French Film Festival starts today across Brazil

French Film Festival of Brazil starts today in over 50 cinemas, with 20 new films and classics awarded in Cannes and Venice.

Starting today, the 27th, in more than 50 cinemas across the country, the 16th French Film Festival of Brazil presents 20 feature films that were part of major festivals such as Cannes and Venice, plus one classic. As the only nationwide and simultaneous French event, held in large and small cities, including state capitals, the festival has already attracted more than two million spectators since its creation.

Until December 10, audiences can enjoy a program filled with inspiring stories and characters, rich themes and a wide range of genres. The selection brings together comedies, dramas, thrillers, animations and socially engaged productions, highlighting the diversity and vitality of contemporary French cinema.

Among the films, the festival screens works by acclaimed directors such as The Stranger, by François Ozon, and Young Mothers, by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. It also features titles by established filmmakers such as Barbaric Neighbors, by Julie Delpy; Hands at Work, by Valérie Donzelli – winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival; Attachment, by Carine Tardieu; and 13 Days, 13 Nights, by Martin Bourboulon.

The new generation of directors appears in titles such as The Chef’s Secret, by Amélie Bonnin – which opened the 2025 Cannes Film Festival – and Behind the Scenes of Love, by Victor Rodenbach. The curation highlights creative renewal in French cinema, while maintaining a strong connection to its great masters.

The lineup includes memorable performances by artists like Isabelle Huppert – the festival’s guest of honor – in The Richest Woman in the World; Omar Sy and Vanessa Paradis in Out of Control; Bastien Bouillon in Hands at Work and The Chef’s Secret; Pio Marmaï in Attachment; Roschdy Zem in 13 Days, 13 Nights and I, Who Loved You; and Pierre Richard in Dream, Therefore I Am, which he also directs.

Actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Pierre Richard is this edition’s honoree, following a tribute at Cannes in May this year. He will also be celebrated with a retrospective of four other films in which he worked, reinforcing his status as a living legend of French comedy.

Artistic delegation and special activities

As in previous years, an artistic delegation of actors and directors will be present in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The group includes actress Isabelle Huppert, actors Bastien Bouillon and Salif Cissé, directors Fabienne Godet and Valérie Donzelli, filmmakers Victor Rodenbach and Jean-Claude Barny, and actor-director Pierre Richard.

In both cities, a free showcase will screen five virtual reality films curated by Michel Reilhac, founder of Venice VR. The program expands the audience’s experience, introducing immersive formats and new audiovisual narratives.

“In these times of political crises, wars and conflicts that challenge us every day, we hope the films in the selection can open perspectives, raise questions and, perhaps, bring answers,” says Christian.

“Whether in a light or more serious tone, our goal is to create opportunities for exchange and to take part in a democratic society through the shared cinema experience,” adds Emmanuelle.

The French Film Festival of Brazil is supported by Varilux, a brand of the Essilor Luxottica group, as master sponsor, and by BNP Paribas, Edenred, Voltalia, Fairmont and Air France. The event also counts on the support of the Ministry of Culture, through the Rouanet Law, and the City of Rio de Janeiro, via the Municipal Department of Culture.

Other key partners include the Alliances Françaises, the French Embassy in Brazil, film distributors, independent cinemas and major commercial cinema chains. This collaborative network makes it possible for the festival to reach different regions of the country.

The artistic delegation in focus

To present this year’s selection, eight guests will be in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, taking part in screenings followed by Q&A sessions with the audience. One of the most important names in French film history, Isabelle Huppert introduces her new feature The Richest Woman in the World (*La Femme la plus riche du monde*), directed by Thierry Kliffa.

Huppert opens the festival in Rio, attends press events, and participates in public screenings. She will also be in Salvador on December 5, for a pre-premiere of the film. Shown at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the feature is inspired by the true story of the heiress to one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies, in a plot about ambition, astronomical donations and family secrets. Distribution is handled by Synapse Distribution.

A BAFTA, César and Golden Globe winner, with 163 films and 19 awards to her name, Huppert is known for portraying complex, ambiguous and challenging characters. She is often described as an actress who “becomes the author” of her roles, bringing a deeply personal contribution to each character since her debut in 1971.

Over the decades, she has worked with renowned directors in French and international productions such as “The Piano Teacher”, by Michael Haneke; “8 Women”, by François Ozon; “Violette Nozière” and other titles by Claude Chabrol; and “Elle”, by Paul Verhoeven.

Son of theatre director Gilles Bouillon and actress Clémentine Amouroux, actor Bastien Bouillon appears in two festival films: The Chef’s Secret (*Partir un jour*), released by Synapse Distribution and directed by Amélie Bonnin, which opened Cannes last May; and Hands at Work (*À pied d’oeuvre*), by Valérie Donzelli, winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Bouillon was also seen at last year’s edition in the epic “The Count of Monte Cristo”. Actor Salif Cissé appears in two comedies: Answering Voice (*Le Répondeur*) and Behind the Scenes of Love (*Le Beau Rôle*). His recent work includes “The Book of Discord” (2023), “Just the Two of Us” (2023), “My Mother’s Life” (2024), “Juliette au printemps” (2024) and “Spectateurs!” (2025).

