The 22 Annual Festival of French and Francophone cinema is back, exploring how movies tell us stories from epic to profoundly personal, bittersweet comedy to Greek tragedy. This year we have an exciting line-up of nine films, ranging from a 1928 silent movie accompanied by pianist Patrick Miller to the newly released film Antigone on Saturday Closing Night. Please join us then for a reception and a chance to meet the lead actor, Nahéma Ricci, who will lead a Q&A after the film!
—Karen Humphreys, Festival Director

La Nuit des rois (Night of the Kings)
Philippe Lacôte | France, Côte d’Ivoire,
Canada, Senegal | 2020 | 93 min.
A young gang member (Koné Bakary) is sentenced to time in MACA, an isolated prison in the Ivorian forest that its inmates rule. Renamed Roman, he arrives with the rising of the red moon, just as inmates are calling for the traditional suicide of an ailing King to be replaced by a new leader. Stalling for time, King Blackbeard picks Roman as his griot (storyteller). Threaten by death if his story doesn’t go on until dawn, Roman retells the life of legendary outlaw “Zama King,” spinning out more fantastical details in hopes of survival. “Lacôte has arrived at a hopeful glimpse of the future. Like all good storytellers, he leaves you wanting more.” —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times