The 31st edition of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema festival in New York City has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 program. This prestigious event, a collaborative effort between Unifrance and Film at Lincoln Center, will showcase a curated selection of 22 films, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the vibrant landscape of contemporary French filmmaking. From established masters to burgeoning talents, the festival promises to be a significant cultural exchange, starting with the opening night screening of François Ozon’s 'The Stranger' and culminating with Julia Ducournau’s 'Alpha'.
Scheduled to run from March 5th to March 15th, the festival is a vital platform for promoting French cinematic artistry in the United States. Many of the featured films have already garnered critical acclaim at renowned international festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Locarno, with some making their North American or U.S. debuts at this very event. A unique aspect of the festival is the planned attendance of over 20 directors and film professionals, who will engage with audiences in post-screening Q&A sessions, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their creative processes.
Opening the festival on March 5th is François Ozon's 'The Stranger', an adaptation of Albert Camus's seminal novel. Ozon himself, along with rising star Rebecca Marder, who portrays Marie Cardona in the film, will be present for the New York premiere. The film has already received significant accolades, including three top prizes at the Lumières Awards for Best Film, Cinematography, and Best Actor for Benjamin Voisin, following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Another highly anticipated highlight is Julia Ducournau’s 'Alpha', which will serve as the festival’s closing film. This bold cinematic endeavor follows her Palme d’Or-winning 'Titane' and features a compelling performance by Tahar Rahim. The lineup further boasts Olivier Assayas’s Venice-premiering 'The Wizard of the Kremlin', starring Jude Law as a fictionalized Vladimir Putin and Paul Dano as his enigmatic strategist Vladislav. Other notable selections include Dominik Moll’s Cannes-premiering 'Case 137', a gripping procedural set against the backdrop of the Yellow Vests protests, and Pauline Loquès’s Cesar-nominated debut feature 'Nino'. Additionally, Arnaud Desplechin’s melodrama 'Two Pianos', Valérie Donzelli’s Venice-prizewinning 'At Work', and Stéphane Demoustier’s historical epic 'The Great Arch' are among the diverse offerings.
Unifrance’s Executive Director, Daniela Elstner, expressed her honor in opening the festival with 'The Stranger', highlighting the film's significance as an adaptation of a classic French novel and emphasizing the festival's role as a cultural conduit between France and the United States. She underscored the strong partnership with Film at Lincoln Center and celebrated the diversity and creativity inherent in contemporary French cinema, especially during a period of global uncertainty.
Echoing these sentiments, Florence Almozini, Film at Lincoln Center’s VP of Programming, remarked on the impressive vitality and artistic ambition evident in this year’s selection. She noted the inclusion of acclaimed auteurs like Olivier Assayas, François Ozon, Claire Simon, and Pascal Bonitzer, alongside exciting new voices such as Leyla Bouzid, Hubert Charuel, and Pauline Loquès. Almozini reiterated Film at Lincoln Center's pride in continuing its long-standing collaboration with Unifrance to bring the finest new French cinema to New York audiences. Beyond the aforementioned titles, the festival will also host the U.S. premiere of Jean-Paul Salomé’s crime drama 'The Money Maker', featuring Reda Kateb as a master French counterfeiter during and after WWII.
In a unique engagement initiative, a jury comprising six students pursuing film and French studies degrees from New York City colleges will select their favorite emerging filmmaker for an award. Concurrently, all attendees of the festival will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film, with both awards being announced shortly after the festival concludes. Supported by Villa Albertine, TV5 Monde, and Maison Occitanie, the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema continues to be a cornerstone event for global cinema enthusiasts.
