For the sixth year in a row, the French Film Festival is back at the Tate Center, proving once again that subtitles are fun.

Since its start seven years ago, the French Film Festival has become an important tradition to the University and to Athens.

Richard Neupert, Professor of Film Studies, and Catherine Jones, Professor of Romance Languages, met with the French cultural attach� of Atlanta and Veronique Godard to discuss the possibility of a Festival several years ago.

Godard (sister of the renowned French director Jean-Luc) encouraged Neupert to host a French Film Festival with a five-year grant from the French American Cultural Exchange.

“I’ve been thrilled with the success, and it is the people across campus and in the community who have convinced me to keep doing it each year,” Neupert said. “I like bringing something different to campus and to Athens.”

Cinematic Arts, a division of University Union, provides the theater, projectionist and staff and receives any leftover box office money for future projects.

“I select five and usually try for a mix of commercial star vehicles and more off-beat, independent and art films to show the variety available,” Neupert said.

Tonight the Festival opens with “Nathalie,” a drama revolving around an upper-middle class woman’s distrust of her husband and her idea to pay a prostitute to seduce and investigate him.

Other films in the line-up include the award-winning “Cach�,” starring Juliette Binoche, and “Look at Me,” about a young girl struggling with her constant insecurities.

“Once you’ve seen a few movies with subtitles, you forget that you’re even reading them,” said Annette Fasone, a telecommunication arts and film studies major from Alpharetta. “A lot of the French films I’ve seen tell different stories than what I’m used to, but they are interesting and definitely leave you thinking.”

“The films that are screened in the Festival usually enjoyed a wide appeal during their runs in France and elsewhere,” said Adam Ganse, a third year telecommunication arts major. “They have a seal of approval from a large audience, so the average student should enjoy the films as well.”