Various Venues

If you haven't yet set foot in the Institut Français, housed in an ornate red-brick building in South Kensington, then its annual film bonanza is a great excuse to visit.  The venue’s newly spruced up Ciné Lumière is hosting another feast of French cinema this November, with a line-up spanning buzzy UK premieres, restored classics, fascinating documentaries and special events, with 40 Gallic cinematic treats being screened across the 2-week bonanza.  Highlights of this year’s edition include Palme d’Or nominee A Woman’s Life (La Vie d’une femme), the UK premiere of The Birthday Party (Histoires de la Nuit) starring Monica Bellucci, Anat Even’s Collapse, which is a personal account of the destruction of Gaza. There’ll also be standout films from Cannes, including Palme d’Or winner, Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, which earned a 12-minute standing ovation.  There's also a strand of films for families, a series of restored documentary and essay films, and a Classic Cinema screenings where you can watch some of the most respected flicks from French movie history. Films are screened during the festival, then are available to watch at various locations across the UK right into December. Browse the full programme here for details.