Festival Hors-Ecran 2008
PRESENTATION

Hors-Ecran, 3rd edition
In 2006, Lug Cinéma organized in Lyon the first International Film Festival for Independent Film Directors and Producers; they showed 20 films from  fourteen countries and five different continents.
In October 2007, the second festival included short films and new locations.
In October 2008 the organizing Committee is welcoming new themes; they will show thirty films with a new series entitled ‘Sabotage’ and dedicated to twentieth century historical events (mostly war and spy-films and thrillers). 

Program
Let’s listen to an interview from Luc Martinon, the Chairman of the Festival :
“Our film-selection aims at building privileged connexions between the different films.
In 2006, year of the birth of a new artistic event, our focus was on films clashing between each other and bringing together different cultural productions. When the spectators chose to reward L’Eveil de Maximo Oliveros, a very specific film, we realized what we should focus on for our next festival : films dedicated to the research of new cultural and psychological identities. 
Similarly the film which was rewarded in 2007, The Cats of Mirikitani (a terrific documentary about concentration camps for Japanese in the USA after the second World War) was an incentive for our 2008 Festival selection which will be dedicated to films about real life.
So basically we are always expecting our audience to guide our selection for our coming festival : interactivity and conviviality must reach an all-time high”
What about  2008 Festival ?
We have been motivated by the same curiosity for new themes. Finally, twenty novel films, presented by their directors and film staff, will be submitted to  public vote. “Last year we enjoyed having Emile Hirsch, Sigourney Weaver, Elijah Wood and Sharon Stone for this first viewing of their films. But for 2008 Festival we will have a different set of guests facing Lyon public; they will be mostly independent film-makers, who make their own film and prompt spectators to wonder about the real values of commercial cinema. What should a new film be about? Showing only  highly-paid actors or raising new issues?”
 

In Prison My Whole Life.

Press Screening  :
Friday October, 10th – 10 a.m. Theatre Pathe Vaise.
 

Press conference :
Friday October, 10th - 4 p.m. Lyon City Hall.

Public session and Official reception
Friday October, 10th - 20H30
Theatre Pathe Vaise.

with the participation of

Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli-Firth the producers 
Amnesty International France
Madame Mitterrand, former First Lady
Robert R. Bryan, Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Lawyer

William Francome is a young white middle-class boy brought up by his
mother who told him again and again the story of a former Black
Panther, Mumia Abu-Jamal who was arrested the day William was born.
Jamal was sentenced to death for the murder of a white policeman which
he always denied having committed. So one day, William decides to
investigate the case of this unusual prisoner known as “the voice of
the voiceless” because of his stubborn refusal to remain silent
while on death-row. For the past twenty-five years, Jamal, a
Philadelphian journalist, has kept broadcasting programs on NPR,
publishing books and sending information about life-conditions on
death-row where he remains today, although the federal court recently
admitted his constitutional rights had been violated. The film reveals
how police abuse and social and ethnic background can combine to
discriminate against ethnic minorities.

British actor Colin Firth and his wife Livia Giuggioli-Firth, who produced the film, will present it to Lyon public.

Madame D. Mitterrand, former French Lady, and Robert R. Bryan, Mumia Abu-Jamal’s lawyer will also attend the performance as well as representatives of Amnesty International and a message from Mumia Abu-Jamal will be read to the audience.