CJMY
The French Film Festival 2026 returns to Malaysia this month. It brings 10 films to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Kuching. The 24th edition runs from 19 November to 6 December.
Alliance Française centres in Malaysia organise the festival with the support of the French Embassy. They also run the Le French Festival. GSC International Screens is the official cinema partner.
Here is what is on, where to watch and who is coming.
The French Film Festival 2026 line-up
Overall, the selection mixes major new productions with older favourites. It spans historical drama, animation, romance, comedy and classics.
The newer titles are Les Misérables (2026) and The Phantom of the Opera (2026). Others are The Electric Kiss (2026), Just an Illusion (2026), Marsupilami (2026) and Arco (2025). In addition, De Gaulle: Resistance (2026) and De Gaulle: Liberty (2026) are in the line-up.
For classics, the French Film Festival 2026 offers The Chorus (2004) and Don’t Look Now: We’re Being Shot At! (1966).
Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur cultural manager Éléonore Dalzon said the selection goes beyond food and lifestyle. Instead, she said, it introduces French arts, history and heritage.
Festival dates and cinemas
Screenings run in four cities, so there is a cinema in each. All are GSC venues.
In Kuala Lumpur, films play from 19 to 29 November. The venues are GSC Mid Valley Megamall and GSC 1 Utama, both in the Klang Valley. By contrast, Kuching has a shorter run from 19 to 22 November at GSC CityONE Megamall.
Meanwhile, Johor Bahru screens films from 26 to 29 November at GSC The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey. But Penang has the longest run, from 26 November to 6 December at GSC Gurney Plaza.
For now, screening schedules and ticket sales have not been announced. They will appear through Golden Screen Cinemas and the official festival channels, according to Bernama.
Guests, exhibition and industry ties
The Phantom of the Opera director Alexandre Castagnetti will attend the festival’s opening on 18 November. At the same time, he will meet Malaysian filmmakers and film studies students.
In mid-November, Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur will also hold an exhibition on André Malraux. He was a former French Minister of Cultural Affairs who helped promote French cinema.
There is a business side too. Alliance Française wants to explore ties between the French and Malaysian film industries. As a result, it sees room in production, talent development and animation.
However, Éléonore said France’s animation strength, including the Gobelins school in Paris, could open doors for Malaysian and French universities. She hopes to bring Malaysian students to France and French students here.
Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur executive director Thomas Feldstein said the festival lets Malaysians explore the diversity of French cinema. He added that French cinema has specific strengths to show the world. In his view, anyone can find themselves in it.
Alliance Française de Penang director Michel Gonçalves said French cinema focuses on human stories and relationships. So, he said, it connects people across cultures. He said the centre is in Malaysia to link both countries, and cinema is one way to do that.
In short, the festival offers 10 films, four cities and a wide mix of genres. Still, ticket details are the missing piece, so watch for GSC’s announcement.
Yalinie Mathan
Admin
Amirull Salihing
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