The Rendez-Vous With French Cinema in New York, an annual showcase of French cinema in the USA, organized by Film at Lincoln Center in collaboration with Unifrance, will highlight more than twenty films from March 6 to 16, 2025, in the presence of a superb delegation of artists.
This anniversary edition will offer New Yorkers a fine showcase of French cinema – and audiovisual – productions, with 23 works by both emerging voices and seasoned filmmakers, around strong themes that will be evoked during the film presentations by the artists. Five of Unifrance's 10 to Watch 2025 will also be present at the Rendez-Vous: Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma, India Hair, Jonathan Millet, and Agathe Riedinger.
As in previous years, this selection of North American, American, and New York premieres celebrates the energy, innovation, and diversity of French cinema.
This year's opening, on March 6, will be dedicated to Emmanuel Mouret, who will present his film Three Friends, accompanied by actress India Hair. The opening cocktail reception will take place in the evening at the Villa Albertine.
For Florence Almozini, Vice President of Programming at Film at Lincoln Center, "French cinema remains as inspiring as ever, with the strength, vitality, and depth of the films featured in the 30th edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema serving as a testament to its enduring power. This robust selection spans from remarkable debuts by first-time filmmakers to unforgettable works by renowned directors, highlighting captivating performances from emerging talent, celebrated actors, and strong ensembles. Film at Lincoln Center is proud to mark 30 years of presenting new French films to New York audiences, in collaboration with our long-standing partners at Unifrance.”
For Daniela Elstner, Executive Director of Unifrance, "Unifrance is honored to be celebrating 30 years of French cinema with our partner, Film at Lincoln Center. Rendez-Vous with French Cinema is one of our biggest highlights of the year and we are grateful to our partner for providing a home to French filmmakers in New York for the past three decades.”
The following talents will be present in New York for Rendez-vous 2025 (list subject to change) Tess Barthélemy, Adam Bonitzer & Agathe Bonitzer, Ludovic & Zoran Boukherma, Gilles Bourdos, Claire Burger, Delphine & Muriel Coulin, Louise Courvoisier, Matt Dillon, Judith Godrèche, India Hair, Thibaut de Longeville, Patricia Mazuy, Jonathan Millet, Rithy Panh, Thierry De Peretti, Camille Perton, Michel Petrossian, Agathe Riedinger, and Anamaria Vartolomei.
Encounters
Two free conferences will spotlight directors and producers in intimate conversations:
- "Producers Shaping the Future of Film" will bring together pioneering producers from France and the USA to explain how they are redefining their conception of cinema, between craft and business, in the contemporary landscape. In the presence of the producers Alex C. Lo, Gabriel Mayers, Muriel Meynard, and Flore Biet, moderated by Cynthia Kane.
- ‘Frames of Change: Judith Godrèche and Me Too’, a conversation with director Judith Godrèche and actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, in the presence of actress Tess Barthélemy. Judith Godrèche was one of the first women in France to speak publicly about her experience with Harvey Weinstein, and who filed a complaint in 2024 against two French directors for sexual violence when she was a minor. The conversation will discuss the impact of her speaking out on her career, and how she became a central figure in the #MeToo movement in France.
Professional day
A professional day will be organized on March 7 to facilitate meetings between French sellers and producers on the one hand, and American distributors and programmers on the other. The day will kick off with presentations by a dozen international sellers of their upcoming French films, followed by a networking lunch. In the afternoon, French professionals can take part in the producers panel (see above).
Awards and school sessions
Voting for the sixth Audience Award will be open to all cinephiles attending the festival. And a jury of six film and French studies students from New York institutions of higher learning will choose their first or second favorite film for the Best Emerging Filmmaker Award. Both awards will be announced shortly after the festival closes.
With a view to encoraging the participation of younger and student audiences, six masterclasses by French filmmakers attending the Rendez-Vous will be held at prestigious New York universities (Columbia University, NYU, Hunter College, Fordham University...).
A large number of local schoolchildren will also be invited to attend free screenings of The Story of Souleymane, Arenas, and The Marching Band.
The selection
- Three Friends by Emmanuel Mouret (opening film)
- Langue Etrangère by Claire Burger
- The Quiet Son by Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin
- Jim's Story by Jean-Marie Larrieu and Arnaud Larrieu
- Wild Diamond by Agathe Riedinger
- The Story of Souleymane by Boris Lojkine
- The Second Act by Quentin Dupieux
- When Fall Is Coming by François Ozon
- The Marching Band by Emmanuel Courcol
- Planet B by Aude Léa Rapin
- Visiting Hours by Patricia Mazuy
- And Their Children After Them by Ludovic Boukherma and Zoran Boukherma
- In His Own Image by Thierry De Peretti
- DJ Mehdi : Made In France by Thibaut de Longeville (series)
- Winter in Sokcho by Koya Kamura
- Suspended Time by Olivier Assayas
- Cross Away by Gilles Bourdos
- This Life of Mine by Sophie Fillières
- Holy Cow by Louise Courvoisier
- Arenas by Camille Perton
- Ghost Trail by Jonathan Millet
- Being Maria by Jessica Palud
- Meeting with Pol Pot by Rithy Panh
- Moi aussi by Judith Godrèche
Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York is supported by: TV5MONDE, Villa Albertine, the Ambassade de France in the United States, Région Occitanie, Champagne Demoiselle Vranken, Sacem / Copie privée, the French Republic, CNC, and PROCIREP.
Film at Lincoln Center is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Unifrance also thanks the patrons of the Unifrance Endowment Fund: Accor (Grand Patron), BNP Paribas (Patron), and Vranken-Pommery Monopole (Patron).
