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5th edition - MAY 4-7, 2025
Join us for the 5th edition of the San Diego French Film Festival, presented by the Alliance Française San Diego. From May 4–7, 2025, explore the theme of Love in All Its Forms, celebrating romance, friendships, and the power of connection through an exceptional lineup of Francophone films (with English subtitles) at THE LOT La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most elegant venues.
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The festival kicks off on Sunday, May 4, with a red-carpet Opening Gala featuring En Fanfare (The Marching Band). The film has received both public and critical acclaim and has been nominated for no fewer than seven César Awards (French Academy Awards). After the screening, guests will enjoy an elegant soirée with gourmet hors d'oeuvres, desserts, champagne, and live entertainment, with a DJ-curated dance party.
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From Monday, May 5, through Wednesday, May 7, the festival will showcase four award-winning feature films, each preceded by a short film.
May 5: Neuilly-Poissy, (France) followed by a panel discussion with the team of the movie.
May 6: Moto Taxi (Bendskins) (Cameroon) and Quelques Jours Pas Plus (Just a Couple of Days) (France).
May 7: The festival concludes with Ru, a deeply moving film from Canada.
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Some of the guests of honor include lead actor Max Boublil, director Gregory Boutboul, supporting actor Franck Amiack, and You Film and l’Agence Cineart CEO Youri Rapoport.
Additionally, the Young Cinephiles' Day, a special event for French language students, will take place on March 21.
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Guests will enter a chance to win a getaway for 2 at the Club Med with Travelbootik, a VIP session with Jonathan Le Salon and receive goodies!
EN FANFARE - THE MARCHING BAND (feature film)
MAY 4: Opening Ceremony
Gala tickets: Red Carpet, Movies, Gala reception, and party with DJ GREGTRAXX
Movie lovers' tickets to attend the movies only
MAY 5-7: Festival Days
MAY 5 - Night with the Stars
NEUILLY-POISSY (feature film) with panel discussion
MAY 6
MOTO TAXI - BENDSKINS (feature film)
QUELQUES JOURS PAS PLUS - JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS (feature film)
MAY 7 - RU (feature film)
Films in French with English subtitles
Location: THE LOT LA JOLLA 7611 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
MAY 4: Opening Ceremony
Gala tickets: Red Carpet, Movies, Gala reception, and party with DJ GreGTraXx
Movie lovers' tickets to attend the movies only
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Join us for a delicious buffet catered byThe LOT and Desserts by ClementYour entrance includes 2 drinks The dinner will be followed by a dancing party animated by DJ GreGTraXx
5 PM
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Short: Nous Les Singes (We The Monkeys)
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Feature: EN FANFARE (THE MARCHING BAND)
7.15 PM: DINNER RECEPTION
9 PM: PARTY WITH DJ GREGTRAXX
EN FANFARE - THE MARCHING BAND (2024) directed by Emmanuel Courcol
France, 103 mins, Drama comedy, French (with English subtitles)
Rated G (All Public)
Awards and selections: 7 nominations at the 2025 César Awards, Festival de Cannes 2024,
The American French Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival
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Synopsis
Thibaut, an internationally renowned orchestra conductor, is diagnosed with leukemia and desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant. His search for a donor leads him to discover, at 37, that he was, in fact, adopted… and actually has a biological brother somewhere in France. Their lives may be worlds apart — Thibaut was raised in a posh Parisian suburb and has a seemingly charmed life, while Jimmy lives in a small working-class town, slings hash in a cafeteria and plays trombone in the local marching band. But blood runs thicker than water and it turns out that, each in his own way, they share a profound connection to music. Actors Benjamin Lavernhe and Pierre Lottin bring them to life with all of their longings, resentments and complexes intact, in Emmanuel Courcol‘s heartfelt ode to the power of music and brotherly love.​
Nous Les Singes (We, the Monkeys)(2023) directed by Clarence Larrivoire
France, 19 min, comedy, French (with English subtitles)
Rated All Public​
Selected : Festival Films Courts de Dinan​
Synopsis: Dimitri and Pierrot set off for a tree-climbing adventure. They dream of becoming true adventurers to win the hearts of women. However, their harnesses, uncomfortably tight in the crotch, force them into a discomfort that leads them to question their entire way of life.
Prices (before fees):
Opening Gala - members $185, non-members $230
Bundle Gala + festival days members $265 , non members $299 ​​
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Only 6 VIP PASSES LEFT
Meet Stars and Filmmakers from France and Hollywood!
Do you dream of connecting with stars, producers, and filmmakers in a more personal setting?
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Join us for an exceptional networking experience, limited to an intimate group of select participants.
This exclusive pass grants you the opportunity to mingle with industry figures before the event opens to general admission.
MAY 5-7: Festival Days
From Monday, May 5, through Wednesday, May 7, the festival presents award winning films:​
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May 5, Neuilly-Poissy (France) followed by a panel with lead actor Max Boublil, director Gregory Boutboul, You Film and l’Agence Cineart CEO Youri Rapoport and supporting actor Franck Amiack.
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May 6, we will screen 2 movies:
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Moto Taxi (Bendskins) from Cameroon
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Quelques Jours Pas Plus (Just a Couple of Days) from France
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May 7, the festival will conclude with Ru, a moving movie from Canada.
All movies are in French with English subtitles.
