NOVEMBER 12, 2026 — The 29th French Film Festival is in full swing, showcasing 24 films across Metro Manila from November 6 to 30 this year.
Beyond free film screenings, the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cinema, is organising two special roundtable discussions that invite Filipino audiences to explore the festival’s themes of history and feminism through cinema and conversation.
Revisiting France’s History Through Cinema
One of this year’s festival highlights is its focus on France during the Second World War and the figures who shaped its resistance and eventual liberation.
Antonin Baudry’s two-part biopic, De Gaulle: Résistance and De Gaulle: Liberté, chronicles the life and leadership of General Charles de Gaulle. Starring Simon Abkarian, the films follow de Gaulle’s refusal to accept France’s defeat in 1940, his departure for London and the launch of Free France, as well as the Resistance movements that contributed to the country’s liberation in 1944.
To give Filipino audiences a deeper understanding of this defining period in French and European history, the Embassy will host special screenings and a history lecture and roundtable on November 11 at SM City Manila Cinema 3.
Entitled “History on the Big Screen: De Gaulle’s France in WW2,” the discussion brought together historians from leading Philippine and French universities to explore de Gaulle’s wartime leadership, the different Resistance movements and the political legacy of Gaullism.
Speakers include Prof. Diego Magallona of the University of the Philippines Diliman; Prof. Paul-André Rosental of Sciences Po Paris; Prof. David Lozada of Ateneo de Manila University; and Prof. Bernard Leo M. Karganilla of the University of the Philippines Manila. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Manuel R. Enverga III, Jean Monnet Chair and Director of the European Studies Program at Ateneo de Manila University.
The festival’s historical programme also features Moulin by László Nemes, which tells the story of Jean Moulin, one of the key figures of the French Resistance.
Championing Women’s Rights Through Cinema
Continuing a tradition established in 2024, feminism remains a central theme of the French Film Festival, with films exploring women’s experiences and the challenges they face both on and off screen.
A major highlight is the special screening of Crescendo (L’Objet du délit), the latest film by acclaimed French filmmaker Agnès Jaoui, on November 12 at SM Aura Cinema 1. Selected for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival out of competition, the film is set behind the scenes of a production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. When an accusation of sexual assault emerges within the company, the members of the troupe are forced to confront questions of power, generational divides and accountability.
The screening will be followed by a public roundtable entitled “Women on and off Camera,” exploring women’s representation in cinema, the importance of women filmmakers and the challenges faced by women working behind the scenes, including sexual harassment and workplace power dynamics.
The panel features Kristine Chan, Steering Committee member of PINSAN; film director Mark Meily of the Film Academy of the Philippines or Pioneer Films; Celeste Lapida Filmmaker, Chief of Staff to the Director General, Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP);and Liza Diño, producer and former Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. The discussion will be moderated by Patti Lapus, film producer, certified intimacy coordinator, and President and co-founder of Monsoon Projects.
Another film in the festival’s feminist strand is La Maison des Femmes (A Place for Her) by Mélissa Godet, which will also be accompanied by discussions with Filipina film professionals and representatives of civil society organisations advocating for women’s rights.
Both special events on 11 and 12 November are open to the public, including students, academics, film professionals, women’s rights organisations and the press. Admission is free.
French Storytelling and Cultural Exchange
The festival will also welcome French filmmaker Alexandre Castagnetti to Manila on 12 November. Director of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, one of this year’s featured films, Castagnetti will be honoured at a special gala night at SM Aura.
Beyond history and feminism, the 29th edition celebrates the diversity of French cinema through literary adaptations, contemporary stories and animation. A total of 24 films will be screened across six venues in Metro Manila:
- 6–15 November: SM Aura and SM City Manila
- 7–28 November: Alliance Française de Manille, Makati City
- 13–22 November: QCinema November Gateway at Araneta City and Trinoma, Quezon City
- 25–26 November: Animahenasyon Festival at the Likha Filipino Exhibition Hall, Pasay City
- 27 November: Special screening at SM Aura
Through its film screenings and special events, the 29th French Film Festival continues to promote French culture, encourage meaningful conversations and celebrate cultural diversity while strengthening the bonds between France and the Philippines.
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