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6th edition - MAY 3-7, 2026
Join us for the 6th edition of the San Diego French Film Festival, taking place May 3–7, 2026 at The LOT La Jolla and at the Carlsbad City Library, with a special focus on women’s voices and stories in francophone cinema. Discover inspiring francophone films (with English subtitles) that highlight women’s perspectives and creative talents from across the French-speaking world.​​
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We are honored to welcome Julie Delpy as Patron of the 6th edition of the San Diego French Film Festival.
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Julie Delpy is a Paris-born actor, director, and screenwriter whose career spans several decades and continents. She has appeared in more than 30 films, and is widely recognized for her work as a filmmaker with a distinctive, personal voice.
She has been nominated for three César Awards, two Online Film Critics Society Awards, and two Academy Awards.
We are thrilled to present her latest film on May 4, Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares), which she directed and in which she also stars, followed by a Q&A session.
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Schedule and Tickets
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​Festival opening: Sunday, May 3, at 5 PM at THE LOT La Jolla
Red-carpet Opening Gala featuring a short and the feature film
After the screening, guests enjoyed an elegant soirée with gourmet hors d'oeuvres, desserts, champagne, and live entertainment, with a DJ-curated dance party.
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Festival Days: From Monday, May 4, through Thursday, May 7, screenings in two different locations of award-winning feature films each preceded by a short film.
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May 4 to 7 at THE LOT La Jolla - 7611 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
May 5 to 7 at Carlsbad City Library - ​1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92011
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Additionally, the Young Cinephiles' Days, are special events held for French language students on March 19 and 20.​
Films in French with English subtitles
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MAY 3: Opening Ceremony at 5 PM at THE LOT La Jolla
Short TBA
Feature: COLORS OF TIME (La Venue de l'avenir) directed by Cedric Klapish​​
Nominated for the César Academy Awards, recipient of the Audience Award at TAFF, and selected by numerous international festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Colors of Time is a luminous portrait of women across generations. The film celebrates memory, resilience, and the quiet power of female destinies unfolding through time.​
Gala tickets: Red Carpet, Movies, Gala reception (dinner, champagne and drink), Goodies, and party with DJ
Movie lovers' tickets to attend the films only
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Following the screenings, guests are invited to an elegant gala soirée featuring a buffet curated by The LOT, with exquisite desserts by Clément. Admission includes two drinks, including champagne. The evening concludes with a refined DJ-led dance party.
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MAY 4
6.30 PM: MEET THE BARBARIANS (LA JOLLA)
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MAY 4 - at THE LOT La Jolla
6:30 PM
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Short: tba
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Feature: MEET THE BARBARIANS (Les Barbares)
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A bold and satirical look at community and identity, Meet the Barbarians uses sharp wit and a female lens to explore belonging, prejudice, and the strength of women at the heart of social change.
MAY 5: 2 MOVIES IN 2 LOCATIONS
2 PM: THE ONE I LOVED (CARLSBAD)
6.30 PM: PROMISED SKY (LA JOLLA)
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MAY 5 - at the Carlsbad City Library
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2 PM
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Short: TBA
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Feature: THE ONE I LOVED (Moi qui t'aimais)​​​​​
A moving meditation on love and legacy, The one I loved revisits the life and inner world of Simone Signoret, celebrating a woman who lived, loved, and claimed her freedom with fearless intensity.
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A deeply human and poetic film, Promised Sky follows women navigating hope, exile, and solidarity, offering a powerful testament to resilience and shared dreams under an open sky.
MAY 6: 2 MOVIES IN 2 LOCATIONS
4 PM: THE SACRED CAVE (CARLSBAD)
6.30 PM: to be announced (LA JOLLA)
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MAY 6 - 4 PM at Carlsbad City Library
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​Feature film: THE SACRED CAVE (La Grotte sacrée)​​​​​
A spellbinding animated journey, La Grotte sacrée / The Sacred Cave invites audiences into a richly imagined tale of courage, community, and ancestral wisdom from the heart of Cameroon—perfect for young cinephiles and adults alike.
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MAY 7 I 2 SCREENINGS IN 2 LOCATIONS
6.30 PM: WELCOME TO ICELAND (CARLSBAD)
6.30 PM: SUMMER BEATS (LA JOLLA)
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MAY 7 - 6.30 PM at Carlsbad City Library
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6.30 PM
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Short: TBA
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Feature: WELCOME TO ICELAND (Bienvenue en Islande)
8.30 PM: Panel discussion with director Andre Nerman​​​​​
A moving first feature, Welcome to Iceland follows Julie as she fights against the odds to help her son Baptiste thrive, celebrating a woman’s courage, love, and determination—partially shot in San Diego.
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MAY 7 - 6.30 PM - Closing at THE LOT La Jolla
6:30 PM
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Short: TBA
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Feature: SUMMER BEATS (Ma Frère)​
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An energetic and heartfelt coming‑of‑age tale, Summer Beats follows two lifelong friends as they navigate identity, friendship, family, and the leap into adulthood over one unforgettable summer — a vibrant story that resonates with girls and young women as well as boys, perfect for all public.
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video by Willmus Creative