French Films and New Media Highlights in July

An Ivorian pastor and former journalist, Marie, opens her home in Tunisia to three generations of migrant women: Naney, Jolie, and Kenza. A mother desperate to obtain residency status in Tunisia, Naney seeks a better life for herself and her daughter. Jolie, in Tunisia on a student visa, feels burdened by her family’s expectations for her future. Kenza, an orphaned child and the only survivor of a shipwreck carrying refugees to Tunisia, is lost and in need of a mother. Marie struggles with her role as a spiritual leader while assuming the role of Kenza’s caregiver and supporting Naney and Jolie. As the four women grow closer in this makeshift family, they must grapple with poverty, conflict, and alienation.

Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky is a “bittersweet celebration of endurance and sacrifice” (Screen Daily), demonstrating the importance of resilience, friendship and human connection in the face of global tensions surrounding migration and refugee crises.

Algiers, 1938. Meursault, a quiet and unassuming employee in his early thirties, attends his mother’s funeral without shedding a tear. The next day, he begins a casual affair with Marie, a work colleague, and quickly slips back into his usual routine. However, his daily life is soon disrupted by his neighbor, Raymond Sintès, who draws Meursault into his shady dealings — until, on one blisteringly hot day, a tragic event occurs on a beach.

Jason Robards stars as a New York Jewish lawyer who returns to his hometown of Stuttgart after 55 years to find traces of his parents (including a doctor father who was proud of having fought for the Fatherland during WWI) and closest school friend, scion of one of Germany’s most notable families. Told mostly in flashback, Reunion centers on the two 16-year-old boys (Christien Anholt as the young Robards and Samuel West as his aristocratic friend) and their unlikely friendship, even as national socialism begins to insinuate itself into everyday life.

Back in his hometown after years abroad, a virtuoso pianist unearths old passions and eerie coincidences in this haunting romantic mystery from one of the world’s most iconoclastic filmmakers.

Discover this month’s must-see programs available on the international French-language network, TV5 Monde.

A unique selection of films by leading African filmmakers, the Cinémathèque Afrique collection brings together restored works spanning from 1955 to today. Restored by the Institut français and made available by TV5MONDE+, these films offer a rare and essential overview of African cinema, highlighting its diversity, history, and enduring creative power.

This July, The Criterion Channel continues to celebrate French cinema with a rich selection of classics and auteur films available to stream. Subscribers can revisit iconic works including Éric Rohmer’s My Night at Maud’s and A Summer’s Tale, Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless and Contempt, Agnès Varda’s Cléo from 5 to 7, Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort, and Robert Bresson’s Pickpocket and Au hasard Balthazar. Explore the platform’s extensive collection to discover timeless masterpieces throughout the summer.

Organized by Alliance Française USA through its One Film One Federation initiative, in partnership with Telescope Film, the French Cinémathèque monthly online series celebrates French cinema through screenings and discussions led by renowned film critics.

This month’s selection is Éric Rohmer’s A Summer’s Tale (Conte d’été) (1996), a quintessential summer romance from the French New Wave master. While vacationing on the Brittany coast, recent graduate Gaspard finds himself caught between three women, leading to a tender, witty exploration of love, indecision, and chance encounters. The screening is followed by a live discussion in English with film critic and historian Béatrice Loayza.

Event begins at 4pm PT / 5pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET

A short documentary film uncovering Japanese photographer Akihiko Okamura’s extraordinary work in Ireland during the Troubles, and the artistic and emotional impact of its recent rediscovery. After a first trip in 1968 on JFK’s footsteps, Okamura moved to Ireland in 1969 with his family, and spent the next 15 years of his life photographing the north and the south of the island. Exploring his unique perspective as both an insider and an outsider, this short film offers a nuanced portrayal of the complexities and contradictions of human nature. Through interviews, archival footage, and Okamura’s own evocative photographs, we invite audiences to contemplate the universal themes of resilience, empathy, and the enduring quest for peace in the face of adversity. “The Memories of Others” is a testament to the power of visual storytelling in capturing the essence of human experiences amidst conflict. This film was made in collaboration with Photo Museum Ireland, Dublin, and the Akihiko Okamura Archive, Tokyo.

Launched on June 25, Echoes of Revolution is a free augmented reality experience that invites audiences to explore the history of the American Revolution through the streets of Boston and New York City. Developed by Sugar Creative in partnership with Ubisoft, the mobile experience overlays iconic historical sites with immersive 18th-century scenes inspired by the worlds of Assassin’s Creed® III and Assassin’s Creed® Rogue. Available on iOS and Android, the self-guided experience unfolds across both cities and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Villa Albertine and the French Embassy in the United States are proud partners of this innovative project celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.

