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I love a film that makes me laugh out loud, feel slightly undone, and leaves me walking out of the cinema thinking, that was wickedly good — and French films manage it with enviable ease.
Last week, I attended the launch of the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026, the largest celebration of French cinema outside France — and it was a reminder of just how irresistible French storytelling can be.
The film I saw, After the Party, was fabulously funny in that very French way — sharp, emotionally perceptive, and completely unafraid to sit in discomfort. It skewers modern relationships and social expectations with wit and intelligence, proving (yet again) that the French have mastered humour that’s both entertaining and clever. I laughed, I gasped, and I loved every minute.
Why French cinema is so good
French films don’t rush to explain themselves. They trust the audience. They embrace contradiction. They allow characters to be flawed, complicated, and deeply human — especially women.
There’s a confidence to French cinema that’s hard to replicate elsewhere: humour woven through drama, style without self-consciousness, and an ability to find beauty in the everyday. Add to that extraordinary French scenery — Parisian streets, provincial towns, countryside houses, and interiors that feel genuinely lived-in — and you’re transported.
And if you’re wondering whether you need to speak French to enjoy it: absolutely not. Thank goodness for subtitles — they open the door to a world of nuance, timing, and humour that transcends language.
Films on my must-see list this year
Whether you’re a long-time viewer or festival newbie, here are the films I’m most excited about — each for very different reasons:
- Colours of Time (Opening Night)
A playful, intelligent homage to France’s artistic heritage, following cousins who inherit a house in Normandy and retrace their family’s past. Warm, nostalgic, and reflective. - After the Party
Wickedly funny, socially sharp, and completely compelling. A standout for anyone who loves comedy with bite and insight. - Couture
Craftsmanship and creativity, set against the world of fashion and making — deeply French, beautifully observed. - The French Job
A stylish crime comedy inspired by a real-life art heist — clever, entertaining, and very fun. - The Richest Woman in the World
Starring the formidable Isabelle Huppert, this film is a fictionalised interpretation of the real-life story surrounding L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt and so promises nuance, power, and a commanding female performance — exactly where French cinema excels. - Rodrigue in Love (Closing Night)
A romantic comedy set during the famous Avignon Theatre Festival. Lively, charming, and infused with theatrical energy.
Couture
Colours of Time
The French Job
Championing women’s stories
One of the most important aspects of the 2026 program is its continued commitment to female filmmakers and female-led stories. This year’s festival includes ten films directed by women, alongside complex, unapologetic female characters across all genres.
French cinema has long allowed women to be contradictory, ambitious, vulnerable, powerful, ageing, desirable, and real — without apology. It’s refreshing.
Faces you may recognise
Even if you’re new to French cinema, you’ll spot some familiar names. Internationally recognised actors such as Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, and Cécile de France alongside Angelina Jolie and Jodie Foster (in her first French-language leading role) feature across the program — bridging French and global cinema beautifully.
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French cinema has a way of reminding us that life is complicated, funny, imperfect, and worth examining. And that, in itself, is a joy.
When and where
The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2026 runs nationally from 3 March to 26 April 2026, screening across 18 cities and 40 cinemas throughout Australia — from major capitals to regional centres.
>> Explore the full program, watch trailers, and book tickets at affrenchfilmfestival.org
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