Film "Quai d'Orsay" by Bertrand Tavernier will launch the 7. French Film Festival in Skopje-based cinema "Millennium" on Wednesday. The June 18-22 includes the latest achievements of French cinematography - nine feature, four short and one documentary films.

This year's "Golden Mask" award will be presented to director Frederic Schoendoerffer, whereas his film "96 Heures" will be screened at the festival's closing on Sunday.

The revue includes films "Yves Saint-Laurent" by Jalil Lespert, "Venus in Fur" by Roman Polanski, "Crazy Pink Limo" by Josephine de Meaux, "Les Gazelles" by Mona Achache etc.

Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevsa said at Monday's press conference that the festival is the central event promoting French culture in Macedonia, a bridge for intensive communication between filmmakers of both countries.

"I believe the event will bring closer the beauty hidden in the French films, the aesthetics that thrills, stimulates, inspires, educates and hides the secret of the popularity that French film enjoys worldwide", said Kanceska-Milevska.

French Ambassador to Macedonia Laurence Auer said the festival was the key event in the bilateral cultural exchange.

"It started as an adventure between two film schools, but rooted itself as a meeting of countries cinematographies", said Auer.

The French Film Festival is organized by the French Embassy to Macedonia, supported by the Ministry of Culture.