Coteau rouge, one of the films showing at the festival - Photo courtesy of Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois et francophone

There is a David to every Goliath. In the original story Goliath falls and David triumphs. In reality, when taking on a giant, the story is not always one of victory. David doesn’t always win and instead simply continues searching for his own place to make a difference in the world.

The French Film Festival has seen many ups and downs since its inception in 1994. Before the film festival, according to Régis Painchaud, there were only two French films available for audiences in Vancouver that year.

Régis Painchaud, co-founder of the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois et francophone

Painchaud is co-founder of the French Film Festival. He says that Vancouver was totally devoid of French cinema eighteen years ago, so he and Lorraine Fortin started the festival in order to showcase films from French speaking countries and Quebec.

“I had my friend Michael, who organized the Rendez-Vous [Quebecois film festival] in Montreal, and I just phoned him and said, ‘hey Michael, is it possible to have those movies in Vancouver?’ He said, ‘just pay the transportation and we’ll negotiate the rights and you can cut the deal with the Pacific Cinematheque and you can show them there.’ ”

For ten years the French Film Festival was showcased at le Pacific Cinematheque. According to Painchaud the relationship was good, but then there was the push to bring everything under one tent at Vancity theatre. The move didn’t feel like home for Painchaud and his festival.

“[The Pacific Cinemeatheque] was the end of an era,” says Painchaud, “but at the same time it was the movement to bring everyone to the Vancity [theatre], and to be able to receive all the grants and to create a new partnership.” Painchaud adds, “it was natural for us to be the French token, and it was fine for a few years.”

Oscar nominated film Monsieur Lazhar will close the film festival Feb. 26 - Photo courtesy of Music Box Films

After ten years at Pacific Cinematheque and four at Vancity, Painchaud and Fortin found themselves in a position no one imagines or wants to be in, homeless. For two years the French Film Festival roamed around from one theatre to another showcasing their collection of films. Painchaud admits that it was not the most delightful of experiences, but they were able to survive and saw some hope at the end.

“We became orphans with no place to project our movies,” says Painchaud, “but at the same time we were totally independent. We had to [use] a lot of money from our [own] pockets, and do some fundraising.”

Fortunately, the French Film Festival has now found a home at Jules-Verne high school at 5445 Baillie Street in Vancouver. It’s a fair distance from downtown and from the buzz of all the other theatres, but Painchaud assures that audiences will experience and learn about independent cinema in a grassroots setting.

“The French culture has a special way to think about the problem and a special way to find a solution to that problem,” says Painchaud.

With 18 years of showcasing francophone films, and the many hurdles Painchaud and his team have jumped over in that time, it doesn’t seem like they’re going anywhere soon. They still seem to have some fight in them in order to contribute to Vancouver’s film festival circuit.

“We don’t want to come here to B.C. and create a French ghetto. Nobody needs a French ghetto, but we can be part of the development of that society. With our strength and spirit we can do something together.”

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For ticket and movie information go to www.rendez-vousvancouver.com