Agathe (Camille Rutherford) lives the rom-com dream: she works in the famous Shakespeare & Co bilingual bookstore where customers leave love letters on the mirror quoting Tolstoy, and there’s undeniable chemistry with her colleague, Félix (Pablo Pauly, Murder Party, AF FFF24). Beneath the glossy Notting Hill facade, however, she’s an unpublished romance author battling writer’s block, living with her sister and nephew. More akin to Persuasion’s Anne, a perpetual wallflower, than Pride and Prejudice’s confident Elizabeth, Agathe struggles to find her voice. That all changes when Agathe is invited to a Jane Austen Residency in England. Spending two weeks in a manor full of creative nooks and wandering through forests and glades, Agathe struggles daily with imposter syndrome. That is, until she starts to become acquainted with the handsome yet prickly Oliver Lowe (Charlie Anson, Downton Abbey), Jane Austen’s living descendant. Grappling with her demons and her heart, Agathe must decide between what she’s always known, and something – or someone – new. This romantic comedy-drama from writer-director Laura Piani is a touching love letter to the Regency author who still shapes our conversations on love today. Wry, subtle, and with a big heart, JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE asks, would you write the end to your own love story if you could?

Somewhere on the border between Quebec and the United States, the intractable customs officer, Sonia (Julie Le Breton), rules her boom gate with an iron first. No one gets past her eagle eye, not even Victor (Édouard Baer, How to Be a Good Wife, AF FFF20), a charming but down-on-his-luck French chef from New York, who finds his knives and gourmet food unfairly confiscated. Meanwhile, Sonia's daughter Lili-Beth is sick of being bullied at school. When she enters a Mini Chefs competition to stick it to her bullies, it seems she's the underdog with no hope of winning. Unless Julie can convince Victor to help her. However, it’s not just the pressure of the Mini Chefs competition that threatens to boil over: community tensions and divisions are bubbling under the surface of this rural border town, with bitterness an all-too-familiar flavour. But Sonia, Victor and Lili-Beth are about to serve up something new. This feast of a comedy from director Manon Briand is full of laughs and touching connections. Set in the beautiful Canadian countryside and replete with mouthwatering dishes, ALL STIRRED UP! is a deliciously heartwarming story that will leave you hungry for more.

Restored in 4k and presented at Cannes Classics in 2024, see acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Melville's unglamorous and nuanced study of the French Resistance, eating itself from the inside. Betrayed by a comrade, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura), the head of a Resistance cell, is captured and sent to a Nazi torture camp. In Vichy-run Marseille, the young betraying agent, Paul Dounat (Alain Libolt) is ambushed by Gerbier’s comrades and sentenced to execution. Following the story of a small group of Resistance fighters, ARMY OF SHADOWS goes beyond a binary tale of good versus evil, offering a raw, poignant portrayal of the brave men and women who fought against fascism and the sacrifices they made along the way. Based on Melville’s experience in the French Resistance and Joseph Kessel's novel, the film is deeply personal, combining his intense study of the human condition with the signature chiaroscuro and realism that established him as a celebrated auteur of French crime cinema. Controversial upon its 1969 French release and only premiering in the US in 2006, ARMY OF SHADOWS remains a masterpiece of atmospheric tension, ideal for cinéphiles. Don’t miss this exclusive screening of one of history’s greatest war films.

Lino (Kad Merad, The Big Hit, AF FFF21), a Parisian lawyer fed up with his bourgeois life, is on the run. Suffering from a condition that makes him unable to lie, he has left everything behind to escape to the countryside. Infuriating his family, including his wife Léa (Elsa Zylberstein), Lino is searching for the meaning of life, even if it leads to unexpected places – and a musical number or two. Oscar-winning director Claude Lelouch directs this zany musical fantasy with an original soundtrack by Grammy-nominated producer Ibrahim Maalouf. A duet between trumpet and piano, this quirky genre-bending film is about how we fall out of tune with life and find harmony again. Lelouche deftly weaves together the many lives of Lino into a deeply inspiring tapestry of love, destiny, and staying true to your heart, whilst also throwing in touching and dramatic moments for good measure. Perfect for those wanting to laugh at the absurdity of life, AT THE END OF THE DAY will take you on a cinematic road trip through France's most beautiful regions. Don't miss this oddball classic from this beloved French director!

The phenomenal Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is The Warmest Colour) and François Civil (The Three Musketeers) – arguably French cinema’s brightest young talents – devour the screen in Gilles Lellouche’s vibrant, genre-spanning romantic epic that follows a written-in-the-stars infatuation tested by social boundaries, betrayal and circumstances beyond all control. Love makes one crazy. Just ask Clotaire (Civil) and Jackie (Exarchopoulos), who meet in their teens in their Northern France working-class neighbourhood in the 1980s. Despite their differences - she is a diligent student from the middle class, he a charming troublemaker with a complex family life - an intense and unmistakable connection is sparked. But tragedy soon pulls them apart. A decade later, Clotaire tries desperately to win back his lost love. But has his chance passed? Driven by a kinetic soundtrack by Jon Brion, indelible production design and all-star supporting cast, BEATING HEARTS pays homage to the US independent film wave of the 80s and early 90s but creates an impact truly of its own. Delivering another massive, crowd-pleasing blockbuster result at the French box office (after Sink Or Swim) with an extraordinary 5 million admissions, Lellouche reaches for the stars and rewards all who strap in for the ride.

