Metro Manila, Philippines – The Embassy of France in the Philippines and Micronesia, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, will launch the 28th French Film Festival from Nov. 24 to 30 at SM Aura and SM City Manila.
The annual festival, now nearing its third decade, will feature French films ranging from new releases to classics and collaborations with Filipino creators. Organizers said the program will highlight French-Filipino co-productions, feminist storytelling and animated works.
In line with France’s feminist diplomacy and cultural initiatives under French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, this year’s festival will foreground films by and about women. The embassy said the lineup includes works that explore themes of identity, equality and resilience.
A rising French actress, known internationally for recent collaborations with Hollywood directors, is scheduled to attend the festival. She will lead discussions following select screenings of three films centered on feminist narratives.
Animation showcase
The festival will also expand its animation offerings through a partnership with the Animation Council of the Philippines. ANIMAHENASYON, set for Nov. 25-26 at Samsung Hall in SM Aura, will feature screenings, talks, and an awards event highlighting animated filmmaking.
Titles in the festival’s animation program include Amélie et la Métaphysique des Tubes, La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises and Maya Donne-moi un titre.
Film lineup
The program features newly released films, cross-cultural works and classics. Titles include:
- Partir un jour (2025), Amélie Bonnin
- 13 jours 13 nuits (2025), Martin Bourboulon
- La Petite Dernière (2025), Hafsia Herzi
- Coutures (2026), Alice Winocour
- Elsewhere at Night (2025), Marianne Métivier
- Dracula (2025), Luc Besson
- La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises (2024), Michel Hazanavicius
- Le Roi et l’Oiseau (1980), Paul Grimault
- Le Pharaon (2022), Michel Ocelot
The festival will also screen the Filipino adaptation of “Call My Agent,” directed by Erik Matti, alongside the French series “Dix pour cent” by Cédric Klapisch.
A key component of this year’s edition is the recent co-production agreement between France and the Philippines, signed May 14 at the Cannes Film Festival. The pact aims to strengthen collaboration between filmmakers from both countries and expand opportunities for distribution and cultural exchange.
To support the agreement, a two-day co-production conference will be held Nov. 27-28 at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura. The event is organized with the Film Development Council of the Philippines and France’s National Center for Cinema and Animation and will bring together producers, directors and industry officials.
Additional screenings will run Dec. 1-6 at the Alliance Française de Manille. Special programs will also be held at the University of the Philippines Film Institute from Nov. 25-26 and at the Benilde School of Design and Arts on Nov. 28.
Screenings at SM Aura and SM City Manila are free.
