Night 2 of RIFF2023 at The Prospector Theater features French RomCom, “Hard Shell Soft Shell,” and a French 75 cocktail on May 19th at 7pm
When RIFF produced its First Edition in May of 2016 we never considered we’d be competing with Cannes for talent, but eight years later, the filmmaker Emma Benestan had to cancel her visit to Ridgefield to attend Cannes. Thankfully we are still in luck as we have a pre-recorded Q&A courtesy of our interns. This year's interns helped put together a zoom meeting with Emma with questions about how she originally got into filming, her thoughts as she went through creating this film, and more.
So we will raise a glass to Emma on Night 2 of RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL’S 8th Edition as we screen her RomCom set in the South of France, “Hard Shell, Soft Shell” by up-and-coming French director, Emma Benestan Friday, May 19th, 7pm at the Prospector Theater. (The film is in French with English subtitles.)
A Classic New Orleans-style French 75 cocktail will greet guests as they arrive at the theater to sip while they watch.
Set in the South of France among the French Algerian population. "Hard Shell Soft Shell” hijacks the traditional codes of comedy with a joyfully feminist take on contemporary masculinity.
SYNOPSIS: Loved-up oyster farmer Az thinks he’s made it. But when an elaborate proposal goes awry and his girlfriend Jess breaks his heart, Az is forced to confront his understanding of what happiness really looks like – both hers and his own.
FILM DETAILS
Original title: FRAGILE
International title: HARD SHELL, SOFT SHELL
France - 2021 - Color - 100 minutes
Language: French with English subtitles
Bio: Emma Benestan is a French-Algerian director, screenwriter and editor.
After graduating from La Fémis, she directed several short films : "Un monde sans bête" (Clermont Ferrand 2018), "Goût bacon"(70 festival selections and shortlisted for the French Academy Awards) and "Belle Gueule" (60 festival selections, winner of the CNC quality award).
In her first feature film "Fragile", she hijacks the traditional codes of comedy with a joyfully feminist take on contemporary masculinity. The film was released in theatres in 2021 and received critical acclaim.
Emma Benestan has also worked as an editor on feature films, such as "Mektoub my love" by Abdellatif Kechiche (Venice 2017). She has also been involved on numerous projects as screenwriter, including "The Right Words" which premiered in Competition at Cannes Film Festival 2021.
Learn more about RIFF => https://www.riffct.org/