At 91, legendary director Costa-Gavras' BEFORE WHAT COMES AFTER is a poignant tragicomedy inspired by the work of Régis Debray and Claude Grange. Deeply personal, this is a rare chance to witness a cinematic titan reflecting on life and mortality. What begins as a chance encounter during a routine checkup evolves into a profound friendship between acclaimed philosopher Fabrice Toussaint (Denis Podalydès, The President's Wife, AF FFF24) and head of palliative care doctor Augustin Masset (Kad Merad, The Big Hit, AF FFF21). Woven through radical conversations with Masset, his team of passionate caregivers, and their patients, Costa-Gavras unearths our buried fears of death and dying while gently reminding us of the art of listening. Guided by Masset’s radical approach to patient care, Toussaint discovers the power of returning choice to the body and the dignity in dying as one chooses. Dialogical and Socratic in tone, yet never stuffy, this film lyrically grapples with unanswerable questions, responding to our existential fears with love and care. In the spirit of groundbreaking philosophical films like My Dinner with André, Costa-Gavras deftly teaches without instructing. Daring to ask life's biggest questions, BEFORE WHAT COMES AFTER invites us to listen closely – the answers may surprise us.

Based on Vanessa Schneider's book My Cousin Maria Schneider and informed by Back Home director Jessica Palud’s own experience working with director Bernardo Bertolucci, BEING MARIA is the true story of the actress' fallout in the wake of a film so lewd that she was criminally charged by Italian courts. 1972: When 16-year-old aspiring actress Maria Schneider (Anamaria Vartolomei, Happening, AF FFF22) reconnects with the father and movie star who abandoned her as a child, she is kicked out of home. Distanced from her mother's controlling influence, she is drawn into the orbit of aspiring director Bernardo Bertolucci (Giuseppe Maggio), and cast alongside superstar Marlon Brando (Matt Dillon) in the salacious Last Tango in Paris, Bertolucci’s provocative new film inspired by his fantasies. However, this opportunity comes at a heavy cost. Despite only consenting to scripted nudity, Schneider is ambushed by an improvised scene of sexual assault devised by Bertolucci and Brando. BEING MARIA is the powerful and damning exploration of the monstrous side of art, and the women left to pick up the pieces. In the wake of #MeToo, Palud poses a vital question: for women, is it ever truly just “show business”?

Every 15 minutes, someone somewhere in the world plays Ravel's "Bolero" – it's a legacy its artist could never have imagined. Renowned composer Maurice Ravel (Raphaël Personnaz) is haunted by self-doubt and melancholy. Commissioned by eccentric and magnanimous Russian dancer Ida Rubenstein (César-winning Jeanne Balibar), he must compose a carnal, rapturous fanfare for her latest ballet. Blocked creatively and cast aside by his peers, Ravel turns to his closest friends for inspiration – pianist Marguerite Long (Emmanuelle Devos, Masquerade, AF FFF23), his friend Cipa (Vincent Perez) and Cipa's sister Misia (Doria Tillier), whom he hopelessly adores. Set against the decadent, industrialised Paris of the 1920s, "Bolero" demands that Ravel draw on the essence of sound itself to redeem his raw genius, or risk being consumed by it completely. A tribute to the timelessness of the composer’s haunting masterpiece, Bolero, writer-director Anne Fontaine takes us on a deconstructed, elliptical journey through the idiosyncratic life of Maurice Ravel, via his struggle to complete that 17-minute piece of music. Premiering at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam, BOLERO is a celebration of a classical genius.

Special Forces veteran Elyas (Roschdy Zem, The Origin of Evil, AF FFF23) lives in isolation, haunted by the horrors of Afghanistan. When a ghost from his past reappears, he is drawn back into a world he swore to forget. Now working as a bodyguard for Amina (Laëtitia Eïdo) and her teenage daughter Nour, he must protect the family from shadowy forces – even if his paranoia threatens to consume him. But what, or who exactly, are Amina and Nour hiding from? As Nour works her way into his heart, a mysterious syndicate shatters their peace. Forced to confront highly-trained enemies in a tense game of survival, Elyas must reactivate the soldier within, or risk losing everything. With every decision crucial, and every person a threat to Nour, will Elyas' survival instincts become his greatest weapon? Action-thriller director Florent-Emilio Siri (director of Hostage starring Bruce Willis) returns to the big screen with his most explosive film yet. Roschdy Zem’s nuanced performance alongside newcomer Jeanne Michel, transforms ELYAS into a gripping, edge-of-your-seat film. Perfect for fans of John Wick and Taken, ELYAS asks how far you would go to protect the people you care for.

Opening the San Sebastián International Film Festival, this revolutionary adaptation of Emmanuelle Arsan’s eponymous novel is a masterclass in pleasure. Screening exclusively with limited sessions at AF FFF25, this film is a sensory experience not to be missed. A six-star hotel in Hong Kong glitters at night. Emmanuelle (Noémie Merlant, The Innocent, AF FFF23), an expat quality assessor for luxury hotels, has just arrived. She’s here to find the vulnerable spot in hotel manager Margot Parson’s (Naomi Watts) expert direction but something else awaits her in the gilded corridors and plush suites: a sensual rabbit hole of erotic fantasies. Award-winning director Audrey Diwan (Happening, AF FFF22) returns to the big screen with a classy, sensual remake of the softcore cult classic, Emmanuelle. Teasing atmospheric longing reminiscent of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love, Diwan’s film is a slow-burn, aesthetic exploration of unfettered female pleasure. Both wrestling with, and ultimately liberating itself from Just Jaeckin’s original 1974 film, feminine fantasy is the nexus of EMMANUELLE. Focusing entirely on her pleasure, Emmanuelle doesn’t care whether you think she’s selfish or not – she wants you to join in.

