{"id":8708407,"date":"2026-03-26T21:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T21:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villa-albertine.org\/va\/?post_type=app_event&p=8708407"},"modified":"2026-03-26T22:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T22:30:10","slug":"18th-annual-robert-french-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"app_event","link":"https:\/\/villa-albertine.org\/va\/events\/18th-annual-robert-french-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"18th Annual Robert French Film Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Opening night features the Midwest Premiere of Bienvenue en Islande<\/strong><\/em> by Andr\u00e9 Nerman, launching two dynamic weekends where painting, dance, theater, and music come vividly to life\u2014across strands devoted to artistic performance, contemporary storytelling, visually inventive cinema, and stories shaped by history, biography, and literary worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Night Reception<\/a><\/strong>
Friday April 3, 2026, 6:15 pm, Par lounge<\/em>
Bienvenue En Islande<\/strong><\/a> directed by Andr\u00e9 Nerman, 2026
Friday, April 3, 2026, 7:30 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatr<\/em>e
Welcome to Iceland<\/em> is a feature-length film inspired by a true story: a mother\u2019s struggle for her disabled son, set against the backdrop of the ocean and its shifting tides. An unexpected encounter with a surfer and new therapies will transform the child\u2019s destiny. Director Andr\u00e9 Nerman has performed as an actor, singer, musician, and dancer in St. Louis for over 20 years.
Introduction by Emmett Williams, Director of Festival Curation & Education, Cinema St. Louis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Triplets of Belleville (Les Triplettes de Belleville)<\/strong><\/a> directed by Sylvain Chomet, 2003
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters\u2014an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire\u2014to rescue him. Watch trailer<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky<\/strong><\/a> directed by Jan Kounen, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 3:30 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky\u2019s The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The revolutionary dissonances of Igor\u2019s work parallel Coco\u2019s radical ideas. She wants to democratize women\u2019s fashion; he wants to redefine musical taste. Coco attends the scandalous first performance of The Rite in a chic white dress. The music and ballet are criticized as too modern, too foreign. Coco is moved but Igor is inconsolable. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em>
Introduction by Jean-Louis Pautrot, Vice-President of the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise of St. Louis, Professor of French at Saint Louis University<\/em>.

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt (Sarah Bernhardt, la Divine)<\/strong><\/a> directed by Guillaume Nicloux, 2024
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 7:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
Sarah Bernhardt is at the height of her fame. An icon of her time and the world\u2019s first star, the actress is also a passionate, free-spirited and modern woman who defies conventions. Discover the woman behind the legend. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em>
Introduction by Simon Kelly, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, St. Louis Art Museum<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persepolis<\/span><\/a><\/strong> directed by Marjane Satrapi et Vincent Paronnaud, 2007
Friday, April 10, 2026, 7:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
In 1970s Iran, Marjane \u2018Marji\u2019 Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah\u2019s defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em>
Introduction by Kaveh Razani<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Museum<\/span><\/a><\/strong> directed by Herv\u00e9 & Olivier Bienaim\u00e9, 2026
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 12:30 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
A French school class from the provinces sets out on an excursion to the Centre Pompidou in Paris in a thought-provoking film that, with simple means and a twinkle of humor, explores what art and culture mean, and for whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moliere<\/span><\/a><\/strong> directed by Laurent Tirard, 2007
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 4:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
Moli\u00e8re, a down-and-out actor-cum-playwright up to his ears in debt. When the wealthy Jourdain offers to cover that debt so that Moli\u00e8re\u2019s theatrical talents might help Jourdain win the heart of a certain widowed marquise, hilarity ensues. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em>
Introduction by Isabelle Heidbreder, Honorary Consul of France in St. Louis, and Professor at the Alliance Fran\u00e7aise de St. Louis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Artist<\/strong><\/a> directed by Michel Hazanavicius, 2011
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 7:30 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colours of Time (La venue de l’avenir)<\/strong><\/a> directed by C\u00e9dric Klapisch, 2025
Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
United by the unexpected inheritance of a house in Normandy, four estranged cousins discover their family history by retracing their ancestor\u2019s steps. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (La Danse, le ballet de l’Op\u00e9ra de Paris)<\/strong><\/a> directed by Frederick Wiseman, 2009 – Sunday, April 12, 2026, 4:00 pm, Hi-Pointe Theatre<\/em>
The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the world\u2019s great ballet companies. The film follows the rehearsals and performances of seven ballets: Genus<\/em> by Wayne McGregor, Le Songe de Med\u00e9e<\/em> by Angelin Preljocaj, La Maison de Bernarda<\/em> by Mats Ek, Paquita<\/em> by Pierre Lacotte, Casse Noisette<\/em> by Rudolph Nureyev, Orph\u00e9e and Eurydice<\/em> by Pina Bausch, and Romeo and Juliette<\/em> by Sasha Waltz. The film shows the work involved in administering the company and the coordinated and collaborative work of choreographers, ballet masters, dancers, musicians, and costume, set, and lighting designers. Watch trailer<\/a><\/em>
Introduction by Alex McPherson<\/strong>, Pop Life St. Louis Film Critic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8708998,"menu_order":0,"template":"","app_discipline":[219],"app_city_tax":[223],"app_event_type":[504],"class_list":["post-8708407","app_event","type-app_event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","app_discipline-cinema","app_city_tax-chi","app_event_type-film-festival"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n18th Annual Robert French Film Festival - Villa Albertine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cinema St. Louis presents a vibrant celebration of French Art on screen, exploring the rich dialogue between cinema and the arts, from iconic figures and bold contemporary voices from April 3-12, 2026.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/villa-albertine.org\/va\/events\/18th-annual-robert-french-film-festival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"18th Annual Robert French Film Festival - 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