Highlights of The French Film Festival London 2025
French cinema is having a bit of a moment – it’s on everyone’s lips in London! So, there is no fitting place for a celebration of French celluloid culture than that London meeting place for Francophiles and Francophones known as Paris’ 21st arrondissement! Yes, South Kensington, we are talking about you as the location for the 2025 launch of London’s edition of the French Film Festival.
South Kensington’s Ciné Lumière, part of the French Institute, will host London’s French Film Festival programme during 12 – 23 November 2025. This portion of the festival will borrow some of the films in the UK wide Festival but will add its London flair alongside some additional films that are appearing on the main programme.
The festival’s opening night film to launch with a bang was The Great Arch regarding the architecture competition that François Mitterrand held for the creation of a great arch in La Défense. Directed by Stéphane Demoustier, this film is bound to entice French history and architecture lovers alike! Setting the tone for the rest of this London based festival, the film was followed up with a Q&A attended by the director and lead actor Claes Bang.
The first night continued to captivate audiences with a screening of the sultry Franco-American psychothriller fusion, A Private Life, starring Jodie Foster elegantly in her prime in a fully fluent French leading role. It is an enjoyable and quirky film that will also satisfy whodunit fans. Wild Foxes, Julia Ducornau’s Alpha and Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague also appeared for that first day treat.
Other films within the programme include a stunningly icy Marion Cotillard as an actress portraying a snow queen in The Ice Tower, Love Me Tender starring an impressive Vicky Krieps navigating a messy relationship breakdown, Enzo which had remained unfinished by the late Laurent Cantet, Case 137 as a gripping policier by Dominik Moll as well as Menus-Plaisirs about the restaurant Les TroisGros and more!
Cinephiles are very much encouraged to become cosy with special offers, if watching 5 films to receive a 20% discount. With a programme this satisfying, you might be tempted to watch even more!
Furthermore, in conjunction with the film Menus-Plaisirs – Les TroisGros is a gastronomy delight with a special menu curated at the Ciné Lumière’s restaurant. For a perfect pairing, audiences can experience Les TroisGros’ signature dish of pan-fried salmon with an excellent pairing of the light and fruity Côte Roannaise! The programme truly caters for all!
Diane Gabrysiak, Head of Programming and Exhibition at the Ciné Lumière says:
“After months spent diligently viewing a variety of new French films, the Ciné Lumière team is delighted to offer a selection of 33 titles that duly reflect the rich diversity of voices, forms and budgets that altogether represent the wealth of French cinema production, both at home and in the particularly strong trend of French films with or by international actors and directors. From the Palme d’Or Winner and French Oscar Contender It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi to Alice Douard’s Love Letters, we hope our selection of films and discussions bring people together to reflect on as well as celebrate the great art form that is cinema.”
The full programme for the London edition of the French Film Festival can be accessed here
The London French Film Festival’s trailer can be viewed here:
Which French film will you be watching first at the Ciné Lumière?
