LIDF

To celebrate the wealth and diversity of contemporary documentary films in Europe, selected cultural institutes and embassies in London and the European Commission Representation in the UK have collaborated on ‘Memory’, a six day festival from the 15 to 21 November. The festival will showcase the work of new and established directors from across the continent.

The documentary has benefited from a rise in profile, as proved by the recent success of La Vie Moderne (2008) by Raymond Depardon, which won the prestigious Louis-Delluc prize. Communism and its fall is a strong theme in the festival (PRL De Luxe, Life Stories), but some directors offer a more personal singular take on this year’s theme, by basing their work on family members (Grandpa and Grandma, Bucarest, la memoria perdida). Children of the Decree is a chilling look at the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his enforcement of the infamous Decree 770, which banned birth control and abortion. For those seeking a look at the history of feminism the documentary Et ELLE créa la femme offers a fascinating insight through the French magazine ELLE.

The season extends beyond Ciné lumière at the Institut français with The Soviet Story (Latvia, 86 mins) and Borderline Case (Hungary, 32 mins) at the Hungarian Cultural Centre, and Primo Levi’s Journey (Italy, 92 mins) at the Italian Cultural Institute.

For full details of the programme, visit: www.institut-francais.org.uk/memorydoc

Booking

Book your Ciné lumière tickets online

Films and events at the Hungarian Cultural Centre and the Italian Cultural Institute are free of charge

The Cine lumiere is a partner venue of the LIDF