Dinard Film Festival celebrates the best of British cinema

One rather glorious October week saw the Dinard Film Festival celebrate the best of British cinema at it’s home of Dinard in Brittany, France.  This sun-soaked seaside festival showcased the lesser-known indie gems from 2016 and saw the likes of Roger Allam, Phil Davis, James D’Arcy and Alice Lowe come together to showcase their latest films.  Alice Lowe’s new film, Prevenge is a deliciously dark comedy about a serial killer spurred on by the voice of her unborn baby and was a stand-out. Other celebrated films included the anarchic coming-of-age musical Moondogs, the feature debut from Philip John.

The Dinard British Film Festival was launched in 1989 to bring to France a variety of dynamic and original British productions for both professionals and cinephiles, and continues to be a hub for filmmakers from the British independent scene; keen to get noticed, gain distribution in the European market or to see their films reach new audiences.

Eager to keep audience participation central to the festival, those in attendance are invited to submit feedback forms at the end, with the most-loved film gaining the highly commendable Hitchcock du publique première award.

After a very lengthy red carpet (the cast and crew were celebrated from one end of Boulevard Albert to the other, before coming to a stop in front of the Emeraude Cinémas Dinard), the awards ceremony saw Sing Street, by John Carney, sweep the board with four wins. Claude Lelouch gave a special mention to Away by David Blair.

Along with a selection of diverse and engaging film, the festival boasts one of the most picturesque settings of the festival calendar.  With a sprawling beach, quaint shops, and enough cafes and restaurants to keep any foodie happy, it’s a stunning setting that guarantees a good time. A great big thank you to Brittany Ferries for making the trip possible and the passage a very smooth and happy one.