French Film Festival returns for its 20th season in New Zealand

24 fresh French stories, across 24 towns and cities, over 4 weeks.

After a standout 2025 marked by packed theatres and widespread sell-outs, the L’Oréal French Film Festival Aotearoa celebrates its 20th edition by bringing the magic of French cinema back to audiences across Aotearoa from May 27.   Releasing its full programme today, the festival guarantees a compelling line-up of standout, hand-selected films including French box-office hits, Cannes favourites and award-winning talent including Pierre Niney in Guru, Angelina Jolie in Couture, Pierre Lottin in the modern take on the Alfred Camus classic The Stranger, and Isabelle Huppert in The Richest Woman in the World - all with that unmistakable French flair that audiences continue to fall in love with year after year. Angelina Jolie in Couture  Festival Director Fergus Grady commented, “The response last year was incredible. We’re seeing audiences really embrace the festival experience, coming back multiple times and trusting the programme to deliver something special each visit. This year’s line-up continues that tradition, with something for everyone to discover.” Opening the festival this year is the acclaimed drama from Cédric Klapisch (The Spanish Apartment, Back to Burgundy) Colours of Time, following four estranged cousins who are reunited by the unexpected inheritance of a house in Normandy, uncovering the extraordinary story of their ancestor in 19th century Paris - a city alive with invention, early photography and the rise of Impressionism. Other highlights include The Richest Woman In The World - the modern day scandal of billionaire L’Oréal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt; Award-winning François Ozon’s, The Stranger, a story of a young expatriate on trial for murder in 1930s French-colonised Algeria and a poignant new adaptation of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables, charting the origin story in Jean Valjean, the beloved tale’s iconic protagonist.   L’ORÉAL FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AOTEAROA IS IN CINEMAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM MAY 27 TO JUNE 28. TICKETS ARE ON SALE TODAY AT FRENCHFILMFESTIVAL.CO.NZ Please find the full programme below along with the 2026 locations and dates. 2026 PROGRAMME (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): A DASH OF LOVE (Comedy/Drama) This exciting debut feature follows a delightful cast of characters on a road trip that will change their lives. Julia Piaton plays Mélanie, a gifted lawyer suffering from a terminal illness. Deciding it’s time to live life on her own terms, she convinces her old school friend Benjamin (Quentin Dolmaire) to accompany her on a road trip to Spain. Joining them as their burly chauffeur is Lucas (Grégory Gadebois), one of Mélanie’s clients who has recently been released from prison. In exchange for her legal services, Mélanie ropes him into taking the wheel. The unlikely trio embark on an unforgettable journey across stunning vistas, embracing joy and friendship along the way. This a trip you will most certainly want to take! A NUN IN THE CITY (Comedy) After twenty years of devotion to her convent, Sister Lucie’s (Marilou Berry) quiet life is upended when she is separated from her sisterhood during a group outing. While trying to find her way home, she spots a familiar face on a television screen: her teenage sweetheart, now accused of a high-profile murder. Convinced of his innocence, she makes the impulsive decision to try to help him. Lucie’s disappearance has caused panic back at the convent, and the formidable Mother Superior Henriette (Isabelle Nanty, Amélie) sends two nuns to track her down and bring her back. A heartwarming, comedic story where faith, freedom and past love collide with surprising results. CASE 137 (Crime/Thriller) Léa Drucker took home the Best Actress César award for her performance in this gripping thriller as Stéphanie, an Internal Affairs police officer who is assigned the case of a young man severely wounded during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. When she discovers that the victim hails from her hometown of Saint-Dizier, the case suddenly becomes far more personal. While nothing initially points to police misconduct, Stéphanie soon finds herself isolated in a system hellbent on protecting its own. With officers refusing to talk, Sophie turns to housekeeper and reluctant witness Alicia Mady (Guslagie Malanda) whose testimony holds the key to the truth - but puts them both in danger. From Dominik Moll (Only the Animals), this compelling crime drama was selected for official competition at Cannes International Film Festival 2025. COLOURS OF TIME (Comedy/Drama) Director Cedric Klapisch has crafted a genuine crowd-pleasing story that