The best of the past year's French cinema will be screened from April 15 to 19 at four Shanghai cinemas - the Shanghai Film Art Center, the Cathay Theater, Stellar Cinema City and Studio City Cinema.

Ten of the latest French features and nine short films will be screened during "The French Film Panorama."

Films include the comedy "Asterix At The Olympic Games," the mystery drama "Towards Zero," the romantic comedy "Hunting and Gathering," and the animated features "Dragon Hunters" and "Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure."

It is the fifth French film festival for Shanghai.

The festival's Shanghai stop is co-hosted by UniFrance, the French Consulate in Shanghai and the Shanghai International Film Festival.

All the films will be presented in their original language with Chinese subtitles.

Tickets will be priced around 40 yuan (US$5.6).

A delegation headed by Jerome Seydoux, CEO of French film and video distributor Pathe, and including veteran French filmmakers and producers will attend to talk to audiences about the films.

''These movies cover a wide range of genres and will bring to Chinese audiences the unique glamour of French films and provide insights into the country's culture and history,'' said Tang Lijun, an organizing committee official with the Shanghai International Film Festival that will be held in June.

(Shanghai Daily March 26,2008)