Welcome: Overview

January 5th, 2010

Welcome
Director: Philipe Lioret
Country: France
Year: 2009
Runtime: 110 minutes
Genre: Drama
Screening Times: Saturday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.

Buy tickets from Cinematheque Ontario

Synopsis:
A young Kurdish refugee finds friendship from an unlikely source in Welcome, writer-director Philippe Lioret’s dramatic chronicle of intersecting lives. The tale unfurls in Calais, a seaside community in the north of France where one can glimpse the white cliffs of Dover, England with the naked eye. Vincent Lindon stars as Simon, a local swimming instructor privately reeling in turmoil because he dreads an imminent divorce from his wife (Audrey Dana). Soon, his path unexpectedly criss-crosses with that of Bilal (Firat Ayverdi), a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee with two aspirations: swim the English Channel, and join his girlfriend in England following a lengthy separation. Despite their differing ages, the two men discover that they have a fair amount in common, and soon forge a tight bond marked by similar goals.

Director’s Biography:
Philippe Lioret has been writing and directing films in France since his 1993 debut, Lost in Transit. His 2006 film, Don’t Worry, I’m Fine (Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas) received 5 César nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Mr. Lioret was nominated for Lumiere Awards in the categories of Best Director and Best Screenplay for Welcome.

Film Festivals:
Berlin International Film Festival, Berlin, Germany, February 2009
Seattle International Film Festival, Seattle, USA, June 2009
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary, CZ, July 2009
Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs, USA, January 2010
Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Toronto, Canada, February 2010

Awards:
Berlin Intl Film Festival “Label Europa Cinemas” and “Prize of the Ecumenical Jury”
Durban International Film Festival “Best Director” Award
European Parliament LUX Film Prize
Gijon Intl Film Festival “Best Screenplay” and “Special Prize of the Young Jury”
Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize for “Best Dramatic Feature”
Warsaw International Film Festival Audience Award

Media Coverage:
Drive-By Times: Film about asylum seekers angers French Immigration minister
Radio France Internationale (English): Breaking the law to help immigrants, a French film sparks controversy
The Guardian: France hails film drama of refugee’s desperate swim across the Channel
The Rumpus: The Rumpus Interview with Philippe Lioret

Overview by Julie Giles