farmhouse, away from school. But by nightfall, the family is terrorized by a mysterious delivery-man. Determined to kill the entire family one-by-one, the intruder transforms the family's relaxing weekend into a bloody nightmare. Directed by Alexandre Aja, who co-wrote the script with Gregory Levasseur, the film stars Cécile de France, Maïwenn, Philippe Nahon, Franck Khalfoun, Andreï Finti, Oana Pellea, Marco Claudiu Pascu, Jean-Claude de Goros, Bogdan Uritescu and Gabriel Spahiu. "Haute Tension" was an official selection of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. " La Petite Prairie Aux Bouleaux" ("A Birch Tree Meadow") (L.A. Premiere) A reflection on memory and forgetting, reconciliation and hope, "A Birch Tree Meadow" is the translation of Brzezinka (Birkenau). Myriam was 15-years-old when she was deported to the death camps with her father. She survived, but her father never came back. She decides to return to Birkenau to confront her past. How and why did she survive? In the camp, she meets a young German named Oskar, who is photographing the camp in an attempt to capture the horror of what happened there. Oskar is also on a personal quest: his grandfather was the SS Colonel in charge of the camp's administration during the war. An official selection of the 2003 Berlin Film Festival, "A Birch Tree Meadow" is director Marceline Loridan-Ivens' first fictional feature film. It is also the first film shot at Birkenau. Loridan-Ivens co-wrote the script with Elisabeth D. Prasetyo, Jean-Pierre Sergent and Jeanne Moreau. The film stars Anouk Aimée, August Diehl, Marilu Marini, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Claire Maurier, Monique Couturier, Nathalie Nerval, Elise Otzenberger and Keren Marciano. " Le Coût de La Vie" ("The Cost of Living") (L.A. Premiere) This clever comedy is built around six characters and their relationships to money including the restaurant owner who is too generous with his clientele; a mysterious woman who makes men pay for everything; and a factory owner who sells his business after he has a heart attack. The intertwining stories suggest that not only does money not buy happiness, it can actually be an impediment to joy if one has too much of it. Directed by Philippe Le Guay, who co-wrote the script with Jean-François Goyet, the film stars Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Lindon, Camille Japy, Géraldine Pailhas, Lorànt Deutsch, Isild Le Besco, Catherine Hosmalin, Bernard Bloch, Michel Vuillermoz and Claude Rich. For more information, visit: http://www.lecoutdelavie.com/ " Le Convoyeur " ("Cash Truck") (World Premiere) Vigilante, a small cash transportation company, is going through tough times. Three of its trucks were attacked last year -- their crews, ruthlessly slaughtered. The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and its employees are on edge. Some even suggest the gang has a man working on the inside. A man shows up one morning at Vigilante's headquarters to start his first day of work. His name is Alexandre Demarre. Job seeker? Cop? Armed robber? Who is he and what does he want? Following the tradition of the French film noir, director Nicolas Boukhrief's third feature film, which he co-wrote with Eric Besnard, stars Albert Dupontel, Jean Dujardin, François Berléand, Aure Atika, Claude Perron and Julien Boisselier. For more information, visit: http://www.leconvoyeur-lefilm.com/ " Le Pharmacien de Garde" ("The Pharmacist") (L.A. Premiere) Yann Lazarrec is a pharmacist and environmentalist who fights to protect the earth from those who abuse it. Although he is full of good intentions, Lazarrec has a dark side: he is a serial killer, out to kill those who harm the earth. François Barrier, the police officer in charge of his case, is also an environmentalist. Coincidentally, the two meet at an environmental protection conference, where they become fast friends, Barrier never suspecting for a minute that his new friend could be the murderer he is after. Written and directed by Jean Veber, the films stars Guillaume Depardieu, Vincent Pérez, Laurent Gamelon, Pascal Légitimus, Clara Bellar, Mathieu Delarive, Edgar Givry, Atmen Kelif, Gabrielle Lazure, Kad Merad and Alice Taglioni. For more information, visit: http://www.ocean-films.com/lepharmaciendegarde/entree.htm " Les Corps Impatients" ("Eager Bodies") (West Coast Premiere) Charlotte and Paul are twenty-years-old. They love each other passionately, and are shocked to find out that Charlotte is deathly ill. Enter Ninon, Charlotte's cousin. Perhaps to escape the painful situation, Paul finds himself attracted to Ninon. The three are now confronted with the primal issues of love, life and death. "Eager Bodies" is writer/director Xavier Giannoli's promising first feature film, based on the novel by Christian de Montella, and starring Laura Smet, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Marie