The most celebrated Francophone films from around the world are coming to Toronto.
Cinéfranco celebrates 28 years of Francophone cinema this year and returns from November 7 to 16, 2025 for a vibrant edition, open to the world and carried by the authentic voices of renowned filmmakers: Anne Émond, Costa-Gavras, Émile Gaudreault, Robert Guédiguian, Jocelyn Forgues, Cédric Klapisch, the Dardenne brothers, Léa Pool and Nils Tavernier, and several others.
Under the theme “The Faces of Humanity,” this edition highlights 30 films, 12 premieres, familiar faces, award-winning works, powerful stories, and Francophone discoveries — all subtitled in English, making them accessible to all Ontarian audiences.
Opening Film – Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. Et maintenant? by Jocelyn Forgues – In the presence of the director and several actors. Toronto Premiere
Vincent, a jovial but unlucky singer-songwriter, is galvanized to learn that he will finally be going on tour with his band. Then the diagnosis comes: stage 4 tongue cancer! Grueling treatments begin and affect his autonomy to the point that he is forced to accept the services of Renée, an easily distracted, verbose volunteer driver, and Mike, a rigid, overworked home nurse. As the treatments progress, Vincent’s good nature gives way to despair despite the support of Renée and Mike and these unusual new friendships.
A drama full of tenderness and lucidity about family, illness, and the courage to live life to the fullest.
Closing Film – Saturday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. On Sera heureux by Léa Pool – In the presence of the director – Co-presented by Tournée Québec Cinéma and FrancoQueer English Canada Premiere
On Sera heureux follows the journey of Saad, a young Moroccan exiled in Quebec, ready to do anything to save the man he loves, an Iranian refugee threatened with being sent back to his country where certain death awaits him. To attempt the impossible, Saad sets out to seduce an influential spokesman for the Ministry of Immigration. This dangerous gamble triggers a series of events as intimate as they are political, where every decision involves much more than just feelings.
The great Quebec filmmaker (Emporte-moi) delivers a work imbued with sweetness and humanity. A film about love, loss, and reconciliation — a luminous closing for this 28th edition.
Short Film Program Raccord (Regroupement des artistes cinéastes de la francophonie canadienne) Sunday, November 16
Imelda 9 : Gabrielle, by Martin Villeneuve – In the presence of the director – Co-presented by Tournée Québec Cinéma
Carried by Louise Forestier, this new autobiographical work continues the saga begun in 2014. Humor, memory, and tenderness are on the agenda. Conversation with Martin Villeneuve, moderated by Dominic Desjardins, after the screening.
Short Films – Co-presented by Raccord (Regroupement des artistes cinéastes de la francophonie canadienne)
Papier mâché – by Simon Madore – In the presence of the director
A poetic fable about the fragility of creation.
Crack – by Claire Johnston
A powerful look at the cracks in everyday life.
Petit mollusque – by Catherine Dulude – Co-presented by Oasis Centre des Femmes
Between the fear and the joy of a new pregnancy.
Serge – by Florian Bosc & Maxime Lauwens – In the presence of the directors
Gaspard leads a happy life with his dog but one morning, he doesn’t answer his master’s calls.
Deux moments de vie – by Quitterie Hervouet – In the presence of the director
A gentle exploration of time and transmission.
Series
Le Peuple lézard – by Julien Robichaud
Julien adopts a scientific approach and is interested in what distinguishes reptiles from humans. In the course of his discoveries, he stumbles upon an interesting lead: a lizard-man was allegedly sighted in Bishopville, South Carolina.
Paris Paris – Season 2, Episode 1 – by Dominic Desjardins – In the presence of the director
With Maxim Roy (Shadow Hunters). Jenny, stuck between Paris (France) and Paris (Texas), tries to find the tunnel that connects her two lives.
The Must-See Films – in order of screening
Saturday, November 8
Johanne tout simplement – By Nadine Valcin – In the presence of the director – Co-presented by RACCORD and The Firewood for Girls
The story of Johanne Harelle, a talented artist, actress, and one of the first Black models in North America who challenged the expectations of her time.
