The event has grown since its debut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, 1,100 people attended. This year, organizers hope for at least 1,200.<\/p>\n
There will be plenty of space to accommodate new guests as the festival expands to the Carlsbad City Library, along with The Lot La Jolla.<\/p>\n
The five days of activities will kick off May 3 with an opening-night gala at The Lot, followed by screenings at both venues through May 7. Last year\u2019s festival was four days.<\/p>\n
The addition of Carlsbad as a site comes as Alliance Francaise looks to expand the festival\u2019s presence in the county.<\/p>\n
Alliance Executive Director Julie Ripoll said guests in La Jolla can expect an experience similar to past years.<\/p>\n
The opening gala at The Lot is \u201cwhere we put all our problems aside, where we drink champagne from France and have light entertainment after the movie,\u201d Ripoll said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the rest of the movies at The Lot \u2026 it\u2019s more of a traditional festival with short films, long films and Q&As afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Film producer and La Jolla resident Clay Epstein will moderate the Q&As.<\/p>\n
![\"Director](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LJL-L-FRENCH-FILM-FEST-26.jpg\")
Director Gregory Boutboul, producer Clay Epstein, Alliance Francaise San Diego Executive Director Julie Ripoll and actor Max Boublil attend last year\u2019s San Diego French Film Festival. (Vinciane Van Moer)<\/p>\n
Epstein got involved with the festival years ago after becoming friends with Ripoll. While he\u2019s not French himself, his wife and kids are.<\/p>\n
Starting as a member of an \u201cunofficial committee\u201d for the festival, Epstein\u2019s involvement steadily grew, as did the event.<\/p>\n
In 2021, it was held virtually because of the pandemic. A year later, 150 people attended when it had a hybrid format.<\/p>\n
Since the festival went solely in-person, engagement and reach have increased exponentially.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have this nice premiere party \u2026 and there\u2019s always guests coming up to me saying \u2018I drove in from Escondido\u2019 [or] \u2018I drove in from Temecula because we wanted to go to a cultural event\u2019 or \u2018I love French movies\u2019 or \u2018I studied French,\u2019\u201d Epstein said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what the appeal is to me \u2014 not just because I\u2019m married to a French woman but [also because] it\u2019s such an international culture. The language is spread all over the globe. I think that\u2019s why it attracts such a mix of guests to the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a producer, Epstein said he has an appreciation for film festivals that amplify underappreciated artists and allow cinema lovers to unite.<\/p>\n
\u201cFilm festivals are for the local audience and for voices and talent that might not otherwise have a platform in the traditional distribution world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why every filmmaker and actor still dreams of walking down the red carpet in Cannes. If festivals didn\u2019t matter, they wouldn\u2019t have that dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
In preparing this year\u2019s French Film Festival, organizers curated a grouping of movies highlighting \u201cthe diversity, creativity and strength of women\u2019s voices in francophone cinema,\u201d Ripoll said in a statement. Among those women is French American actress Julie Delpy, director and star of the 2024 French comedy-drama \u201cMeet the Barbarians.\u201d<\/p>\n
The theme is designed to bring attention to women who are underrepresented or not properly recognized, Ripoll said.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s theme, \u201cLove in All Its Forms,\u201d highlighted concepts such as solidarity, interfaith harmony and social determinism.<\/p>\n
Other guests this year will include Adrien Frier, consul general of France in Los Angeles; music director Victor le Masne; film directors Erige Sehiri and Nathan Ambrosioni; actor-director Andr\u00e9 Nerman; producer Marianne Maddalena and actress Caroline Amiguet.<\/p>\n
Movies to be screened at The Lot include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cColors of Time\u201d (\u201cLa Venue de L\u2019avenir\u201d), 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cMeet the Barbarians\u201d (\u201cLes Barbares\u201d), including a Q&A with Delpy, 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 4<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cPromised Sky\u201d (\u201cPromis le Ciel\u201d), including a Q&A with director Sehiri, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cOut of Love\u201d (\u201cLes Enfants vont Bien\u201d), including a Q&A with director Ambrosioni, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u201cSummer Beats\u201d (\u201cMa Frere\u201d), including a Q&A with directors Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7<\/p>\n