From 12 to 29 November, the 42nd edition of vOilah! brings 34 films to Singapore, spanning landmark moments in French history, compelling stories of women who challenge convention, the whimsical worlds of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and family-friendly adventures across generations.
French cinema has a way of making the familiar feel extraordinary. A walk through Paris becomes a mystery, an ordinary encounter blossoms into romance, and a deeply personal story can open a window into a nation’s history and identity.
This November, the vOilah! French Film Festival returns for its 42nd edition, inviting audiences to rediscover that magic through 34 films screening across Singapore from 12 to 29 November 2026. Organised by the Embassy of France in Singapore and co-presented by Alliance Française de Singapour, Shaw Organisation and Filmhouse, this year’s programme brings together new releases, acclaimed classics and animated favourites, with an expanded selection of community screenings designed to bring French cinema to more audiences.
From the defining moments that shaped modern France to the women who challenged its social conventions, the line-up explores the many ways films can entertain, provoke thought and connect people across cultures. There is also plenty for those drawn to the romance and eccentricity of Paris, as well as families looking for stories to enjoy together.
“This year’s selection reflects the many ways cinema helps us understand our past, question our present and imagine our future,” said His Excellency Mr Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France to Singapore. “Through these stories, we hope to share not only the creativity of French cinema, but also the values, discourse and experiences that resonate with audiences in Singapore and beyond.”
Headlining this year’s programme is a two-part cinematic portrait of Charles de Gaulle, the French general who became one of the defining figures of the French Resistance during the Second World War.
De Gaulle I: Tilting Iron and De Gaulle II: The Sovereign Age revisit a pivotal period in French history, tracing the challenges of leadership, the weight of difficult decisions and the courage required to shape a nation’s future. The first instalment was also selected for the Out of Competition programme at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
For audiences interested in the people behind the history books, the two films offer an opportunity to revisit a turbulent chapter through the personal and political choices that helped determine France’s direction.
The festival’s historical thread continues with Les Misérables, Fred Cavayé’s adaptation of Victor Hugo’s celebrated novel. Few works of French literature have endured quite like Hugo’s tale of injustice, redemption and human compassion. Its questions about social inequality, morality and the possibility of personal transformation remain strikingly relevant, making this a story that continues to find new audiences across generations.
Together, these films offer a reminder that the past is never entirely removed from the present. The struggles for justice, freedom and dignity that shaped earlier generations continue to inform how we understand the world today.
Few cities have captured the imagination of filmmakers quite like Paris. Its grand boulevards, historic architecture and intimate neighbourhoods have long provided the perfect backdrop for stories of romance, mystery and unexpected encounters.
This year, the festival invites audiences to experience the French capital through several distinct cinematic worlds. In Alexandre Castagnetti’s The Phantom of the Opera, mystery and obsession unfold within the storied Palais Garnier, the magnificent opera house whose elaborate interiors and theatrical history make it an evocative setting for a tale of passion and intrigue.
Meanwhile, The Electric Kiss, which opened the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, transports viewers to early 20th-century Paris. Blending romance and fantasy against a period of artistic innovation and social change, the film evokes a city alive with creative possibility.
For something more intimate, Delicacy, directed by David and Stéphane Foenkinos, offers a tender exploration of love, grief and second chances. Set against the Parisian backdrop, it finds beauty in the unexpected turns of everyday life and the possibility of beginning again. These films present Paris not simply as a postcard-perfect destination, but as a place of contradictions and possibilities: glamorous yet vulnerable, historic yet constantly reinventing itself.
Another major thread running through the programme is the experience of women who confront injustice, challenge convention and fight to shape their own destinies.
Mélisa Godet’s A Place for Her places women’s experiences and solidarity at the centre of its story. The film will receive a special screening at Alliance Française de Singapour on 18 November, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.
Women on Trial, which was also featured in the Out of Competition selection at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, revisits a landmark struggle for women’s rights in France, exploring the social and legal battles that have helped shape the pursuit of equality.
The theme takes a more personal turn in Malika, inspired by the true story of a woman who overcomes poverty, discrimination and a childhood accident in pursuit of her dream of becoming a mezzo-soprano. Her journey is a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of art.
Together, these films explore the many forms courage can take, from challenging entrenched institutions to finding the strength to pursue a seemingly impossible ambition.
The programme also includes Violette, the latest film from acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, best known for the much-loved Amélie. Set in a small town in Burgundy, the film follows Violette, a cemetery caretaker who spends her days listening to other people’s confidences. When a police officer’s investigation into her past forces her to confront a long-buried truth, her quiet existence takes an unexpected turn.
