Cover The Embassy of France to the Philippines, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, will host the 2024 edition of the French Film Festival from November 22 to 29 (Photo: Getty Images)
The Embassy of France to the Philippines, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, will host the 2024 edition of the French Film Festival from November 22 to 29 (Photo: Getty Images)
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For the first time in its history, the French Film Festival will present a cross-cultural selection of films from a diverse group of women filmmakers in France and the Philippines
The French Film Festival brings together filmmakers from France and the Philippines for its 27th year. Dubbed ‘Feminist!’ this year’s theme will advocate for gender equality on the international stage.
The Embassy of France to the Philippines, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, will host the 2024 edition of the French Film Festival from November 22 to 29. The festival’s contemporary and classic French film selection will be screened at SM Aura Premier and SM City North EDSA. Additional screenings will occur at the Alliance Française de Manille, the University of the Philippines Film Institute, and De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
Filipina director Sigrid Bernardo will spearhead the French Film Festival. On November 22, 2024, she will open a roundtable discussion on the role of women in cinema. Prior to the talk, a special screening of her short film May at Nila—a poignant love story set during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines—will be presented.
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Above French Film Festival 2024
French Film Festival 2024
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The festival will also welcome special guest Noémie Lefort, a French filmmaker who will introduce her film My Heroin, a narrative about a young girl who dreams of becoming a filmmaker in Hollywood.
Lefort will participate in a roundtable discussion on November 26 at SM North. She will be joined by key female figures from the Philippine film industry. Additionally, Lefort will conduct a masterclass on film directing for students at the University of the Philippines.
In recognition of the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, a special screening of Annie Colère (Angry Annie) will take place at the UP Film Institute on November 25. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with civil society organisations and feminist movements, addressing issues related to gender-based violence.
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Below is the selection of movies for the French Film Festival 2024:
1. ‘Prodigies’ (Prodigieuses) by Frédéric & Valentin Potier, 2024
Above ‘Prodigies’ (Prodigieuses) by Frédéric & Valentin Potier, 2024
Claire and Jeanne, twin sisters bound by their shared love of the piano, have always been driven by a singular passion. Under the guidance of their father, they both gain admission to a prestigious music university led by the formidable Professor Klaus Lenhardt. However, their journey takes a devastating turn when they discover they are afflicted with a debilitating illness that is gradually robbing them of the use of their hands. Determined not to abandon their dreams, Claire and Jeanne must fight against the odds and reinvent themselves, striving to prove that their prodigious talents are unbreakable.
2. ‘A Tale of Love and Desire’ (Une Histoire d’Amour et de Désir) by Leyla Bouzid, 2020
Above ‘A Tale of Love and Desire’ (Une Histoire d’Amour et de Désir) by Leyla Bouzid, 2020
The story follows Ahmed, an 18-year-old Frenchman of Algerian descent, who meets Farah, a young Tunisian woman. As their relationship blossoms, Ahmed becomes captivated by a collection of sensual and erotic Arab literature, and in the process, he falls deeply in love with Farah. Torn between his growing desire for her and his struggle to control it, he faces a profound inner conflict.
3. ‘Spring Blossom’ (Seize printemps) by Suzanne Lindon, 2020
Above ‘Spring Blossom’ (Seize printemps) by Suzanne Lindon, 2020
A 16-year-old girl, bored with her age group, becomes involved with an older man at a theatre she passes.
4. ‘Skies of Lebanon’ (Sous le Ciel d’Alice) by Chloé Mazlo, 2020
Above ‘Skies of Lebanon’ (Sous le Ciel d’Alice) by Chloé Mazlo, 2020
In the 1950s, Alice leaves her Swiss homeland for Lebanon. There, the best years of her life are marred by the threat of war.
5. ‘No Fucks Given’ (Rien à foutre) by Julie Lecoustre and Emmanuelle Marre, 2022
Above ‘No Fucks Given’ (Rien à foutre) by Julie Lecoustre and Emmanuelle Marre, 2022
Cassandre (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is adrift in life following her mother’s death. She spends her days working for a budget airline, engaging in fleeting, superficial relationships that fail to give her any sense of fulfilment.
