OTTAWA, March 22, 2007 - The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, and His Excellency Daniel Jouanneau, Ambassador of France in Canada, are inviting Canadians to participate in the fifth series of "DiverCiné: A World View of La Francophonie." From March 23 to 29, 2007, at Ottawa's ByTowne Cinema, Francophones and Francophiles will be able to explore original works by filmmakers from eight countries of La Francophonie, including Canada. In March and April, the cities of Moncton, Halifax, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver will also present some of the films screened during DiverCiné."Through film, DiverCiné shows the diversity of the international Francophonie," said Minister Verner. "At this festival, Canadians will have the opportunity to watch films that allow them to discover stories, regions, peoples and scenes from daily life that reveal the richness of Francophone cultures around the world.""A celebration of Francophone cultures, DiverCiné is one of the activities that marks the Journée internationale de la Francophonie on March 20," said Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages. "This film festival pays tribute, not only to the French language, but also to close ties that exist between the peoples who make up the extended family of La Francophonie."France's Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau noted that DiverCiné's celebration of its fifth anniversary this year is evidence of the desire to make this event ongoing. "In the name of our shared cultural diversity," he said, "we hope these films will be screened throughout Canada - something that happens only rarely."DiverCiné is a joint initiative between the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Embassy of France in Canada. For the fifth series, the festival will screen films produced or co produced by Burkina Faso, Mali, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Belgium, France and Canada. DiverCiné gives Canadians the opportunity to explore international Francophone culture through a variety of films, including several from countries of the South. The 2007 series will present films that have been screened and given awards at international festivals. They include the feature film Congorama, which won five Jutra Awards this year including for best film, and the animated children's film Azur et Asmar. The March 23 opening at the ByTowne will feature a special presentation of two short Aboriginal films - La lettre and Courage - followed by Rêves de poussière (Buried Dreams), co produced by Burkina Faso, France and Canada. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Rêves de poussière director Laurent Salgues and actress Fatou Tall-Salgues. Also present will be filmmaker Manon Barbeau, the driving force behind the Wapikoni Mobile - a mobile film production studio for young Aboriginal people.Radio-Canada, TV5 Québec Canada and the Alliance Française are partners of the 2007 DiverCiné. For more details about DiverCiné, visit www.divercine.comInformation:Nicole LascelleOffice of the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages819 953-6238Karine SuzeEmbassy of France in Canada613 593-7410Donald BoulangerA/Chief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819 994-9101