Recently awarded at the Venice Film Festival for the script of Hands at Work (*À pied d’œuvre*), co-written with Gilles Marchand, director Valérie Donzelli is also an actress and screenwriter. Her film, distributed by Bonfilm, tells the story of a photographer who abandons his career at its peak to devote himself to his true passion: writing.

In 2023, her adaptation “Love and Forests” (*L’amour et les forêts*), based on Éric Reinhardt’s novel, competed at the Cannes Film Festival and received the César Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2024. Donzelli has become one of the most interesting voices in current French cinema.

Director of Answering Voice, released by Bonfilm, Fabienne Godet is also a screenwriter. Her first feature, “Sauf le respect que je vous dois” (2006), was well received by critics, and her documentary “Ne me libérez pas je m’en charge” (2009) was nominated for the 35th César Awards in the Best Documentary category.

In Answering Voice, Godet tells the story of a talented impersonator who becomes a professional “answering voice”. Director Victor Rodenbach presents Behind the Scenes of Love (*Le Beau Rôle*), his directorial debut, also distributed by Bonfilm.

The film follows a couple of theatre artists whose relationship is shaken when one of them ventures into cinema. Rodenbach is also a screenwriter and has written episodes of the acclaimed series “Call My Agent!” (*Dix Pour Cent*).

Director of Fanon, distributed by Fênix, Jean-Claude Barny directed the 1994 short “Putain de Porte”, starring Vincent Cassel and Mathieu Kassovitz, and later worked on casting for “La Haine”. His first feature, “Nèg Maron” (2005), addresses the struggles of Caribbean youth, often distant from their own history.

In Fanon, Barny brings to the screen the real story of psychiatrist and philosopher Frantz Fanon, who denounced the violence of French colonialism in Algeria. The film deepens the reflection on racism, oppression and the fight for liberation.

A living legend of French comedy, acclaimed actor, director and screenwriter Pierre Richard is the main honoree of this edition. He presents his feature Dream, Therefore I Am (*L’homme qui a Vu L’ours qui a Vu L’homme*), released by Bonfilm, which marks his return to directing after nearly 30 years.

Richard received an Honorary César in 2006 and was honored at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. His success is also remarkable abroad, particularly in the former Soviet bloc and in Asia. At the festival, he will be celebrated with a retrospective of four landmark films.

The special lineup includes “La Chèvre” (*The Goat*), “Le Jouet” (*The Toy*) and “Les Fugitifs” (*The Fugitives*), all directed by Francis Veber; “Le grand blond avec une chaussure noire” (*The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe*), by Yves Robert; and “Un nuage entre les Dents” (*A Cloud Between the Teeth*), by Marco Pico.

Films in the program

Comedy, thriller, drama or animation: the films in the program tell diverse stories. They address family issues, portray difficult moments that deeply affect the characters and may even transform their lives.

Winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the new film by the Dardenne brothers, Young Mothers (*Jeunes Mères*), released by Vitrine Filmes, portrays the challenging daily life of five teenage mothers and their young children in a shelter.

Starring Babette Verbeek, Elsa Houben and Janaïna Halloy Fokan, the film follows the young women’s struggle for a better life for themselves and their children. They face financial and family conflicts in a sensitive and realistic portrayal of vulnerability and resilience.

The drama 13 Days, 13 Nights (*13 jours, 13 nuits*), distributed by California Filmes, is set in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021, and is inspired by a true story. As US troops withdraw and the Taliban take the capital, thousands of Afghans seek refuge at the French Embassy.

Protected by commander Mohamed Bida and his men, the mission negotiates with the Taliban, with the help of Eva, a French-Afghan humanitarian, to organize a final convoy to the airport. Directed by Martin Bourboulon, the film stars Roschdy Zem, Lyna Khoudri and Sidse Babett Knudsen.

The feature I, Who Loved You (*Moi qui t’aimais*), released by Autoral, is directed by Diane Kurys and depicts the turbulent relationship of iconic French cinema couple Yves Montand (Roschdy Zem) and Simone Signoret (Marina Foïs).

Haunted by her husband’s affair with actress Marilyn Monroe and by subsequent relationships, Signoret always refused to see herself as a victim. The film shows how the couple, despite many crises, knew they would never part.

The Stranger, by François Ozon, inspired this year’s festival visual identity. Starring Benjamin Voisin and Rebecca Marder, the black-and-white drama is based on Albert Camus’ 1942 novel and is released by California Filmes.

Voisin plays Meursault, a Frenchman living in Algeria who seems indifferent to life, social conventions and death. After he kills an Arab man for no apparent reason, he is tried and sentenced in a case that questions both the crime and his nature, set against the backdrop of colonial France in the first half of the 20th century.

