IFI French Film Festival 2025
With autumn's chilly breeze in full swing and winter on the horizon, we’re all in search of indoor activities to help us forget the cold months ahead. Thankfully, the Irish Film Institute has us covered with the IFI French Film Festival, set to run from November 19th to 30th. From masterclasses and Q&As to screenings, this year’s festival marks its 26th anniversary, making it Ireland's longest-running film festival dedicated to celebrating French cinema.
This year's festival will feature 34 films, including 22 Irish premieres spanning comedies, dramas, animations, and documentaries. French cinema — and cinema in general — is impossible to discuss without mentioning the Lumière brothers, early pioneers of the medium. The IFI will host two special screenings of their works — a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see their films on the big screen, and a must-see for all film fanatics.
Screenings and Q&As
For those already familiar with French cinema, you’ll be pleased to hear that award-winning auteur Lucile Hadžihalilović will host a film masterclass on November 20th, following a screening of her latest feature, The Ice Tower, which won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year. Hadžihalilović co-founded Les Cinémas de la Zone alongside the legendary Gaspar Noé, a film production company that has produced major works such as I Stand Alone (1998), Climax (2018), and Hadžihalilović’s La Bouche de Jean-Pierre (1996).
La Tour de Glace (The Ice Tower) follows Jeanne, a 16-year-old orphan who flees her foster home in search of a life beyond confinement. Arriving in the city, she seeks refuge in what turns out to be a film set shooting her favourite fairy tale, The Snow Queen. Reality and fantasy begin to blur as Jeanne becomes captivated by Marion, the actress playing the Snow Queen, and an eerie, complex relationship slowly forms between the two.
The following week, on November 28th, a screening of the documentary Save Our Souls will be followed by a Q&A with its director, Jean-Baptiste Bonnet. Save Our Souls is an eye-opening documentary about the world's deadliest migratory route, from Libya to Europe. It follows the humanitarian ambulance ship Ocean Viking of the NGO SOS Méditerranée, which has rescued approximately 40,000 refugees since 2016. Bonnet spent two months documenting the work of the crew and the heart-wrenching stories of those rescued — many fleeing war, famine, and political instability in search of a better life.
Perhaps one of the most anticipated films at this year's festival is La Danse des Renards (Wild Foxes). The film follows Camille, a young boxer who suffers a fatal accident while hiking with a friend. He must overcome both the physical and emotional aftermath of his injuries while grappling with inner conflict, strained friendships, and the pressures of masculinity in a sport that demands strength without vulnerability.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Samuel Kircher, who plays Camille — a must for aspiring actors curious about the challenges of portraying such a physically and psychologically demanding role.
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale for €15, with special packages for IFI members — 5 films for €65 or 10 for €165. Tickets for the festival’s opening film cost €18, which includes a post-screening reception.
For those unable to attend in person, the IFI offers an online bundle featuring all the films shown at this year’s festival, available via the IFI@Home website or app for just €59.99.
Written by Jack Murray(jack.mrry)
Copy Editor Niall Carey(Niall.030)
