The Evolution of French Cinema: What Awaits at Festival Sinema Prancis 2024

Festival Sinema Prancis 2024 runs from November 22 to December 6, showcasing over 30 French films. With a hybrid format, the festival invites audiences to enjoy films across various genres, including works by female directors, alongside discussions on women’s perspectives in cinema. It also features a mentorship program for young Indonesian filmmakers.

Festival Sinema Prancis (FSP) returns from November 22 to December 6, 2024, bringing a selection of exceptional French films. This year, the festival encourages viewers to explore the evolution of French cinema through bold and fresh narratives while celebrating classic literature and cinematic innovation. Since its inception in 1996, FSP, organized by the French Embassy in Indonesia and Institut Français d’Indonésie (IFI), has been a highly anticipated event. Last year, the festival drew over ten thousand in-person viewers and more than seven thousand online screenings. FSP 2024 will present over 30 films in a hybrid format, featuring screenings in 13 cities across Indonesia and online programs accessible via KlikFilm. Audiences can enjoy a variety of genres, such as action, drama, and comedy, all with Indonesian subtitles, making French cinema more accessible.

The festival opens with an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ legendary novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, starring Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès. This film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and will be screened simultaneously at seven Cinema XXI theaters in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Bali, Makassar, and Medan. The festival concludes on December 6 with the screening of Les Trois Mousquetaires: Milady, another adaptation of Dumas’ work.

Festival Sinema Prancis 2024 Jakarta Cinema Club
The screening and discussion of Claude Sautet’s works will take place on November 26, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the IFI Thamrin auditorium.

FSP 2024 also highlights female directors through the “Regards de femmes” segment. This program features films offering women’s perspectives on life and their struggles. Highlights include Maria by Jessica Palud and The Substance by Coralie Fargeat, a sci-fi exploration of power and oppression. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes a discussion titled “Women’s Perspectives in Cinema,” featuring actress Hannah Al Rashid as the festival’s ambassador. Scheduled for November 23 at IFI Thamrin, the discussion will delve into the contributions of women in the film industry.

FSP 2024 also hosts the Indonesia-France Film Lab, a mentorship program providing young Indonesian filmmakers the opportunity to develop projects alongside mentors from the French film industry. This initiative aims to foster cross-cultural collaboration and support Indonesian cinema.

From November 30 to December 6, the festival will also offer 10 free films on KlikFilm, available online for viewers across Indonesia. The full catalog and screening schedules can be accessed here.

Also read: Editors’ Column: Pemenang Palme D’or Dekade 60-an