French Films and New Media Highlights in August

Set on the eve of the 21st century, Tsai Ming-liang’s fourth feature turns a crumbling Taipei apartment block into one of cinema’s strangest and most tender end-of-the-world romances. Perennial muse Lee Kang-sheng (‘the man upstairs’) and Yang Kuei-mei (‘the woman downstairs’) are among the building’s last holdouts, refusing evacuation as a mysterious epidemic spreads outside and rain batters the city without end. When a plumber leaves behind an unfinished repair, the man’s floor opens into an accidental passage between two sealed-off lives, turning leaks, trash, pesticide, and petty territorial warfare into a strange form of courtship. Among the most disarmingly funny and cathartic entries in Tsai’s filmography, The Hole finds hope in a world that seems to be falling apart, breaking its deadpan plague scenario open with splendorous Grace Chang musical numbers and poker-faced slapstick. Still playing in theaters nationwide, this 1998 vision of isolation remains uncannily, exhilaratingly prescient. A Big World Pictures release.

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. Don’t miss this special screening at the Avalon Theatre in Washington, DC on August 19.

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. Catch this special one-night screening at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) on August 10 at 7:30 PM.

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 month on The Criterion Channel, crank up the volume on a playlist of rock biopics that go beyond cliché to explore the elusive place where inspiration sparks and musical legends are born. A Southern Gothic collection serves up a thick gumbo of hothouse drama, while Desert Trips brings together four psychedelic journeys through the sun-scorched Southwest. There’s so much more to choose from this month, including the classic high school shocker Carrie, a pair of rousing dispatches from the front lines of labor struggle by Barbara Kopple, a new installment of Adventures in Moviegoing with Portlandia’s Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, exclusive premieres of an acclaimed American indie and a tender Indian love story, and a revelatory, newly restored portrait of James Baldwin.

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.

Metrograph celebrates French cinema this week with a rich selection spanning the work of Robert Bresson and Jean Eustache collaborator Jean-Louis Ughetto, alongside films by some of France’s most acclaimed directors. Highlights include L’Argent, My Little Loves, The Green Room, Chocolat, and Scene of the Crime, as well as Girlhood and Les Bonnes Femmes, presented as part of the series Among Friends, exploring the complexities of female friendship across generations and cultures.

Anthology Film Archives presents a remarkable selection of French cinema, ranging from Robert Bresson’s timeless masterpieces to Marcel Duchamp’s experimental films and Danielle Arbid’s acclaimed debut feature. Highlights include Pickpocket (1959), A Man Escaped (1956), L’Âge d’Or (1930), In the Battlefields (2004), and Jean-Marie Drot’s rare documentary Marcel Duchamp: A Game of Chess. The program also features several films by Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, and René Clair as part of the retrospective Marcel Duchamp on Film.

The Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI) presents the sixth edition of Arab Women in the Arts, an annual showcase celebrating Arab women who have transformed cinema and the arts. This year’s edition honors Lebanese-French filmmaker Danielle Arbid, whose work explores memory, exile, identity, and sexuality through bold, deeply personal storytelling. The festival opened July 29 at Anthology Film Archives with In the Battlefields (2004) and continues with screenings of Parisienne (2015), A Lost Man (2007), and a selection of Arbid’s short films. In-person screenings take place across New York City through August 2, while an online program is available nationwide through August 2.

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.

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).

The 2026-2027 Albertine Cinémathèque grantees 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.