French Films at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival

From April 8–19, 2026, the Minneapolis–St. Paul Film Society invites audiences to its 45th edition. As Minnesota’s only international film festival—and one of the largest and longest-running in the United States—MSPIFF offers a dynamic platform for global cinema.

The festival features more than 200 bold and compelling films from both emerging and established filmmakers, showcasing stories from across the globe, including a vibrant selection from France and the broader Francophone world.

Colors of Time (La Venue de l’avenir)
Dir. Cédric Klapisch (2025,  France)
When four cousins inherit a long-abandoned 19th-century Normandy estate, they uncover the bohemian secrets of their ancestor, Adèle Vermillard. Through a time-blurring journey, they connect with Adèle’s past and her vibrant circle of legendary artist friends. Cédric Klapisch delivers a soul-stirring, hallucinogenic comedy that explores how the whispers of history can transform the present.

Diya
Dir. Achille Ronaimou (2025, Chad, France, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire)
In this surprising debut feature, Chadian director Achille Ronaimou crafts a relentless thriller where a man accused of killing a child must pay a blood debt.

The Girl in the Snow (L’engloutie)
Dir. Louise Hémon, (2025, France)
1899. Hautes-Alpes. Soudain is a hamlet encircled by snow on the high plateaus of a remote mountain. Shortly after the arrival of a young primary school teacher, an avalanche claims its first local.

In-I In Motion (En nous)
Dir. Juliette Binoche (2025, France)
Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan collaborate to teach one another their respective disciplines of acting and dance in the stage show In-I Motion. The duo uses each other’s passion to expand their own creative boundaries while learning about themselves through the collaborative process. Binoche steps behind the camera to document the cathartic rehearsals and the final performance of this unique artistic exchange.

The Little Sister (La petite dernière)
Dir. Hafsia Herzi (2025, France, Germany)
Seventeen-year-old Fatima navigates her emerging identity and attraction to women while balancing deep loyalty to her French-Algerian family. As she starts university in Paris, she explores a new world of independence while grappling with the dilemma of reconciling different parts of herself. Hafsia Herzi’s fourth feature delivers a galvanized portrait of this journey, anchored by Nadia Melliti’s assertive lead performance.

Nino
Dir. Pauline Loquès (2025, France)
In three days, Nino will face a major challenge. But first, his doctors have assigned him two vital tasks. Two missions that will lead the young man on a journey through Paris, compelling him to reconnect with the world – and himself. Director Pauline Loquès’ moving debut feature stars Théodore Pellerin who brings an intense gravitas to his role as Nino.

Once Upon My Mother (Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan)
Dir. Ken Scott (2025, France, Canada)
From director Ken Scott, this Sephardi Jewish dramedy follows a determined mother’s lifelong mission to ensure her youngest son thrives despite his clubfoot. Spanning decades of hardships and miracles, the story captures an incredible destiny fueled by the profound power of a mother’s love. Adapted from Roland Perez’s autobiographical novel, the film features a leading performance by Leila Bekhti in this French box office hit.

The Stranger (L’étranger)
Dir. François Ozon (2025, France)
In pre-WWII Algeria, the nihilistic Meursault remains eerily indifferent to his mother’s death as he drifts into a languid affair and a criminal association. After a senseless act of violence on a beach, he faces his fate with a crushing detachment that defines his existence. François Ozon’s black-and-white adaptation expands Camus’ novel by giving a voice to the Algerians fighting for independence.

Young Mothers (Jeunes Mères)
Dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne (2025, Belgium, France)
In a Liège shelter, five young women navigate the raw complexities of early motherhood, from addiction and sobriety to the agonizing choice of adoption. The narrative follows their diverging paths as they arrive at or depart from the facility, grappling with the life-altering weight of their individual decisions. The Dardenne Brothers deliver an acutely observed and heartbreaking portrait of survival and struggle in one of their most acclaimed works.

Zelensky
Dir. Yves Jeuland, Lisa Vapné (2025, France, Ukraine)
From a hyperactive child in Kryvyï Rih to a popular TV star and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has become a global symbol of resistance against tyranny. Yves Jeuland and Lisa Vapné’s documentary traces his incredible trajectory through a treasure trove of archival footage and intimate interviews with those who know him best. The film provides an eye-opening look at how an entertainer transformed into an inspirational leader in the face of overwhelming odds.