An invitation to visit
Paris, France could not be refused, since Director/Producer Lisa Hayes lived
there from 1992-1994. Old friends and colleagues came to see Lisa's directorial
debut at the oldest women's film festival in the world, in the city where cinema
was first exhibited. Canal+ buyer, Brigitte Pardo, saw DIKE
at the festival and made an offer to purchase broadcast rights, and then also
decided to purchase the then recently completed Grandpa's
Fingers as well.
The festival treated us all like celebrities, inviting the 20
women directors from all over the world to be recognized on stage at both the
opening and closing night celebrations, where we were presented with a bouquet
of flowers, each proclaiming in our mother tongue that "I declare that
the 19th Annual International Women's Film Festival of Créteil is open!"
(top right): Translator Brigitte Lescut with Jury President, Micheline Presle at the closing night gala.
(bottom left): My hosts in Paris, Mélanie Lallemand-Flucher (centre) & Jérôme Bérger, chez Madame Flucher (left).
Other Festivals: Toronto-Images | Women In the Director's Chair - Chicago | Siena Short Film Festival - Italy | New Orleans Film & Video Festival | Moscow Film Festival for Children & Young People | Ann Arbor Film Festival | Vancouver Int'l Film Festival | New York Comedy Film Festival | Créteil Women's Film Festival - France | Quinte Film Alternative - Belleville | Philadelphia L & G Film Festival