French Film Festival hosts debates with directors and actors in Rio and Niterói from November 26 to December 10.
The audience in Rio will meet actors and directors visiting the city to join the French Film Festival of Brazil. The schedule includes debates from November 26 to December 10 in special sessions held in different cinemas. The meetings take place at Estação NET Rio, Estação NET Gávea, Estação NET Botafogo, Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo and Cine Arte UFF in Niterói.
On November 26, before the official opening of the festival, three debate sessions gather Fabienne Godet, Valérie Donzelli, Victor Rodenbach, Salif Cissé and Bastien Bouillon. Between November 27 and 30, and on December 1 and 5, audiences will have new opportunities to watch conversations with these and other guest artists.
The discussions explore details of the productions, offering the public a closer look at creative processes and the themes found in the films. Actress Isabelle Huppert joins three meetings about her film “The Richest Woman in the World” between November 28 and 30. Director Jean-Claude Barny, from “Fanon”, attends sessions from November 29 to December 1.
Actor and director Pierre Richard, honored by the festival, meets audiences between December 3 and 5 during talks about “Dream, Therefore I Am”. He also takes part in a debate after the screening of the classic “La Chèvre” on December 4. On December 10, “Bicycle Journey”, by Mathias Mlekuz, inspires a conversation about “Dealing with Maternal and Paternal Grief” with psychologist Márcia Noleto and philosopher Marco Casanova.
Schedule of sessions with debates
November 26 – Wednesday
Estação NET Gávea – 7pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Estação NET Rio – 7pm – Screening of “Love Behind the Scenes”, followed by debate with Victor Rodenbach.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 7:30pm – Screening of “Ready to Work”, followed by debate with Valérie Donzelli and Bastien Bouillon.
November 27 – Thursday
Estação NET Rio – 4:30pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 4:25pm – Screening of “Ready to Work”, followed by debate with Valérie Donzelli and Bastien Bouillon.
November 28 – Friday
Estação NET Gávea – 5pm – Screening of “Love Behind the Scenes”, followed by debate with Victor Rodenbach.
Estação NET Gávea – 7:05pm – Screening of “Ready to Work”, followed by debate with Valérie Donzelli and Bastien Bouillon.
Estação NET Rio – 5:05pm – Screening of “Ready to Work”, followed by debate with Valérie Donzelli and Bastien Bouillon.
Estação NET Rio – 7:15pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 4:25pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 6:50pm – Screening of “The Richest Woman in the World”, followed by debate with Isabelle Huppert.
November 29 – Saturday
Estação NET Gávea – 4:30pm – Screening of “The Richest Woman in the World”, followed by debate with Isabelle Huppert.
Estação NET Gávea – 7:10pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Estação NET Rio – 2:15pm – Screening of “Fanon”, followed by debate with Jean-Claude Barny.
Estação NET Rio – 5:10pm – Screening of “The Chef’s Secret”, followed by debate with Bastien Bouillon.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 4:35pm – Screening of “Voice for Hire”, followed by debate with Fabienne Godet and Salif Cissé.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 7pm – Screening of “Ready to Work”, followed by debate with Valérie Donzelli and Bastien Bouillon.
Cine Arte UFF – 6:30pm – Screening of “Fanon”, followed by debate with Jean-Claude Barny.
November 30 – Sunday
Estação NET Botafogo – 5:50pm – Screening of “The Richest Woman in the World”, followed by debate with Isabelle Huppert.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 5:40pm – Screening of “Fanon”, followed by debate with Jean-Claude Barny.
December 1 – Monday
Estação NET Rio – 6pm – Screening of “Fanon”, followed by debate with Jean-Claude Barny.
December 3 – Wednesday
Estação NET Rio – 6pm – Screening of “Dream, Therefore I Am”, followed by debate with Pierre Richard.
December 4 – Thursday
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 5pm – Screening of “Dream, Therefore I Am”, followed by debate with Pierre Richard.
Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo – 8pm – Screening of “La Chèvre”, followed by debate with Pierre Richard.
December 5 – Friday
Estação NET Gávea – 6:40pm – Screening of “Dream, Therefore I Am”, followed by debate with Pierre Richard.
December 10 – Wednesday
Estação NET Rio – 7pm – Screening of “Bicycle Journey”, followed by debate on “Dealing with Maternal and Paternal Grief”, with Marcia Noleto and Marco Casanova.
Film synopses
La Chèvre (1981, 1h35, Adventure, Comedy, Crime)
Directed by Francis Veber, starring Pierre Richard, Gérard Depardieu and Pedro Armendariz Jr. Distributed by BONFILM.
The daughter of CEO Bens is kidnapped while on vacation in Mexico. To find her, he hires detective Campana and pairs him with a clumsy man believing it might help.
Fanon (2025, 2h13, Biopic)
Directed by Jean-Claude Barny, starring Alexandre Bouyer, Déborah François and Stanislas Merhar. Distributed by FENIX.
Frantz Fanon becomes head of a psychiatric hospital in Algeria and challenges traditional medical approaches during the colonial period.
Bicycle Journey – À bicyclette ! (2025, 1h29, Dramatic Comedy)
Directed by Mathias Mlekuz, starring Mathias Mlekuz, Philippe Rebbot and Josef Mlekuz. Distributed by BONFILM.
Mathias takes his friend Philippe on a bike trip from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. They retrace the route started by Youri, Philippe’s son, who tragically disappeared.
Ready to Work – A pied d’œuvre (2026, 1h32, Dramatic Comedy)
Directed by Valérie Donzelli, starring Bastien Bouillon, Virginie Ledoyen and Marie Rivière. Distributed by BONFILM.
A successful photographer leaves everything behind to focus on writing and unexpectedly confronts poverty.
Love Behind the Scenes – Le Beau Rôle (2025, 1h24, Comedy, Romance)
Directed by Victor Rodenbach, starring William Lebghil and Vimala Pons. Distributed by BONFILM.
Henri and Nora share life and work. When Henri lands his first role in cinema, the foundation of their partnership begins to collapse.
Dream, Therefore I Am – L’homme qui a vu l’ours qui a vu l’homme (2025, 1h28, Comedy)
Directed by Pierre Richard, starring Pierre Richard, Timi-Joy Marbot and Gustave Kervern. Distributed by BONFILM.
Grégoire and Michel, from different generations, are connected by friendship, a love of nature and affection for a runaway circus bear.
Voice for Hire – Le Répondeur (2025, 1h42, Comedy)
Directed by Fabienne Godet, starring Salif Cissé, Denis Podalydès and Aure Atika. Distributed by BONFILM.
Impersonator Baptiste struggles to make a living from his talent until a novelist hires him to answer calls so he can work in peace.
Support and partners
The French Film Festival of Brazil is supported by Varilux as master sponsor, along with BNP Paribas, Edenred, Voltalia, Fairmont and Air France. The event also receives support from the Ministry of Culture, through the Rouanet Law, and from the City of Rio de Janeiro.
The French Alliances, the Embassy of France in Brazil, the film distributors, independent exhibitors and major cinema chains are essential partners of the initiative.
Instagram / TikTok / Facebook / Youtube / Giphy / Spotify: @FestCineFrancesBR — hashtag: #FestCineFrancêsBR
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