How close is too close? Doctor Béranger (Christian Clavier, Employee of the Month, AF FFF22), a brilliant psychoanalyst, has life figured out – except for one little hiccup: his desperately needy client, Damien Leroy (Baptiste Lecaplain). Suffocated by Damien’s relentless clinginess, Béranger devises a plan to get rid of him by convincing him of a “secret” – true love will cure him. At first, it works like a charm... until it works too well. Fast-forward to Béranger’s thirtieth wedding anniversary, when his daughter drops a bombshell: her new boyfriend is none other than Damien Leroy. Worse, Béranger and Damien must pretend they’ve never met. With the family’s happiness on the line, a celebratory weekend of meeting the parents spirals into chaos as true love turns from remedy to disaster. Arnaud Lemort's upbeat, slapstick comedy will leave you in stitches, poking fun at attachment theory, boundaries, and the absurd idea that true love fixes everything. Packed with shenanigans and heartfelt missteps, FAMILY THERAPY shows what happens when family and work collide, with hilarious results. After all, what’s better than a free therapy session, even if it derails your psych’s life in the process?

Direct from the Cannes Film Festival 2024, HOLY COW marks Louise Courvoisier as a powerful new voice in cinema, winning the festival’s prestigious Youth Prize in the Un Certain Regard category. In the Jura region, renowned for its Comté cheese, 18-year-old Totone (Clément Favreau) has his childhood cut short after a devastating tragedy. Suddenly the sole carer for his 7-year-old sister Claire (Luna Garret), and forced to sell his father’s farm equipment to make ends meet, Totone devises a plan: follow in his family’s cheesemaking footsteps and win the €30,000 Comté cheese prize – even though he has no idea of where to start. With an unfiltered realism, this debut features heartfelt performances by non-professional actors and real farmers, bringing raw authenticity to Courvoisier’s first feature film. Shot on location in the countryside of the director's childhood, and with her entire family contributing to the soundtrack and set design, Holy Cow is a beautiful ode to neorealist classics like Bicycle Thieves made fresh for modern audiences. Much more than an insight into rural life, HOLY COW pays tribute to community, resilience, love, and cheese curds in pastoral France.

A freak run-in with a black bear drives Michel (Franck Dubosc) off the road one wintry Christmas Eve, leading to the deaths of two strangers. Instead of reporting the accident, he panics and flees. His long-suffering wife Cathy (Laure Calamy, Antoinette in the Cevennes, AF FFF21), an ardent fan of crime novels, points out the obvious: with his prints all over the deceased’s car, suspicion will fall on him – and they can’t afford bail. When they discover two million euros and a gun on the bodies, their situation takes a dangerous turn. As another body surfaces, Michel and Cathy will stop at nothing to avoid suspicion, even if it means burying themselves in an avalanche of lies. Franck Dubosc’s black comedy, HOW TO MAKE A KILLING, is a journey full of twists where nothing is as it seems. As Michel and Cathy navigate ethical dilemmas and increasingly absurd situations, the feckless small-town gendarmes inch closer. But what if they’re closer to the sharp detectives in Cathy’s crime novels than they first appear? Leading from one improbable instance to another – and with bears technically non-existent in the Jura – how far will Michel and Cathy go to clear their names?

You’ve heard of cabin fever, but what about submarine fever? Lucas Bernard’s IN THE SUB FOR LOVE is a bold and hilarious romantic comedy that dives deep into love – and chaos. When Marco (Pio Marmaï, The Three Musketeers I & II, AF FFF24), a carefree steward, meets Marianne (Eye Haïdara), a serious, practical submarine officer, during a fleeting shore leave, their lives briefly entangle. But when Marianne accidentally leaves her necklace behind, Marco seizes the chance to return it – only to find himself aboard her submarine with no chance of escape! Can love flourish 500 feet underwater, or will their differences sink the sub? Like fire and water, Marco’s charm and easy-going savoir-faire clash with Marianne’s steely discipline, resulting in a laugh-out-loud odd-couple comedy. This French gem of a wildly mismatched love story navigates high seas, tropical storms, and even the Arctic, proving when it comes to love, even the steadiest course can veer off chart. With its vibrant colours and punchy humour, IN THE SUB FOR LOVE is a buoyant love letter to the screwball romantic comedies of the 1940s. Lucas Bernardʼs witty direction and the castʼs electric chemistry make it the perfect choice to close AF FFF on a high note. All hands on deck – don’t miss this heartfelt film!

Featuring a fantastic ensemble cast, the charming new dramedy by Blandine Lenoir (Aurore, AF FFF18; Annie’s Fire, AF FFF23) follows a young woman’s efforts to reconnect to herself and her family during an unexpectedly eventful trip home. When 35-year-old Juliette (Izïa Higelin, La Belle Saison), a children’s book illustrator, returns to her country village to spend some downtime with her loved ones, what she encounters is anything but low-key. Her harried elder sister Marylou (Sophie Guillemin, in a scene-stealing turn) is carrying on a “ one-day-a-week " affair with a man from the costume shop, her grandmother is becoming frailer by the day, and her long-separated parents are feuding – he (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) is kind but emotionally distant, she (Noémie Lvovsky) is wildly-revelling in the second act of her life as a single woman. As buried memories and long-held secrets stir to the surface, Juliette must grapple with how to remain connected to the fractured family’s story, and reclaim her own identity. Based on a graphic novel by Camille Jourdy (whose work formed the basis for the equally-winning hit Rosalie Blum), Lenoir’s gorgeous film finds pathos and humour in even the worst behaviours of her richly captured protagonists. JULIETTE is a gem to be treasured.