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Prices (before fees)
Festival Days (each day): members $26.5, non-members $28
Bundle festival days members $75, non-members $80
6:30 PM
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Short: Queen Size
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Feature: NEUILLY-POISSY
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8:30 PM
Panel discussion providing attendees with unique insights into the creative process and the film's story with lead actor Max Boublil, director Gregory Boutboul, You Film and l’Agence Cineart CEO Youri Rapoport and supporting actor Franck Amiack​​​​
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More information about the panel
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NEUILLY-POISSY (2024) directed by Gregory Boutboul
France, 97 mins, comedy, French (with English subtitles) - Rated G (All Public)
Selected: Festival de l'Alpe d'Huez
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Synopsis: A schemer and smooth talker, effortlessly balancing his thriving business and fulfilling family life, Daniel is a man who has it all. But after a financial misdeed, he is forced to trade his luxurious Neuilly apartment for a 9-square-meter cell in Poissy prison overnight. From suit and tie to tracksuit and slides, the fall is brutal. Daniel finds himself lost in a world whose rules he doesn’t understand. But he won’t go down without a fight—armed with his wit, humor, and natural knack for getting by…​​
Queen Size (France, 2023) directed by Avril Besson
France, 18 min, comedy, French (with English subtitles) Rated G (All Public)
14 selections and 3 awards including Unifrance Prize at Festival Off-Courts de Trouville, Cesars Awards, Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Interfilm Berlin...
​​Synopsis: This morning, Marina has a meeting with Charlie to sell her a mattress. In the evening, she will cancel her flight to La Réunion. But that, they don’t know yet.
6:30 PM
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Short: Chère Louise (Dear Louise)
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Feature: MOTO TAXI - BENDSKINS ​​
MOTO TAXI - BENDSKINS (2021) directed by Narcisse Wandji
Cameroon, 90 mins, drama, French (with English subtitles)
Rated R (under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)
selected: New African Film Festival 2022, Festival
Cinémas D'Afrique Lausanne 2022, Cascade Festival of African Films 2023, ADIFF NYC 2024
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Synopsis
Bendskins is the name given to the motorcycle taxi-drivers of Cameroon. The film tells stories from the lives of three bendskins. Stories full of drama, tragedy and tempo - and insights into modern, urban Africa. Every day, Sani, Marie and Franck make their way with their fares along pot-holed gravel tracks through the chaos of the big city. Their private lives, too, are thrillers with open endings. Sani gets into trouble with his pregnant girlfriend's father, who's not afraid to throw his weight around. Marie is searching for a man who years ago raped her. And Franck is trying to get rid of a bag with shocking contents.​​
Chère Louise (Dear Louise) directed by Rémi Brachet
France, 2024, 25 min, drama, French and Italian (with English subtitles)
Rated All Public
Selected : Festival du Film Indépendant de Bordeaux ​​​
Synopsis: The movie tells the story of Louise, a woman who was killed by her husband, Félix, in 1949. Had she lived, she would have turned 70 in 1969 and would have gone on vacation for the first time.
​6:30 PM
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Short: Avec l'Humanité Qui Convient (With all due Humanity)
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Feature: QUELQUES JOURS PAS PLUS - JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS
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QUELQUES JOURS PAS PLUS - JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS (2024) directed by Julie Navarro
France, 103 mins, Comedy/drama, French (with English subtitles)
Rated All Public
Awarded Best First Film Festival du Film de Cabourg​​​
Synopsis: Arthur Berthier, (Biolay) a rock critic relegated to general news after trashing a hotel room, discovers that journalism is a combat sport. Sent to the hospital by a riot police officer while covering the evacuation of a migrant camp, he falls under the spell of Mathilde, (Cottin) the head of the Solidarité Exilés association, and agrees to host Daoud, a young Afghan—thinking it will only be for a few days.​​
Avec l'Humanité Qui Convient (With all due Humanity) directed by Kacper Checinski
France, 2023, 24 min, drama, French (with English subtitles)
Rated G (All Public)
2 awards and 7 selections incl. Prix SACD at Festival International du court-métrage de Clermont-Ferrand, Odense Film Festival, Brussels Short Film Festival ​​
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Synopsis: In a Pôle emploi office undergoing restructuring, Hélène, the deputy director, receives a distressing email from a desperate job seeker. The woman threatens to take her own life inside the agency. With the help of her team, Hélène must untangle the internal failures at the heart of the matter to prevent the worst. Time is running out.​
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6:30 PM
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Short: Jesus Ne Tremble Pas (Cold Hand Jesus)
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Feature: RU​​​
RU (2023) directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud
Canada, 120 mins, Drama, French (with English subtitles)
Rated G (All Public)
1 Award and 18 nominations: Canadian Screen Awards, San Francisco International Film Festival, Le Gala Quebec Cinema, Festival de Malaga, Victoria Film Festival​
Synopsis: Based on the book by Kim Thuy, a semi-autobiographical account of a family forced to flee Vietnam, occupied by the communist regime of the North.​After a perilous sea crossing, young Vietnamese Tinh and her family arrive in Quebec, where they begin their new life. Thanks to a warm welcome from everyone, including the family who sponsors them, Tinh slowly adapts to her new reality. Shy and reserved by nature, Tinh will have to draw from deep within herself the determination needed to adapt to her new reality.​
Jésus ne tremble pas (Cold Hand Jesus)
2024, directed by Olivier Lambert.
France, 21 min, Comedy/ Drama, French (with English subtitles)
Rated G (All Public)
Selected: Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF)
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Synopsis: At thirty-three, Jésus is the world champion of an unusual sport: cup-and-ball. As he prepares to defend another title, with victory seeming inevitable, he is suddenly struck by uncontrollable tremors. Faced with these symptoms, Jésus must find a solution to live up to his reputation.
You have questions regarding the Festival?​
Please consult this FAQ page.
If your question is not listed, you may contact us at culture@afsandiego.org
video by Elise Tate
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