Our annual festival of new work by rising voices from around the Francophone world returns to the AFS Cinema on Thursday, November 12–Sunday, November 15. A partnership between AFS, the 400 Coups Cinema and Premiers Plans Festival, both of Angers, France (Austin’s French sister city), Villa Albertine, and Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
Festival passes are available for New French Cinema Week at a 20% discount off the list price of individual tickets. Passes include admission to all six screenings and the opening-night reception. AFS Members receive additional discounts on passes and individual tickets.
The 2026 New French Cinema Week Lineup
Opening Night: WILD FOXES
Thursday, November 12, 7:30 PM
A terrible accident at a French boarding school for elite athletes changes the life of champion boxer Camille in this award-winning and critically acclaimed feature debut from Valery Carnoy. Winner of Best Actor at the Premiers Plans Festival of Angers. With writer/director Valéry Carnoy in attendance.
Ticket holders for this screening are invited to an opening-night reception prior to WILD FOXES in the AFS Cinema lobby.
LA GRADIVA
Friday, November 13, 6:30 PM
Personalities clash and family histories collide with the present as French high school students journey to the ancient ruins of Pompeii in this stunning and layered feature debut by Marine Atlan. Winner of the top prize at Cannes Critics’ Week.
A MAN OF HIS TIME
Saturday, November 14, 4 PM
Writer-director Emmanuel Marre exposes the fine lines between ambition and sin in this fresh and imaginative story about a Vichy government loyalist during France’s Nazi occupation. Winner of Best Screenplay at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
SHANA
Saturday, November 14, 7:30 PM
When her abusive dealer boyfriend gets out of prison to find a stack of his money gone missing, Shana’s in danger of being on the wrong side of a criminal gang, with only a magic ring (inherited from her Moroccan-Jewish grandmother) to protect her. SHANA is a dark comedy featuring a messy heroine who can do no right.
THAT SUMMER IN PARIS
Sunday, November 15, 4 PM
Blandine is a soft-spoken 30-year-old from a small town in Normandy who heads to Paris with a few dreams in mind: see her favorite swimmer dominate at the 2024 Olympic Games, and reconnect with her estranged Parisian half-sister. After a few strokes of bad luck, the journey will challenge Blandine to face what she really wants from her trip, and from life.
FLESH & FUEL
Sunday, November 15, 7 PM
Etienne is a seasoned long-hauler who has sacrificed relationships and a personal life for his profession. One night on the road, what seems to be a random hook-up with a Polish trucker turns into an unforeseen connection, but Etienne will have to contend with his identity as a committed workaholic for the relationship to go anywhere.
Thanks to our festival partners