Denarnaud, Catherine Salviat, Maurice Antoni and Julien Bouvard. Giannoli's short film, "The Interview," was awarded the Golden Palm for Best Short Film at Cannes in 1998. For more information, visit: http://www.pan-europeenne.com/lescorpsimpatients/ " Les Sentiments" ("Feelings") (West Coast Premiere) Jacques, a doctor, and his wife, Carole, live in a house near Paris. François and Edith, a young married couple, move in next door. François is to take over Jacques' practice. Jacques spends a lot of time with François to show him the ropes. Meanwhile, Carole and Edith become friends. All too soon, Jacques falls in love with Edith. She's initially disconcerted by his feelings, but soon begins to fall in love with him. She doesn't realize that she's equally "in love with herself falling in love." Both start to drown in the violence of their feelings. Directed by Noémie Lvovsky, who co-wrote the script with Florence Seyvos, the film stars Nathalie Baye, Jean- Pierre Bacri, Isabelle Carré, Melvil Poupaud, Agathe Bonitzer, Virgile Grünberg and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. " Nathalie . . ." (West Coast Premiere) Catherine is doing well: a good job, loyal friends, 25 years of a happy marriage . . . Or so she thinks. Then, she discovers her husband is having an affair. She realizes that she doesn't really know the man who shares her life. Who is this man she thought she knew everything about? Who are these women that he meets? What do they talk about? What does he do to them? She decides that the only way to find out is to have another woman find out for her. She hires Marlene, a "friendly barmaid," to seduce her husband and find the answers to all of her questions. Directed by Anne Fontaine, who co-wrote the script with Jacques Fieschi and François-Olivier Rousseau based on an original idea by Philippe Blasband, " Nathalie . . ." stars Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Beart, Gérard Depardieu, Wladimir Yordanoff, Judith Magre, Rodolphe Pauly and Evelyne Dandry. " Pas Sur la Bouche" ("Not On the Lips") (West Coast Premiere) While traveling in the U.S., Gilberte Valandray married Eric Thomson. Their marriage didn't last, and because it wasn't registered with the French Consul, it was never legal on their home soil. To all intents and purposes, it never took place. When Gilberte returns to Paris, she marries Georges, a powerful businessman working in the steel industry, and "forgets" to tell him about her previous marriage. The problem is that by pure coincidence, Georges is about to do business with Eric Thompson. Directed and adapted by Alain Resnais, from the libretto by André Barde and Maurice Yvain, "Not On the Lips" stars Sabine Azéma, Isabelle Nanty, Audrey Tautou, Pierre Arditi, Lambert Wilson, Daniel Prévost, Darry Cowl and Jalil Lespert. The film was nominated for nine Césars, the French equivalent to the Oscar. For more information, visit: http://www.passurlabouche-lefilm.com/ " Père et Fils" ("Father and Sons") (L.A. Premiere) Leo always thought he had taught his three sons to respect family values, and feels his efforts have been poorly rewarded. He finds himself at a loss, and longs to be close to his sons again. Then destiny steps in and gives him a little push: One day he faints, and seizes the opportunity to invent a medical condition and an operation with fifty-fifty chances of survival. This delicate operation won't take place for another three weeks, so he has time to take his children on a trip and enjoy their company. Who can resist a father who doesn't have much longer to live, a father who is only asking for one week of vacation with his three sons? So they all leave for Canada. Starring award-winning actor Philippe Noiret, "Father and Sons" is Michel Boujenah's first film as director/writer. For more information, visit: http://www.pereetfils-lefilm.com/ " Tais-toi!" ("Ruby & Quentin") (U.S. Premiere) Quentin, a simple guy, is caught after a robbery and ends up in a prison cell with Ruby, a hard-boiled thief who refuses to speak to anyone. Before being caught, Ruby managed to hide a large amount of money that he robbed from Vogel, a dangerous criminal who killed Sandra, his lover. Despite the fact that Ruby refuses to have anything to do with him, Quentin develops a deep friendship for him and a new plan: to escape with Ruby and to fulfill a dream involving his new reluctant "friend." Forced to face adversity together, these two diametrically opposed characters build a real friendship. Written and directed by Francis Veber, based on an original idea by Serge Frydman, "Tais-toi!" stars Gérard Depardieu, Jean Reno, André Dussollier, Richard Berry and Léonor Varela, among others. For more information, visit: http://www.taistoi-lefilm.com For a complete listing of this year's short films, visit the festival website: http://www.colcoa.com.