For Francophiles and cinema lovers, the annual French Film Festival at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is a much anticipated event. This year, the popular festival celebrates its 30th anniversary with more than a dozen features, ranging from period pieces to animation. The festival runs from July 24 to August 23.
The line-up encompasses several genres, as well as films from Francophone countries other than France. Most of these movies aren’t gigantic productions. Instead, the emphasis is on character, dialogue and story, with a humanity and intelligence that is uniquely Gallic.
Among the features from this year’s line-up are:
“Case 137”
Inspired by true events, director Dominik Moll’s procedural concerns an inquiry into possible malfeasance by police during a riot. It’s highlighted by Léa Drucker’s superb performance as the lead internal investigator who tries to balance her ethics against the pressure tactics and disdain of her fellow police officers.
“Colours of Time”
Cedric Klaplisch, a popular contemporary French director, offers up a movie that has a dual time scheme, as the inheritors of a family property learn about its history and their ancestors’ legacy in Belle Epoch Paris.
“Comédie-Française”
This comedy takes place behind the scenes during a troubled production by the renowned theatrical troupe. Filmed at the company’s home in the heart of Paris, the movie features several of its most notable performers.
“The Grand Arch”
This is the story behind the creation of the Grande Arche de la Défense, the Paris monument built in 1983 to complement the famous Arc de Triomphe. The film was nominated for eight César awards (the French Oscars) and won two.
“The Little Sister”
A young Muslim woman contends with her sexuality when she is on her own at a university in Paris. Nadia Melliti won the Best Actress award at 2025’s Cannes Film Festival for her work.
“Nino”
Canadian actor Theodore Pellerin had a breakthrough role last year in the indie film “Lurker.” This movie certifies his reputation as an actor to watch. He plays a young man contending with a cancer diagnosis.
For those who may have missed them, the festival is also making available a couple of other films that had theatrical releases earlier this year. “Vie Privée,” stars French-speaking Jodie Foster as a psychotherapist who believes one of her clients may have been murdered. “Little Amélie, or the Character of the Rain,” is a witty and stunning animated film, based on novelist Amélie Northup’s childhood in Japan. It was nominated for a Best Animated Film Academy Award.
The full schedule and tickets are now available on the museum’s website.
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