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French Films & Shorts at PIFF

The 38th Annual Portland International Film Festival will run from Feb. 5-21 and will feature films at 8 venues in the Portland area. Four full-length feature films from French directors will be shown (click here for the list which includes descriptions and trailers) as well as two French-language films from Canada. Francophiles might also enjoy the film, A Year in Champagne, a documentary about the production of that wine in France (half the dialogue in that film is in French) as well as the Academy-award nominated French-Mauritanian drama, Timbuktu. New this year, the Alliance is sponsoring a selection of French short films (suitable for adults, not children); click here for that program which is 105 minutes long. For the feature films, note that the "Interests" field at the end of each listing will list "Family Fare" if a film is suitable for all ages. View films' trailers to determine language mixes; all the festival films are subtitled in English. Worried you'll miss something? Click here for a handy PDF of all French-connected films in PIFF; merci to member Dennis Stevens for preparing the list.

Schengen Zone and Long Stays in Europe
For Americans who are considering long stays in Europe, it's important to understand the rules for the Schengen Zone, a block of countries that voluntarily operate as a single unit in the matter of tourist visas. Last month International Living magazine published an article that explains how to "Play Europe's Tourist Visa Loophole." Click here for a PDF of the article, which is available to Alliance bulletin readers by special permission of the magazine's editor. Want more on this topic? Then also read Matt the Nomad's blog post on this subject (which the author confirmed last month is still current, though he did not end up pursuing a resident visa).  
French-American Business Networking - Feb. 19
Jack Cowan is the head of the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest (click here for the nonprofit's website). Cowan is also the Honorary Consul of France for the state of Washington and a recipient of the French Legion of Honor award. On Thursday, Feb. 19, Cowan will be the featured host at an informal business networking event at 6:15 PM at Cerulean Bistro and Wine Bar in the Pearl (1439 NW Marshall). If you'd like to learn more about the FACC's role and services in promoting bi-directional trade between the U.S. and France, and connect to local networking opportunities, sign up by clicking here. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided; tickets are $5 for FACC or Alliance members and $7 for non-members. All business sectors are welcome! 
Terroir Presentation on March 6     

Joseph Bohling, Assistant Professor of History at PSU, will speak on the rise of terroir in post-World War II France at 6:15 PM on March 6, 2015, at the Alliance's Kamm House. Instead of treating the AOC (Appellation d'origine contr�l�e) system as a natural part of French wine, food, and agriculture, this talk considers the political struggles and fortuitous events that consolidated France's influential wine system after World War II and how it ultimately and unexpectedly became an international model of agricultural production. The presentation will be in English; some French vocabulary will be introduced. Tickets are $5 for Alliance member and $10 for non-members. Click here to reserve. 

Jobs, Travel and Other Postings      
   French Teacher Needed: Skinner Montessori has long had a strong French program as part of their curriculum. The school currently has an immediate opening for a part-time French teacher. Click here for the details.
    PIFF Vouchers: Save money and support the Alliance. W
soldese have a limited number of discounted PIFF ticket vouchers for sale, to your choice of film during the festival. Check in with the Alliance office for details; the vouchers must be exchanged at the PIFF box office for a ticket to the films you'd like to see.
  CERCLE FRANCAIS: The next Cercle Fran�ais will be at noon on Thursday, February 26, at the First Congregational Church (1126 SW Park
Ave.). Marie-Pierre Wolfe says, "Elle fera une pr�sentation intitul�e : La nouvelle sociCercle title�t� fran�aise : minorit�s religieuses et ethniques � la lumi�re du slogan  "Je suis Charlie". Il y aura aussi une vente de livres fran�ais pour adultes et pour enfants, ainsi que des jeux de soci�t� fran�ais. Toute la recette de cette vente est remise en donation au Cercle Francais."
   Share a Rental in France this Summer: Longtime Alliance member and retired teacher Marti Kutter (in the center of the picture at the right) would like to share a rental in France this coming summer from July 27 to August 6. She is open to locations. If you'd like to look into sharing a rental and a travel experience with a fellow Alliance member who has a solid mastery of French and who is a keen Francophile, contact Marti for a cup of coffee to further discuss. Or, if you are a property owner who'd like Marti to consider your property this summer, also contact her! Email [email protected].
  January Events: Click here for photos of the sold-out January events. Merci to Dominique Geulin and Mina LaFountain of St. Honor for hosting the cooking class and providing the photos. Many thanks to Joan and Neil Malling for their presentation on the waterways of France.   
   Biarritz Rental or Home Exchange: Member Patricia Daucourt is interested in renting out her home in sunny Biarritz (in southwest France) in May, June and/or through September, 2015. She is also open to doing a home exchange, for visiting relatives who live here in Portland. Click here for a comprehensive photo gallery as well as contact information at the end of the (rather large) file.
   White Bird Trip Price Reduction of $1200: White Bird Dance has reduced the price of its upcoming June/July arts-oriented trip in France by $1200. Click here for details. 
   Film at Fox Tower this week: Fans of Marion Cotillard and the Dardenne brothers will want to see the Oscar-nominated film now showing at Regal Fox Tower in downtown Portland: Two Days, One Night. In French with subtitles, it's a contemporary story around labor and co-worker relationships, set in Belgium.  
Dates to Remember
Feb. 19: French American Chamber of Commerce Networking Event
Feb. 25: French Night at the Blazers at the Moda Center (almost sold out)
March 6: Terroir Presentation at the Kamm House
Quick Web Links

Winter Term is under way. Spring Term starts the end of March.   

  

Conversation

Groups

Some are hosted by Alliance staff, board members or other volunteers. Drop-ins welcome; membership is encouraged but not required.

NW, N, or Central   

St Honor� on NW Thurman on

Wed., 6pm, Feb. 4 & 18          

C'est Si Bon on NE 7th on the first Tuesday, Feb. 3 @ 6pm  

Philippe's Bread on N. Williams on Sat., Feb. 7 for B2/C1 levels (advanced, fluent)  

SE Portland

At Chez Machin, Mon., Feb. 9, at 7p.m.

 
At Vie de Boh�me weekly on Sundays, 4-5:30 p.m.

Vancouver

At Gustav's in Vancouver, Tues., Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

 

In-Kind Sponsors

 

 

 Perrier

 

 

 

PClogo
 
TV5Monde February Highlights  
 
Enjoy 24-hour French-language programming on Comcast channel 695 (a premium channel) in the Portland region. Subscribers also have access to the films On Demand. Contact Comcast to add the channel; the cost is just under $10 per month.

 

 

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