The colossal and quintessential cinema showcase in Europe – together with Cannes and Venice film festivals – will propose for its 69th edition four hundred films from seventy-four countries with almost one thousand screenings during ten days (February 7 to 17). Like last year, power to the women: seven out of seventeen films participating in the Competition Section are directed by women – which means a 41%, a un unprecedented mark, especially in front of the scarce 14% female presence in Cannes and 5% in Venice.
Danish director Lone Scherfig will open the competition with the world premiere of The Kindness of Strangers, a drama set in a Russian restaurant in New York which serves as a crossroad where characters flow in and out of each other’s lives. According to film statement, “In a time of growing insecurity and little mercy, the smallest coincidences and kindness can turn into the most surprising of outcomes.”. The French nonagenarian Agnès Varda, will present a new autobiographical documentary, Varda by Agnès, out of competition.