When champion boxer Souleyman gets in a bar fight on the eve of his Olympic Games début, it’s not just his dreams that are shattered. With broken knuckles and sentenced to 400 hours of community service at the decadent Château de Chambord, it looks like it's all over for Souleyman (Ahmed Sylla, The Climb). Stuck collecting rubbish and participating in cheap medieval reenactments, he is resigned to his fate until he is surprised by foster kid Mélissa (Mallory Wanecque, Beating Hearts, AF FFF25). Deeply troubled but blessed with an inherent gift for boxing, she might just be the ticket to Souleyman's official comeback. LIKE A PRINCE is a fresh, upbeat comedy from actor and first-time director Ali Marhyar. Filmed on location at Château de Chambord, the spectacular French Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley, LIKE A PRINCE proves that going from champion boxer to teen coach is harder than it looks. If Souleyman wants to convince Mélissa that her dreams are worth following, he’ll need more than just talk. When every punch counts, what kind of mark will Souleyman leave behind?

Penny-pinching Justine (Sandrine Kiberlain, November, AF FFF23) is sick of hustling. So when her boss, high-flying investor Franck (Daniel Auteuil, A Silence, AF FFF24), approaches her to organise a showstopping romantic weekend for him and the woman with whom he has fallen hopelessly in love, she jumps on board. What could possibly go wrong with €14,000 cash upfront and a weekend of romance? Given free creative control, Justine and her unemployed husband Albin (Denis Podalydès, The President's Wife, AF FFF24) devise the perfect solution: they'll give Franck their own profit-making version of the ultimate love boat experience. Engaging a motley crew of friends also keen to make a buck, they’re like Ocean's Eleven on a budget. But when Franck reveals that Justine is the woman of his dreams, it looks like this love boat is about to get a little crowded... LOVE BOAT is a hysterical comedy of errors from actor-director Bruno Podalydès that will have you laughing out loud at absurd disguises, misguided intentions, and chaotic schemes. Expect the very best of the worst – half bottles, cut corners, and special deals – all as long as it's not too expensive.

Ever dreamt of winning the lotto? Think again. When four people find their dreams come true, life finally feels perfect. But what if their luck is just about to run out? With dreams turning into nightmares and fortunes becoming burdens, this off-kilter comedy follows four interweaving stories in the wake of a life-changing windfall. Marriages are tested, friendships sour, and buried secrets are revealed, forcing the winners to question whether life really is better after the jackpot. From the award-winning duo who wrote The Shiny Shrimp, LUCKY WINNERS is the whip-smart black comedy from Maxime Govary and Romain Choay that pushes boundaries, and characters, to their limits. With its cast of French favourites including Audrey Lamy (The Kitchen Brigade, AF FFF22), Anouk Grinberg (Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe, AF FFF24), and Pauline Clément (Maria into Life, AF FFF23), this is one of the season's most surprising and hilarious films. The stories may be bite-sized, but these lucky winners are about to find they've bitten off more than they can chew. It will be sure to leave you questioning whether it's ever truly wise to look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't miss this deliciously subversive film. Get your tickets to this gripping black comedy now!

In the tradition of on-the-road dramatic comedies like Little Miss Sunshine, MEET THE LEROYS is the moving story of the veneer we paint over lost connections and a reminder that even the brightest bonds, like stars, can fade, despite our best intentions. Sandrine Leroy (Charlotte Gainsbourg, My Dog Stupid, AF FFF20) is bitterly unhappy. When she announces her intention to divorce her husband, Christophe (José Garcia), he is left reeling. With Sandrine set on separation and their children feigning ambivalence, Christophe has only one thing left up his sleeve: a surprise, nostalgic road trip weekend with the entire family. The deal? If Sandrine doesn't change her mind by the end of the trip, he'll let her go. But is one weekend enough to overcome years of stale marriage? And how can they rekindle the passion that once consumed them? Directed by Florent Bernard, MEET THE LEROYS won the Grand Prix at the Alpe d'Huez Film Festival for its sincere depiction of a family in crisis. Inspired by Bernard's own experience of his parents’ divorce and shot in Burgundy where he grew up, the film is a bittersweet exploration of the things we lose without realising.

Set in the picturesque Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Eric Besnard’s (A Great Friend, AF FFF24) historical drama offers an intimate look at rural life where tradition and progress collide. In 1889, a rural village is confronted with something dangerous: the free, secular, and mandated schooling of the French Republic. Tasked with educating the village’s children, Louise Violet (Alexandra Lamy) faces a hostile reception. Fearful of change and distrustful of anything that might distract their children from farm work, the forceful mayor Pierre Lecomte (Grégory Gadebois, A Great Friend, AF FFF24) makes one thing clear: if she wants to win the villagers over, she’ll have to speak their language. As winter deepens and tensions rise, Miss Violet must confront a darker truth: while education serves as a bridge, some divides are personal. Facing the villagers means confronting herself, and some secrets can't stay buried forever. Louise may be the teacher, but she has lessons to learn too. What can the village teach her? Rich in costumes and natural, seasonal light, MISS VIOLET is a sumptuous exploration of how education can both disrupt and awaken. A simmering study of resilience, regret and opportunity, this film is a must-see for anyone who believes in the transformative power of education.