With its focus on memory, secrets and the possibility of liberation, Violette brings Jeunet’s distinctive sensibility to a deeply human story about the burdens we carry and the truths we must eventually face.
The festival will also pay tribute to the late filmmaker Marjane Satrapi with a special screening of Persepolis, her acclaimed animated film about identity, freedom and resistance. Adapted from her autobiographical graphic novel, it remains a powerful coming-of-age story set against the upheaval of the Iranian Revolution.
French cinema is not only about grand historical dramas and introspective character studies. This year’s programme also makes room for humour, adventure and animation, with nearly ten family-friendly films inviting younger audiences to discover the pleasures of cinema.
Among the highlights is Asterix – The Kingdom of Nubia, bringing the irrepressible Gaulish hero into another adventure. Pets on a Train and Mune: Guardian of the Moon offer imaginative animated worlds, while beloved titles such as The Choir and Sophie’s Misfortunes bring music, mischief and emotion to the big screen.
Whether it is a child’s first cinema outing or a nostalgic return to a favourite story, these films offer families an opportunity to share an experience away from their everyday routines. Animation also provides a natural bridge between cultures and generations, using visual storytelling, humour and fantastical worlds to explore ideas that resonate with audiences of all ages.
Beyond the cinema screens, vOilah! is making a concerted effort to reach audiences throughout Singapore. Returning partner the People’s Association will support 20 screenings across 10 community clubs and Integrated Community Hubs, extending the festival’s programme into neighbourhood spaces. Families can also look forward to an open-air screening at Palawan Beach through the festival’s continued collaboration with Sentosa’s Movies by the Beach.
New partnerships with the National Library Board and Serangoon Garden Country Club will further broaden the festival’s reach, bringing screenings into libraries, community settings and other familiar gathering places.
The expanded programme reflects a wider ambition: making French cinema accessible to people who may not typically attend a film festival, while creating opportunities for communities to experience stories together.
As Christopher Shaw, executive vice-president of Shaw Organisation, noted, cinema has long played an important role in bringing France and Singapore closer together. “By sharing stories that offer fresh perspectives on French culture and explore themes that speak to us all, we believe these shared cinematic experiences help strengthen the friendship and cultural understanding between our two countries,” he said.
For those attending screenings at the festival’s regular venues, tickets remain accessible, with standard admission priced at S$16. Students and senior citizens pay S$11, while Alliance Française and Singapore Film Society members enjoy a preferential rate of S$14.50.
For cinephiles, the chance to hear directly from the people behind the camera is often as rewarding as watching the films themselves. This year’s festival will welcome several French filmmakers and creative talents to Singapore, led by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, whose distinctive visual style and offbeat storytelling have made him one of contemporary French cinema’s most recognisable names.
Best known internationally for Amélie, Jeunet will be in Singapore for a special retrospective featuring at least four screenings throughout the festival. Post-screening question-and-answer sessions will offer audiences the opportunity to engage with the filmmaker and learn more about the ideas, influences and creative decisions behind his work.
He will be joined by Julien Chheng, director of Muyi and the Handsome General and Ernest and Celestine: A Journey in Charabia; Alexandre Castagnetti, director of The Phantom of the Opera; and David Foenkinos, the acclaimed French novelist, screenwriter and director of Delicacy.
The screening of Delicacy will be presented in conjunction with the Singapore Writers Festival, creating a meeting point between cinema and literature. These encounters add another dimension to the festival, allowing audiences to look beyond the finished work and gain insight into the craft of filmmaking, the art of adaptation and the creative processes that bring stories to life.
At 42 editions, vOilah! continues to demonstrate that cultural exchange need not be complicated. Sometimes, it begins with sitting in a darkened cinema, following a story that may be rooted in a different country, language or era, only to recognise something deeply familiar in its characters and conflicts.
A historical drama can prompt reflection on leadership and freedom. A story of a woman pursuing her dream can speak to anyone who has faced obstacles. A romantic comedy set in Paris can offer a moment of escapism, while an animated adventure can bring three generations of a family together.
This year’s programme embraces that breadth, balancing France’s cinematic heritage with contemporary perspectives and imaginative storytelling. And with more screenings taking place in community spaces across Singapore, the festival is making it easier for more people to take part. Whether the draw is the grandeur of French history, the magic of Paris, the creative vision of Jeunet or a family afternoon at the cinema, there is a story waiting to be discovered.
The 42nd vOilah! French Film Festival runs from 12th to 29th November 2026 at Shaw Theatres, Alliance Française de Singapour, Filmhouse and participating community venues. Tickets and more information available at www.voilah.sg.