blends the excitement, wonder and art of Belle Epoque France with present day themes around identity, legacy and connection. In 1895, young Adele (Suzanne Lindon) leaves Normandy for Paris, a city alive and buzzing with invention, photography and the rise of Impressionism. In the present day, her descendants inherit an unexpected legacy: a countryside house in Normandy, abandoned for decades and suspended in time. Four of Adele’s descendants arrive to survey the Estate and together end up piecing together the story of Adele’s unexpected life. Colours of Time is a charming and fascinating family saga and is sure to be a hit at this year’s Festival. COUTURE (Drama) Angelina Jolie turns in a career-best performance in this immaculate drama set in the high stakes fashion world. Taking place during the frenzy of Paris Fashion week, Jolie plays American filmmaker Maxine Walker, commissioned to direct a film for a prestigious label. After receiving sudden, life-changing news, Maxine crosses paths with two other women: Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model who has escaped her predetermined destiny to make a name for herself, and makeup artist Angéle (Ella Rumpf, Marguerite’s Theorem) who quietly dreams of a different life. Amid the glamorous scenes of haute couture, each must make choices small and significant, and confront major career decisions. CYCLE OF TIME (Comedy) Elsa Zylberstein (Simone: Woman of the Century) and Didier Bourdon (The Scammers) star in this inventive time travel comedy that sharply explores societal roles. It’s 1958 in quiet suburbia. Hélène and Michel live a simple but happy life with their two children. Michel works in a bank, while Hélène focuses her efforts on their home and family life. Through an unexpected series of events, the couple find themselves catapulted into the 21st century. As they navigate this unfamiliar world, the pair must confront new ways of thinking, loving and living. Propelled by hilarious performances, this is a delightfully subversive comedy that will have you rediscovering the present through characters from a bygone era. DE GAULLE: TILTING IRON (Biography/Drama) Direct from Cannes Film Festival 2026 - June 1940, France collapses and signs the Armistice. Amid the chaos, one man, Charles de Gaulle, refuses to give up. Taking the ultimate gamble he flees to London and seeks to convince the world that the battle for France is neither over or lost. What follows next is a triumphant story of faith, audacity and an unshakeable quest for freedom. Antonin Baudry has crafted a powerful and dramatic view of a man at the very centre of a turning point in history, on his path to becoming a 20th century leader and cultural icon. The reality of intense politics, family struggles and the impact of war are deftly drawn in this geopolitical thriller, which has been more than five years in the making. Simon Abkarian commands the screen as the titular General, leading a stand-out ensemble cast including Benoît Magimel, Mathieu Kassovitz, Francois Darlan, Niels Schneider and the César-winner Anamaria Vartolomei (The Count of Monte Cristo). The talented Simon Russell Beale (The Choral) rounds out the cast as Winston Churchill, with the film exploring the complex relationship between De Gaulle and the British Bulldog. GURU (Thriller) In this tense psychological thriller, Pierre Niney (The Count of Monte Cristo) delivers a chilling performance as a popular life coach with a dedicated following. Mathieu Vasseur (Niney) delivers electrifying seminars, promising empowerment and transformation to his loyal fanbase. But behind his carefully curated image lies a more sinister reality. As scrutiny from skeptics and the law pushes Vasseur's organisation towards obsession and collapse, he faces the question: how far can he go? Guru is a razor-sharp examination of power dynamics that masterfully explores the thin line between mentorship and manipulation. Already a hit in France with over $16 million USD at the box office. AN EVENING WITH VICTOR HUGO (Comedy/Drama) Director Pascal Bonitzer (Maigret and the Dead Lover) brings this charming tale from the late Sophie Fillières brilliantly to life. French acting legend Fabrice Luchini plays popular performer Robert Zucchini, who has built his career on a stage act that lauds the works of the famous writer Victor Hugo. Robert’s bold reverence of Hugo’s ‘male genius’ doesn’t always play well with more enlightened modern audiences, and he finds himself not only at odds with a feminist theatre troupe, but with his adult daughter Lisbeth (Marie Narbonne, The Count of Monte Cristo), who has recently reappeared in his life. Robert wrestles with how art meets with politics - but more importantly, with his real-life relationships. Where he once took refuge in texts of the past, Lisbeth demands his presence in the moment. Little by little, with his daughter’s help, Robert begins to reconnect with his past, open up to others and relearn the practice of his craft. Pascal Bonitzer has crafted a slick, emotional, funny account of modern problems playing out on and off stage. JEAN VALJEAN (Drama) Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables is one of the most beloved novels of the 19th century, and now the superb Grégory Gadebois has re-teamed with his Delicious writer/ director Éric Besnard for this authentic and emotionally affecting retelling that charts the origin story of the tale’s legendary protagonist. 