French Film Festival opens in Rio with Isabelle Huppert and award-winning movies

Event opened at Cine Odeon with Isabelle Huppert and screens 21 French productions across Brazil until December 10.

The 16th French Film Festival in Brazil opened on Thursday (27) at Cine Odeon in Rio de Janeiro with a screening of “The Richest Woman in the World” (Synapse), directed by Thierry Kliffa. The opening gala featured actress Isabelle Huppert, directors Fabienne Godet and Valérie Donzelli, filmmakers Victor Rodenbach and Jean-Claude Barny, and actors Bastien Bouillon and Salif Cissé. Brazilian guests included directors Lúcia Murat, Sandra Kogut, Marcelo Gomes, Lirio Ferreira, Bruno Barreto, producer Lucy Barreto, and actresses Letícia Spiller and Mariana Goldfarb. The ceremony was hosted by Gregório Duvivier and Emmanuelle Boudier, co-curator and festival co-director alongside Christian Boudier of Bonfilm.

The festival runs until December 10 in cinemas across the country, showcasing 20 new feature films and a classic, “La Chèvre” (“A Cabra”). The selection includes films from Cannes, Venice, and other renowned festivals, offering diverse genres and thought-provoking stories. Since its creation, the event has attracted more than two million spectators nationwide.

Highlights and tributes

The program features works such as “The Stranger” by François Ozon, “Young Mothers” by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and “Barbaric Neighbors” by Julie Delpy. “Hard at Work” by Valérie Donzelli, winner of the Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival 2025, is also part of the lineup, along with “Attachment” by Carine Tardieu and “13 Days, 13 Nights” by Martin Bourboulon. The new generation is represented by “The Chef’s Secret” by Amélie Bonnin, which opened Cannes 2025, and “Behind the Scenes of Love” by Victor Rodenbach.

The festival showcases notable performances, including Isabelle Huppert in “The Richest Woman in the World”, Omar Sy and Vanessa Paradis in “Out of Control”, and Bastien Bouillon in “Hard at Work” and “The Chef’s Secret”. Pierre Richard, who stars and directs “I Dream, Therefore I Am”, is the festival’s honoree with a special retrospective of four films from his acclaimed career.

Cinema as dialogue and reflection

“In these times of political crises, wars, and conflict, we hope the films in this selection open perspectives, raise questions, and perhaps bring answers,” said Christian Boudier.

“Whether lighthearted or serious, our goal is to foster exchanges and contribute to a democratic society through shared cinematic experiences,” added Emmanuelle Boudier.

Partners and organization

The French Film Festival in Brazil is supported by Varilux (Essilor Luxottica) as main sponsor and receives support from BNP Paribas, Edenred, Voltalia, Fairmont, and Air France. It is held with sponsorship from the Ministry of Culture via the Rouanet Law and Rio de Janeiro City Hall through the Municipal Secretariat of Culture. Institutional partners include the French Embassy, the Alliance Française network, and both independent and commercial film exhibitors.

Social media: @FestCineFrancesBR | Hashtag: #FestCineFrancêsBR