One of the award-winning French-language films at this year's Rendez-vous du Cinéma Québécois et Francophone, which runs February 2-12, was shot almost entirely in B.C. Le Méchant Trip (translated as Exiles in Lotusland?), follows two homeless kids from Quebec lured west by the promise of snowless winters and a new life.

Director Ilan Saragosti's documentary of the struggle of Mélo and Ti-criss to stave off boredom and kick their crystal-meth addiction earned him a Borso award at December's Whistler Film Festival, for best new Canadian feature.

"The film is beautifully made, without any sense of being voyeuristic or judgemental," says Régis Painchaud, organizer of the Rendez-vous, "It's a love story but it's also very hard, and very sad. The girl is alive and doing well, but the guy, who had a troubled childhood, killed himself. The director treats them delicately, and with great respect."

Saragosti will attend the first Vancouver screening of Le Méchant Trip at the VanCity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street) on Tuesday (February 7) at 7 p.m., and will take part in a Q & A afterward.

Painchaud is excited that, for its 12th edition, the Rendez-vous series has a new home, one that allows him to present music and art as well as films. "The VanCity cinema is magnificent, and we are able to use the large lobby area for two art exhibitions of works by Swiss sculptor Henri Bertrand and of photos by Daniel Royer. Plus, we will have a cabaret there every day from Friday [February 3], with many of the leading improv jazz musicians in town playing. I feel it's very important to link musical and cinematic innovation."

There are more than 40 films at the Rendez-vous, including Jean-Marc Vallée's C.R.A.Z.Y., which has garnered a dozen Genie nominations, and French blockbusters Les Choristes and La Marche de L'Empereur (March of the Penguins). Almost all films have English subtitles. For information about tickets, passes, and complete program listings, go to www.ren dez-vousvancouver.com/.