Just as Marion Cotillard was to La Vie en Rose, Golden Globe-nominated actor Tahar Rahim is to MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR, transforming into the iconic singer/songwriter for this lavishly entertaining rise-to-stardom biography of the man who beat all odds to not only become one of France’s best-loved entertainers, but personified French culture to the rest of the world. Born in Paris in 1924 as the son of Armenian refugees, Charles Aznavour’s formative years are spent in poverty, but distinguished by his parents’ passion for music and theatre. Ridiculed for his short stature and raspy tenor voice – traits he would in time fully embrace – Aznavour’s early attempts at a showbiz career during the Occupation falter. Whilst gifted, his material finds more success in the hands of others, including his friend Pierre (Bastien Bouillon), and later the imperious Edith Piaf (a scene-stealing Marie-Julie Baup), who becomes a highly influential mentor and supporter. But by the 1950s, Aznavour finally realises his own ambitions; his empathetic ‘chansonsʼ about the heartbreaks, confusions and passions of the common man (mining the dramas of his own life) catapult him to global attention. Led by its starʼs astonishing performance and stunning vocal prowess, MONSIEUR AZNAVOUR is a true tour de force – as intimate as it is spectacular – and serves as a triumphant reminder of the power and impact of music. Don’t miss one of France’s biggest hits of the year.

A sensation at Cannes and one of Franceʼs biggest box office and audience favourites of the year (achieving over two million admissions and entry into the top five of 2024), writer/director Emmanuel Courcol's wildly entertaining new film follows two very different siblings separated by fate and reunited by their love of music. Thibaut (the exceptional Benjamin Lavernhe, Delicious, C’est la vie!) is a beloved and internationally celebrated orchestra conductor who travels the globe. When a health crisis and subsequent DNA test inadvertently reveals he was adopted as an infant, Thibaut discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy (rising star Pierre Lottin), who lives in more modest circumstances; he works in a school cafeteria, cares for his mother and plays the trombone in a community brass band. The pair seem to have little else in common other than a love of performance, but sensing his sibling’s exceptional talent, Thibaut decides to remedy the injustice of fate and try to help nurture his brother’s untapped gifts. An eruptive crowd favourite wherever it has premiered (notably receiving the highest audience score in the 51-year history of the San Sebastian Film Festival), MY BROTHER’S BAND is a rousing, feel-great trip to the cinema, expertly striking the perfect harmony between laughter and tears. Bring your family, your friends, and some tissues.

After establishing herself as one of France’s most popular and successful comediennes, the multi-talented Laure Calamy follows Full Time, AF FFF22, with another dramatic tour-de-force in writer/director Anne-Sophie Bailly’s deeply affecting debut. Calamy plays single, middle-aged beautician Mona, completely dedicated to 30-year-old son Joël (Charles Peccia Galletto), who lives with cerebral palsy. Joël works in a specialised facility and is secretly in love with co-worker Océane; while Mona knows nothing of their relationship, all is revealed when it becomes evident that Océane is pregnant. Océane’s parents and Mona are collectively stunned by the news, but the couple declare they are in love and determined to forge a life together. Mona finds herself torn between her son’s iron will, her maternal instincts and a suppressed desire to enjoy life on her own terms… Emotionally involving and honest, Bailly’s debut feature offers a moving observation of caregiving, inter-dependence and how society treats the rights of the most fragile. With Calamy excelling alongside her impressive non-professional co-stars, MY EVERYTHING is a stirring and resonant story of motherhood, compassion and acceptance.

Selected for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, this powerful debut from Céline Sallette is an introspective spotlight on one of the contemporary world's most iconoclastic artists. From sculptor and painter to author and filmmaker, who was Niki de Saint-Phalle before becoming the woman who refused to conform? 1952: Fleeing an oppressive America in the throes of McCarthyism, Niki (Charlotte Le Bon) and her husband Harry (John Robinson) arrive in Paris ready to leave their past behind. Overwhelmed by motherhood and working as a model and actress, Niki hopes her bohemian life is enough to fulfil her – or silence the haunting episodes from her childhood. Just as secrets cannot be forgotten, talent cannot always lie dormant. When Niki is forced to face her demons, will she find something beautiful in the darkness? With an unflinching yet gentle eye, Salette sheds light on the archaic practices women were subjected to in the name of medicine, and their resilient, artistic triumphs in spite of it. An empathetic meditation on the pain we bury, NIKI is the biopic that proves that art can liberate us from the wounds that cut the deepest.

Straight from the 2024 Festival du Cinéma Américain de Deauville and filmed on location in Mauritius, Simon Moutaïrou’s powerful debut is an unmissable journey following those who dare to stand against injustice. In 1759, Mauritius is a profitable colonial outpost for France, but for Massamba (Ibrahima M'baye) and his daughter Mati (Anna Diakhere Thiandoum), it’s a living hell. Slaves on a sugar plantation owned by the ruthless Eugène Larcenet (Benoît Magimel, The Taste of Things, AF FFF24), they are the victims of brutal laws enforced under the guise of justice – even though Larcenet’s son Honoré (Félix Lefebvre) fiercely disagrees. In this world, disobedience means death. Yet Massamba remains blind to the growing resistance in Mati, whose salvation lies not in becoming a seamstress but in escape at any cost. When Mati flees the plantation, Larcenet calls on the uncompromising maroon hunter, Madame La Victoire (Camille Cottin, Call My Agent), a devout Catholic and Royalist, to bring her back. Aided by her militant sons, Madame La Victoire will bring Mati before God and the law – unless Massamba can reach her first. NO CHAINS NO MASTERS captures history with unflinching force – a festival experience for the big screen.

They might have been prodigies at home but at the Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music, they're nothing. Twin pianists Claire (Camille Razat, Emily in Paris) and Jeanne (Mélanie Robert) have been militantly trained by their father for one single goal: greatness. So when they find themselves under the tutelage of the tyrannical Professor Klaus Lenhardt (August Wittgenstein), they’re ready to be pushed to their physical and emotional limits. However the twins quickly realise that their biggest challenge isn’t the music or the gruelling regime – it’s each other. When Claire and Jeanne are diagnosed with a sudden aggressive and incurable illness, their sibling rivalry pales by comparison. The twins must decide: will they defy the odds and do whatever it takes to truly become prodigies? Based on an impossibly true story, PRODIGIES is an inspiring debut film by real-life brothers Frédéric and Valentin Potier. Premiering at the 17th Angoulême French-Speaking Film Festival, this stirring and emotional drama captures the pain of our ambitions, and what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve greatness. An unmissable film of passion, obsession, and sibling rivalry, this is France’s answer to Whiplash.