Join L’Alliance New York for a special evening with acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert, who will introduce a screening of Claude Chabrol’s The Swindle (Rien ne va plus) (1997). The film follows two seasoned con artists whose latest scheme spirals into an increasingly dangerous game of deception, where loyalties and identities are constantly in question. The 7pm screening will be followed by an onstage conversation between Isabelle Huppert and filmmaker Ira Sachs as part of the Chabrol & Huppert: Doing Wrong series, celebrating one of cinema’s most iconic actor-director collaborations.

The 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) returns July 10–26 with a landmark anniversary edition celebrating 25 years of showcasing the best of contemporary Asian cinema. Presented across five New York venues, including Film at Lincoln Center, the festival will feature more than 100 screenings, filmmaker Q&A, special guests, and a dynamic lineup spanning established auteurs and emerging voices from across Asia.

French cinema will also have a presence through two international co-productions. Filipiñana, directed by Rafael Manuel (Singapore/U.K./Philippines/France/Netherlands), will make its New York Premiere, while Last Night in Taipei, directed by Kuo Cheng-chui (Taiwan/France), will receive its U.S. Premiere, highlighting France’s continued role in supporting ambitious international filmmaking.

Interested in nocturnal mysteries? Step inside Manhattan’s secret cabaret immersive experience. Directed by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus, this reinvention of The Phantom of the Opera transforms the Paris Opera House into a fully enveloping world where audiences move freely through the story: from the grandeur of the masked ball to the intimacy of backstage dressing rooms, down through mirrored passages into the deepest corners of the Phantom’s lair. Woven throughout, live performances, DJ sets, and intimate masked encounters unfold within a hidden, luminous speakeasy — a sensory plunge into music, mystery, and after-dark revelry, stranger and more fantastically than you’ve ever dreamt it.

The AXS Film Fund has opened applications for its 2026 grant program, supporting documentary filmmakers and nonfiction new media creators of color living with disabilities. Entering its sixth year, the fund has awarded $262,000 to 29 projects that amplify underrepresented voices at the intersection of film, disability, technology, and social change. Applications are open through July 31 for documentary and nonfiction new media projects.

Celebrate Diversity in Film on February 24-28 2027 with New York City’s 15th ANNUAL WINTER FILM FESTIVAL!

The festival seeks fresh voices and creative indie films in all genres. The festival is dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers and includes a highly regarded filmmaker education series, all screenings include director Q&A sessions and we work to ensure our films get written articles, video promos and red carpet interviews.

Use code WFF27GRP20 to take 20% off your submission fee

Early Bird Deadline Sep 14 – Regular Deadline Oct 18 – Late Deadline Nov 15

The We Are Human Festival launches its international Call for Films on June 1st. Dedicated to exploring human rights in the age of artificial intelligence, the festival invites creators aged 18 and over to submit short films (1 to 10 minutes) in any genre, including fiction, documentary, animation, video essay, or digital art.

Participants are encouraged to use AI as a creative partner to interpret or challenge Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each submission must include an Ethics Notebook outlining the creative process, the role of AI, and its potential biases.

Participation is free. Selected works will be showcased internationally across multiple cities, and three awards totaling €10,000 will be granted, including the Grand Prize (€5,000), Best Screenplay (€3,000), and Ethics Award (€2,000).

We are delighted to announce the 2026-2027 Albertine Cinémathèque grantees, who will organize French film festivals on their campuses as part of our long-standing program with US colleges and universities.

This year, our selection committee has recognized 55 French film festivals from a highly competitive pool of applicants. These festivals stood out for their strong curatorial and artistic vision, thoughtful integration into academic curricula, and potential for significant impact within their institutions.

Villa Albertine and Unifrance are pleased to unveil the 2026 Young French Cinema selection, featuring six acclaimed French films still awaiting U.S. distribution. From intimate auteur stories to socially engaged dramas, these bold new works spotlight the most exciting voices in contemporary French cinema, with women directors behind five of the six films. Available à la carte, the program invites art-house theaters, festivals, universities, and cultural organizations nationwide to bring today’s best French films to their audiences.

Discover this summer’s latest additions to IFcinéma, featuring four recent French films available to stream alongside the platform’s curated “Summer at the Movies” collection. New titles include Bonjour l’asile by Judith Davis, Mon inséparable by Anne-Sophie Bailly,  and À toute allure by Lucas Bernard—offering audiences a rich selection of contemporary French cinema, from intimate dramas to heartfelt comedies.

IFcinéma also spotlights the ongoing digitization of the Cinémathèque Afrique, one of the world’s most significant collections of African cinema. Established in 1961, the collection comprises more than 1,700 films from 45 countries spanning nearly seven decades. Recently digitized works—including Aouré by Moustapha Alassane, Birago Diop by Paulin Vieyra, and Abidjan, port de pêche by Jean Rouch—are gradually becoming available on the platform, expanding access to landmark films and preserving an invaluable cinematic heritage for future generations.