1815, Provence, France. In the peaceful village of Digne, rumour spreads that a dangerous man has entered the area; indeed, the hulking Valjean (Gadebois) has just been released from prison after nineteen years of hard labour. Branded a criminal and ostracised, Jean is repeatedly turned away. Desperate for a bed, he knocks at the door of the house of Monseigneur Bienvenu (Bernard Campan), who lives simply with his ailing sister (Isabelle Carré) and dedicated (but suspicious) servant (Alexandra Lamy). Without judgement, Bienvenu invites him in. And on this crucial night, Jean will face a choice that will define his future... With this superbly filmed exploration of justice, empathy and moral redemption, Besnard’s reflective and intimate drama – and Gadebois’ towering performance - bring new depth to Hugo’s hero, a spurned man transformed by kindness and compassion. Admirers of the source text and rich historical drama will not be disappointed. JUST AN ILLUSION (Comedy) From Eric Toledano and Oliver Nakache, the award-winning directors of The Intouchables and A Difficult Year comes a heartwarming and brilliant comedy set in the suburbs of Paris in 1985. The film follows Vincent (an incredible debut performance from Simon Boublil), a boy standing on the precipice of his 13th birthday and his Bar Mitzvah - a milestone that feels more like an identity crisis than a celebration. Vincent’s mother Sandrine (Camille Cottin, Three Friends) tries to hold the family together with her job as a secretary, while his father Yves (Louis Garrel, also starring in Couture) grapples with unemployment and a wounded ego. Caught between his parents’ frequent arguments and a distant older brother, Arnaud (Alexis Rosenstiehl), Vincent must find his own rhythm in a family that is out of sync. Simon Boublil is being hailed as a major discovery for his performance as Vincent, carrying this nostalgia-soaked tale with a winning combination of vulnerability and dry humour. Meanwhile, French cinema stalwarts Cottin and Garrel deliver explosive but grounded chemistry. Directors Toledano and Nakache blend the infectious energy of a classic 80s soundtrack with their signature brand of heartfelt humour, for their most personal film to date. Book in quick to avoid disappointment! LEAVE ONE DAY (Comedy/Drama) Making waves in 2025 as the first-ever debut feature selected to open the Cannes Film Festival, Amélie Bonnin’s joyously entertaining musical romance stars break-out singer/songwriter Juliette Armanetas, a talented Parisian chef forced to reconnect with her small-town upbringing during an unexpected trip home. Cécile (Armanet) – a fan-favourite Top Chef winner – is about to finally realise her dream and open her own restaurant when her father, the cook at a small rural truck stop, falls unwell. Cécile must deal with a return to her roots that is more complicated than she imagined in this warm-hearted and completely endearing gem. MAIGRET AND THE DEAD LOVER (Crime) Following the break-out success of 2025 hit The Stolen Painting, acclaimed writer/director Pascal Bonitzer brings his unique perspective and panache to Simenon’s cherished Parisian detective - a French counterpart to Agatha Christie’s Poirot - as he attempts to solve the murder of a diplomat with a long-held secret. Inspector Maigret (four-time César nominee Denis Podalydès) is urgently summoned to the Quai d’Orsay: a former ambassador has been found shot dead by his long-serving housekeeper (Anne Alvaro, Bolero). But rather than contact the police, she has followed diplomatic protocols by first informing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Forewarned that he will find a series of salacious letters - and cautioned to be discrete - Maigret heads to the victim’s opulent apartment. He finds no forensic evidence at the crime scene, but certainly, the letters prove startling - secret, decades-spanning correspondence between the ambassador and the Princess of Vuynes, whose own husband, by strange coincidence, has also just died…Bonitzer, renowned for an intuitive and empathetic focus, finds a perfect match with a protagonist who relies on quiet observation. He delivers an absorbing, wholly compelling mystery that also serves as a thoughtful examination