Retired French general François (André Dussollier, Everything Went Fine, AF FFF22) and his wife Annie (Sabine Azéma) have been married for five decades. Enjoying all the perks of retirement, François heads to the attic one day to declutter old boxes and dust off memories, only to stumble upon his worst nightmare: a stack of love letters revealing his wife’s affair from forty years ago. It's up to François to make the mature choice: does he turn the other cheek and let bygones be bygones? Or does he sharpen his wits and call in favours to track down the man who humiliated him? Hell-bent on the latter, François scours the Côte-d'Azur, determined to exact revenge – even if it means losing what he holds most dear in the process. It’s time for vengeance, French Riviera-style! This delightfully contagious comedy from director Ivan Calbéra (The Tasting, AF FFF23), proves you’re never too old for crazy acts of love – or payback. With stunning backdrops, a whole lot of heart and shenanigans a-plenty, RIVIERA REVENGE is guaranteed to make you both laugh and cry. No one ever said marriage was easy and who could resist retribution by the seaside?

Discover the true story behind the man who wrote The Little Prince. In 1930, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Louis Garrel, The Three Musketeers - Milady, AF FFF24), a pilot for Aéropostale, flies too high over Argentina's Andes, crashing into the sea. To his best friend, Henri Guillaumet (Vincent Cassel, The Three Musketeers - Part I & II, AF FFF24), he's just Saint-Ex, getting into trouble again. After being demoted by Aéropostale, which is also planning to lay off half of its radio operators – including Henri’s wife, Noëlle (Diane Kruger) – the two hatch a daring plan to save the business. But when Henri goes missing over the Cordillera, Argentina's enormous mountain range, will Saint-Ex defy all odds to bring him back? From French-Argentine director Pablo Agüero and selected for competition at the Namur International French-language Film Festival (FIFF), SAINT-EX tells the true story of defying odds in the name of friendship and loyalty. With sweeping, epic cinematography, this stunning film weaves adventure, brotherhood and ambition into a symbolic journey across Argentina’s mountain ranges. With high altitudes and high stakes, SAINT-EX is an exhilarating tale of courage, skill, and daring.

"Onstage, you can be anyone you want – even yourself." Colin (Joachim Arseguel), a 14-year-old with a stutter, is the new student at school, and being himself is the furthest thing from his mind. Struggling to fit in and too shy to take up space, he’s content to remain invisible if it means avoiding attention. That is, until he meets Monsieur Devarseau (José Garcia), a passionate drama teacher who believes anything is possible if we have the courage to believe in ourselves. Challenging Colin to take on the lead role in Cyrano de Bergerac in their school production, Monsieur Devarseau’s unwavering faith in his students will help them find their voices and bring the house down. This touching comedic drama from Jennifer Devoldère showcases the power of tolerance and authenticity, proving that every leap of faith begins with someone who believes in us. Celebrating the transformative potential of theatre with a charming cast of misfits, SPEAK OUT teaches us that we deserve more than making ourselves small. If we want to bring down stars from the sky like Cyrano, we just need a little panache!

Pierre Niney leads a stellar cast in Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière’s thrilling new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ epic adventure, the first French cinematic treatment of the iconic tale of romance and redemption in over fifty years. Marseille, 1815. The dreams of principled young sailor Edmond Dantès (Niney) are about to come true; promoted to ship’s captain, he can finally marry the love of his life, Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier). But his success inspires jealousy… betrayed by his rivals, Dantès is denounced as a member of a pro-Napoleon conspiracy and incarcerated without trial in an isolated prison. After years of solitude, Dantès befriends the inmate in the adjacent cell, Abbé Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino), who reveals the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. An extraordinary plan is hatched to exact revenge on the three men who wronged him… A true cultural phenomenon in France (where it stormed the box office with close to 10 million tickets sold), THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO delivers luxurious, spectacular big-screen entertainment, at once timeless and electrifyingly new. Widely expected to sweep the 2025 César Awards, it’s a Festival must-see.

The remarkable Mélanie Laurent and Guillaume Canet take centre stage in writer-director Gianluca Jodice's transfixing historical drama, evocatively depicting the last days of the French Revolution and the fates of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. 1792. The official Parisian residence of the king, the Tuileries Palace, has been stormed. Louis, Marie Antoinette and their children have been arrested and confined in a medieval chateau in the city centre. Far from the splendour of Versailles, where the family and their retinue had lived until only a few years earlier, they are vulnerable for the first time in their lives. While the King naively tries to keep spirits high and manners intact, his pragmatic and imperious wife is far more realistic about their predicament, and the destiny that likely awaits them… Drawn from the diaries of Louis XVI’s personal valet, this exceptionally crafted drama features not only marvellous production design and cinematography, but incredible costumes by twice Oscar-nominated designer Massimo Cantini Parrini. Dominated by the exceptional performances of its two leads, THE DELUGE is a compelling dramatic rejoinder to Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and Benoît Jacquot’s Farewell My Queen, which both depicted the royal couple’s lives well before the party was over.