Fanon – by Jean-Claude Barny – Co-presented by the Algerian Association of Greater Toronto
Frantz Fanon, a French psychiatrist from Martinique, has just been appointed head of department at the Blida psychiatric hospital in Algeria. His methods contrast with those of the other doctors in a context of colonization. A biopic at the heart of the Algerian war where a fight is waged in the name of Humanity.
On Ira – by Enya Baroux – English Premiere – Co-presented by Franc’Open Mic
Marie, 80 years old, is fed up with her illness. She has a plan: to go to Switzerland to end her life. But when it comes time to announce it to Bruno, her irresponsible son, and Anna, her teenage granddaughter in crisis, she panics and invents a huge lie. Claiming a mysterious inheritance to pick up at a Swiss bank, she suggests they all take a trip together. An involuntary accomplice in this charade, Rudy, a home care assistant she just met the day before, will take the wheel of the old family camper van and drive this family on an unexpected journey.
L’Amour, c’est surcoté – by Mourad Winter – Canadian Premiere
Always having had trouble with girls, Anis is a confirmed bachelor. Three years—to the day—after the death of his best friend Isma, he decides it is now time to meet people. He sets out one evening and meets Madeleine (Laura Felpin), an expansive, direct, entrepreneurial, hyper-communicative young woman.
Sunday, November 9
Rapaces – by Peter Dourountzis – English Canada Premiere
Samuel, a journalist, and his daughter Ava, who is interning with him, investigate the brutal acid murder of a young woman. Samuel discovers troubling similarities with a previous case and launches an independent investigation, exploring the violence of femicides and the role of journalism in disseminating these facts. The film highlights the perspective of investigative journalists and addresses themes such as hatred of women, societal violence, and the impact of trauma.
La Vie devant moi – by Nils Tavernier – Historical Drama
In 1942, Tauba, an energetic teenager, narrowly escapes the Vel d’Hiv round-up with her parents. A couple, the Dinanceaus, offer to temporarily hide them in a tiny storage room in their building, under the roofs of Paris, until things calm down. Unfortunately, what was meant to be temporary drags on, and the family sinks into silence and immobility. But Tauba is a fighter, and nothing will stop her from shaking up her destiny.
Dossier 137 – by Dominik Moll – Canadian Premiere
Stéphanie, a police officer working for the General Inspectorate, is in charge of a case involving a young man seriously injured during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. Although she finds no evidence of illegitimate police violence, the case takes a personal turn when she discovers that the victim is from her hometown.
Le Mélange des genres – by Michel Leclerc – English Canada Premiere
Simone, a police officer with conservative ideas, infiltrates a feminist collective. However, her cover is fragile. To divert attention and get out of this bad situation, Simone couldn’t find anything better than to randomly accuse a man of having raped her.
Menteuse – by Émile Gaudreault – Co-presented by Tournée Québec Cinéma
Haunted by the idea of making the people around her happy, Virginie constantly lies. As her partner Phil fears, her multiple lies become reality and shape multiverses that completely upset their lives and those of their entourage. Having lied all her life about her true nature, will Virginie be able to find her way back to the truth?
Monday, November 10
La Pie voleuse – by Robert Guédiguian – English Canada Premiere
In the Estaque neighborhood of Marseille, Maria, in her sixties, is a home care assistant. She takes good care of the elderly people who employ her, and they return the favor. But she earns poorly and struggles to make ends meet. To pay for private piano lessons for her grandson and afford small pleasures, she steals a few bucks from the seniors. But one day, the son of one of the elderly people discovers the truth and files a complaint for abuse of weakness.
Tuesday, November 11
Ni chaînes ni maîtres – by Simon Moutaïrou – Canadian Premiere
1759, Mauritius is in the hands of the Kingdom of France. Massamba and Mati, slaves on Eugène Larcenet’s plantation, live in fear and toil. He dreams that his daughter will be freed, she dreams of leaving the green hell of the sugar cane. One night, she runs away. Madame La Victoire, a famous slave hunter, is hired to track her down. Massamba has no choice but to escape in turn. By this act, he becomes a “maroon,” a fugitive who forever breaks with the colonial order…
Wednesday, November 12
Le Dernier souffle – by Costa-Gavras – English Canada Premiere
In a friendly and passionate dialogue, doctor Augustin Masset and writer Fabrice Toussaint confront, for one, the end of life of his patients and for the other, his own fate. Swept away by a whirlwind of visits and encounters, both embark on a sensitive journey between laughter and tears: a human adventure at the heart of all our lives.