of modern life’s key concerns: hierarchy, aging, and the very different worlds that money creates. Best of all, the twist ending is…a killer. ONCE UPON MY MOTHER (Comedy/Drama) Based on the bestselling autobiography by Roland Perez, this exuberant and heartrending film pays tribute to a love like no other – a mother’s love for her child. In 1963, Roland is born to Esther, her sixth child in their close-knit Jewish immigrant family living in the Parisian suburbs. When Esther learns that Roland has been born with a club foot, she vows to ensure her son lives not just a normal life, but a fabulous one. She enlists the help of a determined specialist and the pop songs of Sylvie Vartan (who makes a cameo in the film) to help Roland defy all expectations and learn to walk. This joyful crowd-pleaser absolutely smashed the French box office with over 1.5 million admissions. REDRESS (Drama/Thriller) Auteur Régis Wargnier (director of the Oscar-winning Indochine) returns to filmmaking with the masterfully crafted globe-trotting drama Redress. Renowned chef Paskal Jankovski is close to announcing his third Michelin star when he vanishes. Disappearing alongside him is Antoine, his trusted sous-chef. Paskal’s daughter Clara suddenly finds herself the inheritor of the family restaurant at just 20 years old and must embark on a journey to find the truth about her father’s fate. Covering continents, cuisines and cultures, Redress is a luscious combination of intriguing mystery, picturesque environments and a variety of sumptuous dishes - just don’t see it on an empty stomach! SANTIAGO: THE CAMINO THERAPY (Drama) Experience the breathtaking scenery of the Camino de Santiago in this life-affirming drama centred on an unforgettable pairing of characters. Adam (a powerful performance from up-and-comer Julien Le Berre) is a teenager who’s lost and heading in the wrong direction. After a run-in with the law, a judge hands over a surprising sentence: he must walk the 800km Camino de Santiago to think about his future. Assigned to walk the path with Adam is Fred (an excellent-as-always Alexandra Lamy), a tough and outspoken woman coming to terms with her own chequered history. Their journey is an uplifting and inspirational story, set against gorgeous vistas that deserve to be seen on the big screen. THE MONEY MAKER (Drama/Thriller) Based on an incredible true story, The Money Maker follows Jan Bojarski (Reda Kateb, The Extraordinary), a young Polish engineer taking refuge in France during World War II. Desperate to survive, he turns his talents to forging identity documents during the German occupation. Once the war ends, Jan still struggles to make ends meet. Stuck in underpaid jobs and denied citizenship, he is unable to patent his many inventions until a gangster recognises his skills and presents a risky opportunity: to produce counterfeit banknotes. So begins a thrilling and nail-biting series of events, as Jan leads a double life. For over 15 years he runs a counterfeiting operation from his garden shed, unbeknownst to his family. His fakes are so precise he earns the moniker “the Cézanne of counterfeit money,” but this also draws attention. Jan soon finds himself in the crosshairs of Inspector Mattéi (Bastien Bouillon, also starring in Leave One Day). Director Jean-Paul Salomé (The Godmother, The Sitting Duck) brings this fascinating and gripping tale to life, with an unforgettable performance from Reda Kateb. A certified hit in France with over 1.1 million admissions! THE MUSICIANS (Comedy/Drama) The enchanting new comedy of manners from acclaimed writer/director Grégory Magne (whose debut Perfumes was a huge success in the 2021 Festival),The Musicians stars Valérie Donzellias a wealthy heiress whose plan to stage a landmark concert is derailed by the clashing egos of the virtuosos recruited for the performance. Celebrating both the chaos and beauty of collaboration, set amidst the villas, vineyards and chapels of the stunning Champagne region, with an exquisite original score by Grégoire Hetzel, this is sparkling entertainment for the heart (and ears). THE PARTY’S OVER! (Comedy) This entertaining black comedy follows Mehdi (Sami Outalbali, Lucky Winners), a recent law graduate from a modest background spending the summer at his girlfriend’s luxurious family villa. He soon finds himself caught in an escalating class conflict between the entitled Trousselard family and their mistreated caretakers. Hoping to secure an internship at his girlfriend’s father’s prestigious law firm, Mehdi attempts to mediate between the two sides, only to be trapped in a spiralling conflict over money, power and pride.The Party’s Over! is a biting satirical portrait of class privilege with a sensational comic cast including Laure Calamy and recent César award-winner Laurent Lafitte. THE RICHEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD (Comedy/Drama) Few modern scandals have captivated France as the astonishing events surrounding Liliane Bettencourt, the billionaire heiress to the L’Oreal fortune and doyenne of Parisian society. Now writer/director Thierry Klifa has freely adapted the incredible story into a captivating dark comedy, featuring a jaw-dropping, tailor-made role for one of France’s most iconic stars. Marianne Farrère (Isabelle Huppert), the head of the Windler Group, is the richest woman in the world. Pierre-Alain Fantin (Laurent Lafitte, who won a César award for his performance) is a vivacious dandy, writer and photographer. After meeting on a photo shoot, the two quickly become inseparable. Their friendship surprises, amuses, intrigues, and eventually unsettles the billionaire’s entourage and family.  Most of all, Marianne’s daughter (Marina Foïs) struggles with her mother’s sudden complicity with this younger man, but her husband (André Marcon) and loyal butler (Raphaël Personnaz) share her concerns. Surreptitious queries soon transition into a private investigation, resulting in extraordinary ramifications for all involved…With several twists too good to spoil, The Richest Woman in the World makes the most of its fabulous ensemble cast, but Huppert and Lafitte simply eat up the screen. This wildly entertaining film became an enormous box-office hit in France for good reason. THE SON OF (Comedy) One week after a chaotic presidential election, France urgently needs a new Prime Minister. A hapless but ambitious young parliamentary assistant has a plan: convince his retired and highly erratic politician father (François Cluzet, The Intouchables) to return from exile and seize the top job. What follows is a breakneck political comedy that transforms into a razor-sharp portrait of power, ambition, and the flexibility of principle. The narrative hums with uncanny and prophetic resonance. Think Veep with a distinctly Gallic accent; anyone appreciative of Armando Iannucci’s savage political dissections and Succession will find much to savour here in this mischievously satisfying, winning satire. THE STRANGER (Drama) The superb new drama from multi award-winning writer/director François Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women, Under the Sand), The Stranger is a gripping adaptation of Albert Camus’ landmark novella about a detached young expatriate on trial for murder in French-colonised Algeria. Summer, 1938. Meursault (Benjamin Voisin, Lost Illusions), a quiet and unassuming clerk in his early thirties, attends his mother’s funeral. The next day he begins a casual affair with Marie (Rebecca Marder), a colleague randomly encountered at the local baths and quickly slips back into routine. However, daily life is soon disrupted by his volatile neighbour (an excellent Pierre Lottin, who won a César award for his performance), who draws Meursault into a dispute involving an ex-lover. And then, one blisteringly hot afternoon, an inexplicable event occurs on a beach, one that will see Meursault’s very moral standing brought to question…Visually resplendent with sensuous black-and-white imagery, Ozon’s elegant and masterfully realised film shines a contemporary lens on Camus’ classic tale of dissociation and morality, capturing the beauty and heat of a charged society on the boil. Both impactful and mysterious, The Stranger is one of the major highlights of this year’s Festival and should not be missed. WHAT IS LOVE? (Comedy/Romance) What is Love? is an uplifting and comedic examination of relationships and new beginnings, brought to life by an all-star cast. Marguerite (Festival favourite Laure Calamy) has long since moved on from her ex-husband Fred (Vincent Macaigne), having established a new life with a different partner. When Fred asks for Marguerite’s help in obtaining an annulment of their marriage from the Catholic Church, she is only too happy to oblige. However, as Marguerite and Fred navigate old memories and rediscover genuine affection - as well as the tensions that broke them - long-buried feelings begin to surface. 13 DAYS 13 NIGHTS (Thriller/War) Based on the incredible true story and autobiography of Commander Mohamed Bida, 13 Days,13 Nights is a profound thriller. Kabul, August 15, 2021. As US troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban storm the capital and seize power, plunging the city into chaos. Thousands of Afghans flock to the last safe haven: the French Embassy, where Commander Biba and his elite crew work to ensure security, and, with the help of Eva, a young humanitarian worker, negotiate with the Taliban to organise a convoy in a last-ditch attempt to evacuate. Director Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers) has crafted a breathless, edge-of-your-seat experience that simply must be seen on the big screen.