2026 Robert French Film Festival
The 2026 Robert French Film Festival is back, and you won’t want to miss this year’s exceptional lineup of films!
This year’s theme, "L'art français au cinéma: French Art in Cinema," invites audiences into a rich, stylish celebration of how the arts have shaped the history of French film. From the dazzling silent-era charm of The Artist to the breathtaking movement of La Danse, the luminous portrait of The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, and the bold, unforgettable storytelling of Persepolis, the program traces a lineage of creativity, performance, and visual imagination.
Tickets will go on sale beginning Friday, March 13 (March 11 if you are a Cinema St. Louis member) and you can get them at https://festivals.cinemastlouis.org/frenchfilm2026/
Friday, April 3
Bienvenue en Islande (Opening Night)
7:30pm | Dir. Andre Nerman | France, 2025 | 109 min | French
Welcome to Iceland is a feature-length film inspired by a true story: a mother’s struggle for her disabled son, set against the backdrop of the ocean and the movement of the waves. An unexpected encounter with a surfer and new therapies will transform the child’s destiny.
Note: Director Andre Nerman has been performing as an actor, singer, musician and dancer in St. Louis for over 20 years.
Saturday, April 4
Triplets of Belleville
1:00pm | Dir. Sylvain Chomet | France, 2003 | 78 min | French/English/Portuguese
This animated comedy follows Madame Souza as she becomes involved in international intrigue when her grandson, a professional cyclist, is kidnapped. Joined by her faithful dog, Bruno, and three sisters from the vaudeville stage, the quartet uses their wits to win the day.
Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky
3:30pm | Dir. Jan Kounen | France, 2009 | 119 min | French/Russian/English
In 1913, Coco Chanel witnesses the birth of a musical revolution at the premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Seven years later, an affair ignites between them at her villa, fueling the creation of Chanel No. 5 while threatening to overtake their lives and work.
The Divine Sarah Bernhardt
7:00pm | Dir. Guillaume Nicloux | Belgium/France, 2024 | 98 min | French
Known as “La Divine,” Sarah Bernhardt shattered societal norms with her daring performances. This film explores her passionate relationship with actor Lucien Guitry as she navigates stardom, wealth, and scandal.
Friday, April 10
Gagarine
10:30am | Cinema For French Students Screening Dirs. Fanny Liatard & Jérémy Trouilh | France, 2020 | 97 min | French
A visually lyrical coming-of-age drama where a teenager, Youri, refuses to accept the demolition of his housing project, transforming his apartment into a makeshift spacecraft. An emotionally engaging story of community and social change.
Persepolis
7:00pm | Dirs. Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud | France, 2007 | 96 min | Multi-language
A visually bold, black-and-white animated adaptation of Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel. The film chronicles Satrapi’s coming of age amid the Iranian Revolution with wit, warmth, and emotional honesty.
Saturday, April 11
Museum
12:30pm | Dirs. Hervé Bienaimé & Olivier Bienaimé | France, 2026 | 90 min | French
A school class from the provinces visits the Centre Pompidou in Paris. With gentle humor, the film examines the barriers—visible and invisible—that shape our relationship to art. Does culture truly belong to everyone?
Molière
4:00pm | Dir. Laurent Tirard | France, 2007 | 120 min | French
A witty, fast-paced costume comedy that imagines a fictional episode in the young playwright’s life involving disguises, romantic entanglements, and theatrical scheming.
The Artist (Closing Night)
7:30pm | Dir. Michel Hazanavicius | France, 2011 | 100 min | Silent/English
Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A delightful black-and-white tribute to late-1920s Hollywood, following a silent movie star blindsided by the arrival of "talkies."
Sunday, April 12
Colours of Time
1:00pm | Dir. Cédric Klapisch | France, 2025 | 126 min | French
When four cousins inherit a home in Normandy, they are drawn into the story of their 19th-century ancestor, Adèle. The film weaves together the present with the Belle Époque era of Impressionism. Winner: Audience Award, American French Film Festival.
La Danse
4:00pm | Dir. Frederick Wiseman | France, 2009 | 159 min | French
A mesmerizing documentary immersing viewers in the daily life of the Paris Opera Ballet. A deeply intimate portrait of artistry and a tribute to the late legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.