Thursday, November 13
La Venue de l’avenir – by Cédric Klapisch Co-presented by Les Français du Monde de Toronto
United by the unexpected inheritance of a house in Normandy, four distant cousins discover their family history. While exploring the house, left intact since the 1940s, they delve into the life of their ancestor, Adèle Vermillard, a 20-year-old woman who lived there in 1895. The end of the 19th century saw the birth of photography and the Impressionist movement, which profoundly modified painting. Through flashbacks between 1895 and 2025, they find in the relics of the past what will help them better envision their own future.
Le Routard – by Philippe Mechelen – North American Premiere
Yann has only one dream in life: to travel. So, when he hears that the famous Guide du Routard is recruiting people to travel the world, he immediately applies for the interview and gets hired. His first mission: Marrakech, 40 addresses to check in 5 days. But Yann forgot to mention a small detail during his interview: he has never traveled in his life. What seemed at first to be “the best job in the world” will prove to be much less idyllic than expected.
Friday, November 14
Jouer avec le feu – by Delphine & Muriel Coulin – English Canada Premiere
Pierre, a widower, is raising his two sons alone since the death of his partner. While the younger son is preparing for entry into a prestigious university, the father worries about the friendly relations the older son maintains with young people advocating a far-right ideology. His efforts to put a stop to these associations erode their family bond.
Amour Apocalypse – by Anne Émond – Co-presented by Tournée Québec Cinéma
Adam is forty-five years old and owns a kennel. He is a deeply good and generous man. Via the technical support line of a light therapy lamp he has just purchased to improve his mental health and manage his hypersensitivity, he meets Tina, a radiant woman with a gentle voice. From that moment, everything is turned upside down: comets fall from the sky, dogs are released, tires are punctured. The earth shakes and hearts explode. They are in love.
Saturday, November 15
Challenger – by Varante Soudjian, starring Alban Ivanov
Luka dreams of being a great boxer… Unfortunately, for now, he is only an amateur and has to settle for small, lousy fights. But one day, destiny knocks on his door and propels our hero to the top!
Alger – by Chakib Taleb-Bendiab Co-presented by the Algerian Association of Greater Toronto
The kidnapping of a little girl creates tension and suspicion in Algiers. Only Dounia, a brilliant psychiatrist, and Sami, the inspector in charge, can dig up the demons of the past…
À bras-le-corps – by Marie-Elsa Shaldo Co-presented by the Toronto Historical Society
Emma, fifteen, pregnant after a rape, defies her rural, repressive Protestant community to forge a path toward self-determination. Transforming the trauma into a catalyst for emancipation, she confronts the village’s moral hypocrisy and the surrounding spectre of the Second World War.
Partir un jour – by Amélie Bonin
As Cécile is about to open her own gourmet restaurant and finally realize her dream, she must rush back to her native village following her father’s heart attack. Far from the hustle and bustle of Parisian life, she accidentally crosses paths with her childhood love; her memories resurface and her certainties waver…
Sunday, November 16
Dans la peau de Cyrano – by Jennifer Devoldere
Colin, 14, is starting a new college and he’s freaking out: how to manage when you stutter, like him? His meeting with Monsieur Devarseau, a charismatic French teacher, will push him to face his fears and emerge from his isolation. Now Colin has a group of friends and a project: to go on stage to act…
Jeunes mères – by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne – Co-presented by Oasis Centre des Femmes
Jessica, Perla, Julie, Ariane, and Naïma are housed in a maternal home that helps them in their lives as young mothers. Five teenagers who hope to achieve a better life for themselves and their children.
Exclusive premieres, powerful voices, award-winning directors, and languages that intersect to better understand each other: Cinéfranco 2025 celebrates the vitality of Francophone cinema and its universality. All films are subtitled in English, for the greatest pleasure of Toronto film lovers.
