Cinéfranco, English Canada’s largest celebration of international Francophone cinema returns to The Royal in Toronto from Friday, March 28, 2014 to Sunday, April 6, 2014 for its 17th edition.

Catch up with your favourite stars and directors, and discover new talents through the 25 feature films and 14 shorts screening at Toronto’s beloved annual showcase of the best of Francophone cinema. Films from Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Morocco and Portugal will grace the big screen, including 14 North American Premieres, 7 English Canadian Premieres and 2 Canadian Premieres.

This year’s program is a mélange of strong films reflecting cinema’s ability to entertain as well as to inform. The struggle against racism, intolerance and inequality is a major focus of Cinéfranco 2014 relfected in Halal Butcher Shop, The Marchers , Hold Back, Youm ou Lila, and Asphalt Playground. Comedies (Wrestling Queens, 9 Month Stretch, Hôtel Normandy, The Gilded Cage, Quai d’Orsay) and romance (Bright Days Ahead) will buouy our spirits, a classical revival and a swashbuckling period piece will delight us (Angelique, Fanny, Marius), thrillers will take us to new worlds (Back in Crime, The Informant, Jo’s Neighbourhood), dramas will move us (For a Woman, Miss and the Doctors), and our most loved stars will continue to dazzle (Catherine Deneuve, Guylaine Tremblay, Fanny Ardant, Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Jugnot, Sandrine Bonnaire, Nathalie Baye, François Arnaud). Cinéfranco is again proud to present Quebec independent short and feature films and co-productions such as Opening Night’s hilarious Moroccan Gigolos, the captivating thriller The Informant, and the fierce revenge drama The Scar.

Cinefranco 2014 is proud to present three programs of shorts on March 26, March 29, and April 3.

March 26’s program of Francophone Canadian shorts includes Q+A with the filmmakers and is free, courtesy of FRIC and Le Labo. On March 29, FRIC and Le Labo are also sponsoring a program of shorts from young Quebecois and French filmmakers who will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion, and on April 3, FrancoQueer and the Inside Out GLBT Film Festival are sponsoring a program of International and Canadian Francophone shorts.

Ticketing:

Tickets: $12; Students and Seniors: $10; Festival Pass: $99

FOR ADVANCED TICKETS (available until midnight, the day before the screening):

Walkup: T.O.TIX*, 1 Dundas Street East, Yonge-Dundas Square - Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm

Online, 24 hours a day: www.cinefranco.com or www.totix.ca

TICKETS (for the screenings of the day):

The Royal, 608 College Street, Toronto

Every day from March 28 to April 6 - starting 60min prior to the screening

Walkup and cash only