6. ‘The Blank Page’ (La page blanche) by Murielle Magellan, 2022
Above ‘The Blank Page’ (La page blanche) by Murielle Magellan, 2022
Eloïse is sitting alone on a bench in Paris. She can’t remember who she is, where she comes from, or how she got here. So, she begins a funny investigation into her life. This amnesia might help her find love and reinvent her life.
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7. ‘Hard shell soft shell (Fragile)’ by Emma Benestan, 2021
Above ‘Hard shell soft shell (Fragile)’ by Emma Benestan, 2021
Az works as an oyster farmer in Sète, expertly opening hundreds of oysters each day. In a moment of hope, he hides a ring inside one of them, intending to propose to his girlfriend Jess—but when she opens it, her answer isn’t what he expected.
8. ‘The Rapture’ (Le Ravissement) by Iris Kaltenbak, 2023
Above ‘The Rapture’ (Le Ravissement) by Iris Kaltenbak, 2023
Lydia, a devoted midwife, finds herself caught in the midst of a breakup when her best friend, Salomé, reveals she is pregnant. Amidst this turmoil, Lydia unexpectedly crosses paths with Milo, a former one-night stand, while she is carrying Salomé’s baby in her arms.
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9. ‘Angry Annie’ (Annie Colère) by Blandine Lenoir, 2021
Above ‘Angry Annie’ (Annie Colère) by Blandine Lenoir, 2021
Annie becomes pregnant. Since she doesn’t want to keep the child, she meets a movement that performs illegal abortions in the eyes of the world. But, in the seventies, Annie will encounter allies and opponents along the way.
10. ‘Marinette’ by Virginie Verrier, 2023
Above ‘Marinette’ by Virginie Verrier, 2023
A biopic of Marinette Pichon, the pioneering French footballer who became the first woman from France to sign with a US professional league. She holds the record for the highest goals-per-game average and earned multiple selections to the French national team.
11. ‘Slalom’ by Charlène Favier 2020
Above ‘Slalom’ by Charlène Favier 2020
Under the mentorship of a demanding former champion, a talented 15-year-old skier trains to become a professional star. Will she be able to withstand the intense physical and emotional challenges that lie ahead?
12. ‘My Heroine’ (Mon Héroïne) by Noémie Lefort, 2022
Above ‘My Heroine’ (Mon Héroïne) by Noémie Lefort, 2022
Alex dreams of making films, but in Rouen, her daily life is a far cry from the glamour of Hollywood. Despite her overprotective mother, Alex is determined to enrol in a prestigious film school in New York. When things don’t go as planned, Alex, with the help of her aunt, travels to New York to deliver her script to actress Julia Roberts.
13. ‘The Count of Montecristo’ (Le Comte de Montecristo) by Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre De La Patellière, 2024
Above ‘The Count of Montecristo’ (Le Comte de Montecristo) by Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre De La Patellière, 2024
After escaping from the island prison where he was wrongfully imprisoned for fourteen years on charges of state treason, Edmond Dantès returns as the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo to seek vengeance on the men who betrayed him.
14. ‘The Balconettes’ (Les Femmes au Balcon) by Noémie Merlant, 2024
Above ‘The Balconettes’ (Les Femmes au Balcon) by Noémie Merlant, 2024
Three women in a Marseille apartment get stuck in a heat wave. They find themselves trapped in a terrifying affair and longing for freedom.
15. ‘When Fall is Coming’ (Quand Vient l’Automne) by François Ozon, 2024
Above ‘When Fall is Coming’ (Quand Vient l’Automne) by François Ozon, 2024
Michelle, a retiree in Burgundy, expects her grandson Lucas but a mistake ruins her plans. Her friend Marie-Claude’s son is released from prison, reviving Michelle's purpose.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