Sumptuous, rapturous, and full of drama, Sarah Bernhardt’s life is here to be experienced in all its theatrical glory – just as La Divine intended. Sarah Bernhardt (Sandrine Kiberlain, November, AF FFF23) is larger than life and a cyclone of contradictions. The original theatre diva, her world is blinding stage lights, opulent wealth, and delicious scandals. Ruled by fleeting fancies and sweeping emotions, she even holds court from her sickbed. And what better time to revisit her groundbreaking 19th-century stardom than in recovery from surgery? Guillaume Nicloux’s decadent biopic is an experience like no other: from exotic menageries to consuming affairs, La Divine is as showstopping as she is capricious. Patron to Alphonse Mucha, friend to Victor Hugo, and “little star” to Alexandre Dumas, Sarah Bernhardt defied societal expectations, adored dramatic death scenes and scandalised her convent with a lizard’s funeral. Nicloux’s film vividly recounts Bernhardt’s tempestuous story and is a dazzling chronicle of a chameleonic actress who defined her generation. Uncover the life of the world’s first celebrity in THE DIVINE SARAH BERNHARDT.

Inspired by true events, Teddy Lussi-Modeste’s gripping new morality thriller – co-written by Venice Golden Bear winner Audrey Diwan – stars the exceptional François Civil (The Three Musketeers) as a dedicated young educator whose world is upended when he is accused of misconduct by one of his students. Julien (Civil) has recently commenced teaching at a middle school in the Parisian suburbs. Enthusiastic, likeable and extremely diligent, he is absolutely floored when informed that introverted teenage pupil Leslie (Toscane Duquesne) has alleged he attempted to seduce her during class. Knowing this to be false but hesitant to articulate why, Julien grows more anxious when he realises that the school executive is only expressing half-hearted support for him whilst it moves to protect itself. As pressure builds from Leslie’s imposing older brother and her classmates, and the discomforting ramifications of the accusation – and the motivations behind it –- spread into the community at large, both Julien and Leslie face not only hostility, but danger… Set within the microcosm of the school, but reflective of wider society, Lussi-Modeste’s enthralling, nuanced and conversation-starting film is an intelligent and highly believable exploration of the complexities of human behaviour in the post #MeToo era.

Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, THE KINGDOM is a powerful debut film that is a rich and sensory experience – a must-see drama embodied by fierce, tender love. Corsica, 1995. Lesia (Ghjuvanna Benedetti) is desperate for a normal teenage life. However, amidst the island's gang politics, she’s not just the daughter of notorious mafioso – she’s a potential target. Taken from the beachside to an unknown villa, she is reunited with her father, Pierre-Paul (Saveriu Santucci), who is hiding from the police. As her summer holidays melt away, she is drawn deeper into his world of blood feuds and violent retribution. When all-out war erupts, Pierre-Paul and Lesia must go to ground, where they will face each other and themselves. With unflinching realism, THE KINGDOM is a powerful account of family bonds and gang violence, told by Corsican first-time director Julien Colonna and a non-professional cast. A peek into a turbulent world as seen through the eyes of a child, Colonna’s film never falls into caricature. Rather, it serves as a testament to the humanity found beneath the surface and the roles we are forced to play to survive.

Is it bad luck to rob a dead man if everyone wins? On one of Brittany's smaller isles, best friends Jean-Jean (Didier Bourdon, Promise at Dawn, AF FFF19) and Henri (Gérard Darmon, Employee of the Month, AF FFF22) find their quiet, ordinary life disrupted when a local claims the "hyper million" national lottery. Convinced they can rub shoulders, and euros, with the winner, the two set out, only to find that luck is already on their side – the local has died with the winning ticket in his hand! Armed with a spark of ingenuity and more than a bit of bad improvisation, Jean-Jean and Henri settle on a foolproof plan: a lottery scam with the whole village on side. What could go wrong? This sweetly hysterical film (a remake of the Irish classic Waking Ned Devine) from Hervé Mimran blends absurdity, heart, and a lot of mischief. Misfits Jean-Jean and Henri prove that you're never too old to raise a little hell. Set in stunning Brittany, this cast of colourful characters will steal your heart. A charming intergenerational story of what we can achieve as a community (yes, even fraud), THE SCAMMERS is a delightful romp for the whole family.

Inspired by incredible true events, acclaimed writer/director Pascal Bonitzer’s sharp and engrossing new social comedy follows a self-assured auctioneer whose professional and personal integrity is challenged by the discovery of a long-lost masterpiece. Paris, present day. Brash 40-something André Masson (César Award-winner Alex Lutz), a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. Though highly sceptical, André travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina (the superb Léa Drucker, Custody) who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi officials during WWII. For André, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte), will prove both unexpected and transformative. Skilfully brought to life by an array of both endearing and duplicitous characters, THE STOLEN PAINTING is a thrilling exploration of the often-cynical world of art dealing and collecting, where the jaw-dropping prices aren't always related to the rarity of the object. It’s savvy and sophisticated entertainment.

Winner of three major awards at Cannes and Best Actor at the recent European Film Awards, writer/director Boris Lojkine’s propulsive drama follows a young courier as he races across Paris whilst preparing for a life-changing residency interview. Delivery workers have become an indispensable part of city life, especially since the pandemic. Among them is Souleymane (Abou Sangaré, in a commanding debut), who criss-crosses the frenetic Parisian streets in a constant race against the clock. He, like many around him, is working without permission, ‘renting’ his identity from a friend with legal status. But in just two days, Souleymane will learn whether his own asylum application will be approved or not. So, whilst striving to meet his delivery platform’s demands, he nervously practices for his interview, trying to keep his growing anxiety at bay… A major artistic highlight of this year’s Festival, Lojkine’s compassionate drama echoes not only Bicycle Thieves and the best films of the Dardennes, but also edge-of-your-seat thrillers such as Full Time (AF FFF23), and fast-became both a national talking point and word-of-mouth hit across France. Only adding to the film’s immense power is the real-life situation of its remarkable lead, who has already been denied citizenship by the French authorities. Three times.

