The films in French at Sydney Film Festival 2025 explore everything from coming-of-age stories and psychological thrillers to musical tributes and sharp, character-driven comedies. Whether you’re drawn to quiet introspection, stirring drama or something a little more playful, there’s plenty for Francophone film lovers to discover on screen. Audiences can look forward to powerful performances from international icons like Catherine Deneuve, Jodie Foster (in her first French-speaking role!), and Virginie Efira, alongside rising stars such as Alexis Manenti and Andranic Manet. Read on to discover the films in French at Sydney Film Festival 2025.
FILMS FROM FRANCE IN FRENCH AT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2025
Countries: France, Belgium
Languages: French
Director: Léonor Serraille
Cast: Andranic Manet (A Paris Education, The Mountain), Pascal Rénéric (It’s raining men, The Green Perfume) Théo Delezenne (Not my type)
After quitting his teaching job mid-breakdown, Ari drifts through Lille searching for meaning and connection. Director Léonor Serraille offers a raw, empathetic portrait of urban alienation and young male vulnerability.
Once upon a time with Michel Legrand (Il était une fois Michel Legrand)
Country: France
Language: French
Director: David Hertzog Dessites
Features: Michel Legrand, Barbra Streisand
Michel Legrand’s dazzling life as a composer is celebrated through rare footage and heartfelt tributes from his collaborators. This documentary paints a vivid portrait of the musical genius behind classics like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Yentl.
Countries: UK, USA, France
Language: French
Director: Max Keegan
In the French Pyrenees, a shepherd faces a crisis as reintroduced bears threaten his flock and livelihood. This immersive, lyrical documentary explores the clash between tradition and rewilding.
Country: France
Language: French
Director : Rebecca Zlotowski
Cast: Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs), Virginie Efira (Bye Bye Morons, Paris Memories), Mathieu Amalric (A Difficult Year, the series The Bureau) Daniel Auteuil (An Ordinary Case, A Silence, Farewell Mr Haffmann)
Jodie Foster stars as a Parisian psychiatrist investigating the suspicious death of her long-time patient. Blending mystery with subtle humour, this Cannes selection explores grief, guilt, and midlife reinvention. The film has just screened at Cannes Film Festival 2025
MULTILINGUAL FILMS INCLUDING FRENCH AT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2025
All I had was nothingness (Je n’avais que le néant)
Country: France
Language : French, English, German, Polish and Hebrew
Director: Guillaume Ribot
A powerful companion to Shoah, this film draws on 220 hours of unused footage from Claude Lanzmann’s original Holocaust documentary. Director Guillaume Ribot crafts a moving tribute to Lanzmann’s creative process and his mission to preserve memory.
Countries: France, Belgium, Italy
Languages: French and Ukrainian
Director: Robin Campillo
Cast: Eloy Pohu, Maksym Slivinskyi, Pierfrancesco Favino (Maria, The Count of Monte Cristo), Élodie Bouchez ((All your faces)
The Opening Film at Cannes Directo rs’ Fortnight, Robin Campillo’s (BPM) film depicts a teenager from a wealthy French family resists his parents’ expectations and explores forbidden desire amid a climate of war. Co-directed by Robin Campillo and the late Laurent Cantet, this Cannes-selected drama delicately captures the uncertainty of youth.
Listen to the voices (Kouté vwa)
Countries: France, Belgium, Guyana
Languages: French and Creole
Director: Maxime Jean-Baptiste
Cast: Melrick Diomar, Nicole Diomar, Yannick Cébret
In French Guiana, a young boy comes to terms with his cousin’s tragic murder and the family’s response as he comes of age in a community marked by violence. Combining documentary realism with poetic visuals, this is a haunting exploration of grief, memory and community.
Country: France
Languages: French and Corsican
Director: Frédéric Farrucci
Cast: Alexis Manenti (Les Misérables, Guardians of the Formula), Mara Taquin (Zero Fucks Given), Théo Frimigacci (A violent life, Fraté)
A lone Corsican shepherd defies developers and the mafia, sparking a modern-day western chase across rugged terrain. As his niece rallies support online, this gripping thriller tackles resistance and cultural survival.
