Villa Albertine San Francisco at the San Francisco Dance Film Festival 2026
Villa Albertine San Francisco is pleased to support the 17th annual San Francisco Dance Film Festival, celebrating the artistry of dance and the creative possibilities of cinema. This year’s program features a selection of films that illuminate the depth and diversity of French and France-connected artistic practice, from the world of the Paris Opera Ballet to contemporary choreography and experimental screendance. Through intimate portraits of artists, inventive approaches to movement, and stories that transcend language, these works invite audiences to discover how dance can express complex ideas, explore the human experience, and open new perspectives. By bringing French artistic voices into dialogue with San Francisco’s vibrant dance and film communities, the festival fosters meaningful cultural exchange and celebrates the shared spirit of experimentation that connects artists and audiences across borders.
My Benjamin
Thursday, October 29
UNITED STATES PREMIERE | My Benjamin follows Benjamin Pech during his final year as an Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet, tracing the arc of his artistic life i from his entry into the Opera’s ballet school at age ten to the severe hip injury that now threatens to end his career.
A visual essay on endings, on the loving acceptance of deterioration, and on the need to be seen through, My Benjamin renders the world of ballet intimate through rare access and tenderness.
Followed by a live Q&A with director Victoria Clay Mendoza, moderated by Sabrina Bot (MerciSF).
Otter Lake
Friday, October 30
WORLD PREMIERE | Otter Lake follows choreographer Emma Portner as she turns to movement to reconnect with herself and confront her inner world. At just 31, Portner has become one of dance’s most distinctive voices, creating work for the National Ballet of Canada, the Norwegian National Ballet, and musical artists ranging from Justin Bieber to FKA Twigs.
This documentary offers an intimate look inside her creative process, following Emma as she produces three new works, and captures her vulnerability and brilliance during her Otter Lake residence, offering a glimpse into the soul of an artist who communicates through movement when words fall short.
Followed by a live Q&A with Emma Portner, director Katya Mokolo, and editor Elodie Fouqueau.
Hammer, part of Cue the Music
Thursday, November 5
Cue the Music at transforms San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building into a dynamic celebration of sound and movement on screen.
Shot on analog film, Hammer is at the crossroads of punk energy and contemporary dance. Featuring performers from the Paris Opera Ballet, the camera turns away from the stage and dives into the pit, transforming a raw, chaotic pogo into a visceral and poetic choreographic experience. Hammer reclaims the mosh pit as a space of liberation, trance, and cinematic beauty.
Nuage, part of Body Language: Screendance Shorts
Saturday, November 7
Body Language: Screendance Shorts showcases a full slate of international screendance work, spanning nine countries across four continents.
At the border of land and sea, two bodies bound by shared mourning weave a dance suspended between memory and release in the film, Nuage. Where the land ends and the sea begins, two bodies lose themselves. Suspended in their memory, they weave a desolate dance, made of silent defiance the inheritance of a shared mourning.
Leap!
Sunday, November 8
Bring the whole family for a free screening of the animated feature film Leap!, an adventure about courage, friendship, and following your dreams. Set in 19th-century Paris, the story follows Félicie, a spirited orphan determined to become a ballerina. After escaping the orphanage, Félicie must summon all her determination to pursue the role of a lifetime at the Paris Opera Ballet.
This event will include an introduction by San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer Dores André and an opportunity to dance onstage after the screening.
Online Festival
November 9 – 30
Experience the art of dance through the 2026 Online Festival, featuring select shorts and exclusive online-only feature films—all from the comfort of home, anywhere in the world.