One of France’s most beloved and awarded actors, the remarkable Daniel Auteuil is also an accomplished writer and director (The Well-Digger’s Daughter), and this engrossing new legal thriller finds him once again in outstanding form. Auteuil stars as Jean Monier, a well-past his prime defence lawyer who – ever since discovering he was responsible for a killer being exonerated – prefers to work as a prosecutor. But one evening he agrees to help his over-committed wife and fellow counsel Annie (Sidse Babett Knudsen, Borgen) by meeting with Nicolas Milik (Grégory Gadebois, Delicious, AF FFF21), a shell-shocked father of five who has just been arrested for the murder of his troubled wife. Milik’s predicament inexplicably touches Jean; the more he pieces together the case, the more he becomes convinced of Milik’s innocence. Soon Jean rediscovers his passion for his vocation and becomes obsessed with exposing the real killer. Characterised by typically first-rate performances from its stellar cast, this pulled-from-the-headlines drama – based on true events and adapted from the memoirs of lawyer-turned-bestselling author Jean-Yves Moyart –- is a gripping exploration of guilt, conceit and the slippery nature of justice. Packing a genuine punch, THE THREAD’s conclusion lingers long after the credits have rolled.

A poignant adaptation of Alice Ferney’s book L'Intimité, Carine Tardieu’s film is a meditation on beliefs and convictions, as well as the transformation available to us when we pivot and grow. Sandra (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Anaïs in Love, AF FFF22), a feminist librarian, is not interested in children. In addition to this ambivalence, she has vowed never to become a mother. When her neighbour Alex (Pio Marmaï, The Three Musketeers I & II, AF FFF24) asks Sandra to watch his six-year-old son Elliot (César Botti) while his pregnant wife, Cécile, gives birth, Sandra sees it as just a one-off – until Cécile tragically dies after labour. Caught between grief and a desire for connection, Sandra, Alex, and Elliot’s lives become entangled in unforeseen ways, creating bonds and challenges as they wrestle with evolving definitions of love. Tender and never didactic, THE TIES THAT BIND US is a powerful reminder that it takes many shapes to form a family. Expertly navigating unexpected connections and how they can subtly but profoundly shift our worldviews, Tardieu's masterful drama presents an empathetic, non-judgmental observation of all the ways we form attachments – and how love triumphs where we least expect it.

Winner of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival SACD Best Screenplay award and opening night film of the Director’s Fortnight section, Sophie Fillières' THIS LIFE OF MINE is a sharply funny and deeply resonant take on midlife crises. With her signature wit and humour, Fillières delivers a tender portrait of a woman navigating the chaos of family, work, and the absurdities of aging. Barberie "Barbie" Bichette (Agnès Jaoui, Place Publique, AF FFF19) is a woman under siege: her kids cringe at her quirks, her soul-crushing copywriting job barely inspires her, and her body feels like it’s rebelling. Caught between hot flushes and existential dread, Barbie stumbles through the comedy of life at 55, where every small struggle feels monumental. On the brink of her birthday, Barbie faces a choice: conform to society’s dismissive view of aging women or break free. What follows is a journey of rediscovery as she escapes to the Scottish Highlands to reclaim her spirit and sense of self. Equal parts poignant and funny, THIS LIFE OF MINE reminds us that midlife isn’t the end of the story – it’s just the start of a fabulous new chapter.

Emmanuel Mouret, award-winning director of Love Affair(s) (AF FFF21), returns to contemporary stories of love, loss, and entanglement with effortless aestheticism. Turning pain into beauty and the ordinary into tragedy, THREE FRIENDS is a study of the lies we tell ourselves and each other. Joan (India Hair, Annie's Fire, AF FFF23) is married to Victor, Alice (Camille Cottin, Call My Agent) to Eric, and Rebecca (Sara Forestier, Oh Mercy!, AF FFF20) is having an affair with the mysterious Mr. X. Their realities couldn't be more different: Joan isn’t in love with Victor anymore, what Alice has with Eric is nice enough but she’s only pretending, and Rebecca’s Mr. X happens to be Alice's husband Eric. Then Victor goes missing, and the three friends find their charades beginning to unravel. How much longer can the truth stay hidden? Tempted by desire and haunted by the fear of alienation, Mouret’s sometimes funny, oftentimes poignant film shows that betrayal is not a leap from a ledge, but a series of small steps along a secretly travelled path. Three friends, three lies, three truths – this is a compelling film you don't want to miss!

Direct from the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and winner of the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, François Ozon's (Everything Went Fine, AF FFF21) haunting drama, WHEN FALL IS COMING, marks the director's return to his signature lyricism. In the depths of autumn in Burgundy, Michelle (Hélène Vincent, The Extraordinary, AF FFF20) spends her quiet, isolated life foraging in the undergrowth for mushrooms with Marie-Claude. When Michelle's acerbic daughter, Valérie (Ludivine Sagnier, Of Love and Lies, AF FFF20), drops her son off for the school holidays, Michelle hopes his stay will rekindle their strangled relationship. But when Michelle makes a mistake, she risks everything and her relationship with everyone. Alienated from her daughter again and shadowed by guilt, Michelle’s world turns bleak – until Marie-Claude’s son (Pierre Lottin) is unexpectedly released from prison. WHEN FALL IS COMING is an atmospheric film that maps our mistakes and our redemption, our second chances and changing seasons. Amidst the beauty of autumnal Burgundy, Ozon's film reveals a quietly menacing undercurrent. This darkness sets off a chain of startling events and highlights secrets, which like poisonous mushrooms, often lurk in plain sight.