Countries: France, Japan, Singapore
Languages: French and Japanese with French and English subtitles
Director: Eric Khoo
Cast: Catherine Deneuve (Marcello Mio, The President’s Wife, Farewell to the night) Yutaka Takenouchi (Shin Godzilla, Between Calmness and Passion), Masaaki Sakai (Kei×Yaku: Dangerous Partners, Monkey, Code: Negai no Daisho)
Catherine Deneuve plays a French singer navigating the afterlife alongside a devoted Japanese fan in this tender supernatural tale. A poetic meditation on connection, regret and unexpected bonds.
Country: Belgium
Languages: Dutch, French and Arabic
Director: Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
Cast: Safa Gharbaoui, Mehdi Bouziane (Alter ego), Mounir Amamra (Divines, The Tasting)
When her beloved brother dies, 12-year-old Eya is forced to face the adult world too soon. Set in Brussels, this poignant debut captures grief, love and resilience through a child’s eyes.
Countries: Spain, Germany
Languages: Spanish, Catalan, French and Galician
Director: Carla Simón
Cast: Llúcia Garcia, Mitch Robles, Tristán Ulloa (the series Berlin)
Berlinale Golden Bear-winner Carla Simón returns with a mesmerizing Cannes Competition drama about orphaned teenager Marina, who uncovers family secrets while seeking her estranged grandparents’ signatures. Blending breathtaking fantasy with intimate family history, the film reveals a shimmering alternate past that reshapes Marina’s understanding of her parents’ tempestuous love.
Country: Australia
Director: Justin Kurzel
Languages: English, Indonesian and French
Features: Warren Ellis, Femke den Haas
Warren Ellis, acclaimed musician with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, opens up about his turbulent life and deep commitment to rescuing trafficked and mistreated wildlife in a Sumatra sanctuary. Justin Kurzel’s documentary beautifully intertwines Ellis’s music career with his passion for healing both himself and injured animals. The film is also scored by Ellis himself.
Country: Australia
Director: Sophie Somerville
Languages: English and French
Cast: Melissa Gan, Emmanuelle Mattana (Surviving Summer, The Messenger)
Two best friends reunite for a weekend in Melbourne in this freewheeling, fast-talking comedy exploring modern female friendship. Winner of the Berlinale Forum’s Caligari Film Prize, Fwends is a vulnerable and perceptive Australian mumblecore debut from Sophie Somerville.
Country: Spain, France, Argentina
Languages: Spanish and French
Director: Pedro Martín-Calero
Cast: Ester Expósito (the series Elite), Mathilde Ollivier (The Divine Sarah Bernhardt, The Overlord), Malena Villa (El Angel, Butterfly)
A sinister presence visible only through a camera haunts three women in this richly textured and emotionally charged thriller starring Ester Expósito. Pedro Martín-Calero’s debut blends haunting horror with a layered story of identity, control, and fear across Madrid and Argentina.
Countries: Switzerland, Cape Verde, Portugal
Languages: Cape Verdean Creole, English, Japanese and French with English subtitles
Director: Denise Fernandes
Cast: Sanaya Andrade, Daílma Mendes, Alice Da Luz (the Apple TV+ series Carême, Mali Twist)
Set against the stunning volcanic island of Fogo, this magical debut follows young Nana as she grapples with whether to stay or leave her beloved home. Director Denise Fernandes blends lyrical realism and surreal myth to explore belonging and the harsh realities of island life.
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KEY INFO FOR SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2025
WHAT: Sydney Film Festival 2025
WHEN: 4-15 June 2025
WHERE: Various locations across Sydney
HOW: Purchase your individual tickets via the links above. If you’re going to see several films though, you may like to consider a film pass which makes it cheaper and can be purchased here
HOW MUCH:
Individual ticket prices are as follows:
- Adult $26
- Concession/Senior $22
- Youth (17 & under) $20
Flexipasses:
- Youth pass 6 (ages 15-24) $90 for 6 films
- Flexipass 10 $195 for 10 tickets (you can use it for multiple tickets in a single film session)
- Flexipass 20 $360 for 20 tickets
- Flexipass 30 $495 for 30 tickets
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As you can see, the Sydney Film Festival 2025 offers a wide-ranging program that spans the globe and explores a diverse array of themes. Which films will you choose to see?
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