Widely considered almost impossible to adapt to film, Camus’s cult novel has rarely reached the screen. Since Luchino Visconti’s version in 1967, no other director had risked a new adaptation.

Directed by Carine Tardieu, Attachment follows an independent woman with no ties who ends up sharing the intimacy of her neighbor. The encounter radically changes her life. Distributed by Bonfilm, the film stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Pio Marmaï and Vimala Pons.

Also by Bonfilm, the thriller Mercato, Kings of the Game, directed by Tristan Séguéla, dives into football’s backstage to expose a multi-million-dollar industry. The cast includes Jamel Debbouze, Monia Chokri and Hakim Jemili.

Another thriller, Operation Maldoror, by Fabrice du Welz, and released by California Filmes, tells the story of two young women who disappear in Belgium. The case shocks the country and sparks unprecedented media frenzy, with Antony Bajon and Sergi Lopez in the lead roles.

The comedy Barbaric Neighbors, by Julie Delpy, shows how the peaceful life of a small town is turned upside down after a gesture of solidarity: the arrival of refugees. Starring Julie Delpy, Sandrine Kiberlain and Laurent Lafitte, the film is distributed by Synapse Distribution.

Winner of the Valois for Film Music at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, A Bicycle Journey, by Mathias Mlekuz, tells a story of friendship. Two friends retrace by bicycle the route from the Atlantic to the Black Sea, where one of their sons tragically disappeared.

Distributed by Bonfilm, the film stars Mathias Mlekuz, Philippe Rebbot and Josef Mlekuz. The journey explores grief, memory and reconciliation.

Starring Omar Sy, a familiar face at the French Film Festival of Brazil since the success of “Intouchables” (2011), Out of Control, by Anne Le Ny, explores universal themes such as love, jealousy and the consequences of personal choices.

After 15 years of marriage, couple Julien (Omar Sy) and Marie (Elodie Bouchez) faces a major crisis when Julien’s youthful love, Anaëlle (Vanessa Paradis), reappears. Overwhelmed by jealousy and self-doubt, Marie gets involved with Thomas (José Garcia), who proves to be manipulative and dangerous. The film is distributed in Brazil by California Filmes.

The dramedy Once Upon a Time, My Mother, also released by California Filmes, tells a true story about a mother’s unconditional love for her son. Adapted from Roland Perez’s autobiographical novel, the film follows young Roland, born with a clubfoot and unable to walk.

Against everyone’s opinion, his mother Esther promises him a normal and wonderful life and fights tirelessly to keep that promise. The film celebrates family bonds and courage in the face of adversity.

The animated feature Maya, Give Me a Title, directed by Michel Gondry, tells the story of a father and daughter living in different countries. To maintain their bond, the father asks the girl to tell him a story every night.

The film will also be used in educational sessions, introducing children and young people to film language. Distributed by Bonfilm, Dream, Therefore I Am, by Pierre Richard, features the director alongside Timi-Joy Marbot and Gustave Kervern.

From different generations, two men are brought together by friendship, their love of nature and a deep affection for a bear that escapes from a circus. The drama La Pampa, by Antoine Chevrolier, focuses on two inseparable teenagers.

When one boy’s secret is revealed, the families of both friends fall apart. The film is distributed by Encripta and explores coming-of-age, loyalty and rupture.

Social media and participating cities

Audiences can follow updates from the French Film Festival of Brazil on social media. Official profiles are on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Giphy and Spotify, all under the handle @FestCineFrancesBR. The official hashtag is #FestCeFrancêsBR.

As of November 19, the following cities were confirmed as participants: Aracaju (SE), Araguaína (TO), Araraquara (SP), Balneário Camboriú (SC), Belém (PA), Belo Horizonte (MG), Búzios (RJ), Brasília (DF), Campinas (SP), Caxias do Sul (RS), Cotia (SP), Cuiabá (MT), Curitiba (PR), Florianópolis (SC), Fortaleza (CE), Goiânia (GO), Garanhuns (PE), Gurupi (TO), Indaiatuba (SP), Itajubá (MG), João Pessoa (PB), Juiz de Fora (MG), Jundiaí (SP), Londrina (PR), Maceió (AL), Manaus (AM), Maringá (PR), Maricá (RJ), Monte Claros (MG), Natal (RN), Niterói (RJ), Nova Friburgo (RJ), Palmas (TO), Pelotas (RS), Petrópolis (RJ), Poços de Caldas (MG), Porto Alegre (RS), Recife (PE), Resende (RJ), Ribeirão Preto (SP), Rio Grande (RS), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA), Santa Bárbara do Oeste (SP), Santos (SP), São Carlos (SP), São José dos Campos (SP), São Luís do Maranhão (MA), São Paulo (SP), Vitória (ES) and Volta Redonda (RJ)**.

The list of cities and participating cinemas will be updated on the festival’s official website: festivalcinefrances.com.br. Ticket prices follow the standard rates charged by each exhibitor.