The San Francisco International Film Festival returns from April 24 to May 4, 2026, with a rich and international lineup. While the presence of contemporary French cinema is more discreet this year among new releases, it stands out through an ambitious retrospective dedicated to Francophone cinema, highlighting several major works we previously featured.
Another highlight of this edition: the opening night makes its grand return to the iconic Castro Theatre, recently renovated after several months of work. A legendary San Francisco venue reclaiming its central role in the city’s cultural life—and promising a highly anticipated opening night.
A contemporary French and Francophone presence
Two Pianos
Director: Arnaud Desplechin
Main cast: Charlotte Rampling
A troubled pianist reunites with his former mentor for one final, emotionally charged duet shaped by admiration and artistic tension.
Date: Sun, Apr 26 – 8:30 PM
Venue: Marina Theatre 1
Silent Friend
Director: Ildikó Enyedi
Main cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Léa Seydoux
An ancient tree connects human destinies across time in a poetic meditation on memory and desire.
Dates: Sun, Apr 26 – 7:00 PM / Thu, Apr 30 – 4:00 PM
Venues: Premier Theater at One Letterman / BAMPFA
Retrospective: French cinema classics
The festival also pays tribute to major figures of French cinema through a curated selection of iconic films, offering audiences the opportunity to rediscover these works on the big screen.
Mauvais Sang [Bad Blood]
Director: Leos Carax
Main cast: Juliette Binoche
A tragic love triangle in a stylized aesthetic that became a defining classic of 1980s French cinema.
Date: Sat, Apr 25 – 8:45 PM
Venue: Marina Theatre 2
Beau Travail
Director: Claire Denis
A hypnotic reinterpretation of Billy Budd set in the French Foreign Legion, exploring discipline, desire, and obsession.
Date: Sun, May 3 – 3:45 PM
Venue: Marina Theatre 2
Sans toit ni loi [Vagabond]
Director: Agnès Varda
Main cast: Sandrine Bonnaire
A raw portrait of a young woman living on the margins of society, carried by a powerful performance.
Date: Sun, Apr 26 – 12:00 PM
Venue: Marina Theatre 2
Le Salaire de la peur [The Wages of Fear]
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Main cast: Yves Montand
Four men transport nitroglycerin in a tense, iconic thriller of French cinema.
Date: Sat, Apr 25 – 12:00 PM
Venue: Marina Theatre 2
Dates: April 24–May 4, 2026
Locations: Multiple theaters across the Bay Area
Full program here
