Fullerton College’s much-loved French Film Festival is back for its thirteenth year.  Fullerton again becomes the “Paris of Orange County,” featuring two nights of recent French film releases to delight enthusiasts of all ages. This year’s screenings will be held at the Campus Theatre on two evenings, April 8th and 9th. A cultural hour featuring complimentary food, music, dance, and art starts at 6:30 pm in the patio area outside the box office, and all films begin at 7:30 pm.

The French Film Festival began in 2010 as a unique educational opportunity sponsored by the TournéesFilm Festival through the French American Cultural Exchange and the Fullerton College Humanities Division’s hard-working staff and faculty.  It has since grown into a popular cultural celebration of French life, right here in Orange County.  

Visitors will be greeted by the friendly faces of Fullerton College students and members of the French club who have created a dynamic cultural scene that will entertain visitors the hour before each evening’s screening.  With the purchase of your movie ticket, you will have free food tasting from local restaurants such as Crêpes Bonaparte, Crêpes de Paris, Fraise Café, Les Amis, Zombees, Pandor, Moulin, Porto’s and Roscoe’s. Additional sponsors include Vista Higher Learning, Clotilde French Bookstore, the International School of Orange County, and cultural collaborator Alliance Française de la Riviera Californienne.  Attendees will enjoy an eclectic Paris street scene that comes to life, featuring musicians, street performers, artists, a fashion booth, and Parisian monuments created by Sonora High School students guided by Brittany Uribe.  

Fullerton College French Club students are excited to be introducing both films at the festival, and even the Festival committee can’t decide which film is their favorite:

Tuesday, April 8, 2025: L’Innocent (2022) Rated PG13

Part crime thriller, part family comedy, L’Innocent masterfully blends humor and suspense through museum educator Abel. Abel’s world is upended when his eccentric mother marries a former student in her prison drama class, and Abel is reluctantly drawn into one of Michel’s risky schemes. The Innocent is a playful yet poignant exploration of love, deception, and self-discovery, showcasing how even the most unexpected roles can transform our lives.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025: Les Petites Victoires (2023) Rated PG

The heartwarming French comedy Les Petites Victoires showcases Alice, the primary school teacher and diligent mayor of the quaint village of Kerguen. Her life takes a chaotic turn with the arrival of Emile, a fiery sixty-year-old who has resolved to conquer his lifelong illiteracy, all while the school is at risk of impending closure. Through humor, resilience, and unexpected camaraderie, Alice discovers that even small victories can lead to monumental changes in personal lives and the larger village community.

Parking will be free on the 3rd and 4th floors of the parking structure on Fullerton College Drive.

Tickets can be purchased starting March 1st through the Eventbrite link: https://fcfrenchfilmfest2025.eventbrite.com or at the Campus Theater box office. The box office is open 9:30am-3:30pm Monday-Friday and opens at 6:15pm on the night of each show.  Prices are $10 for the general public and $7 for students.  All films are subtitled in English.

For further information, visit the French Film Festival website:

https://humanities.fullcoll.edu/foreign-languages/french-film-festival/

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