Julie Delpy headlines San Diego French Film Festival’s celebration of women

The San Diego French Film Festival returns May 3-7 with a timely and deliberate focus: elevating women’s voices across the Francophone world. 

Presented by nonprofit Alliance Française San Diego, the sixth annual festival showcases French-language films with English subtitles at The Lot in La Jolla and, new this year, the Carlsbad City Library.

Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Julie Delpy will serve as patron, appearing at The Lot on May 4 for a screening of her latest satirical drama, “Meet the Barbarians” (Les Barbares), followed by a live conversation. 

Alliance Française San Diego executive director Julie Ripoll said the festival’s theme addresses a stark industry reality.

“I noticed so few female leading roles, and only 13% of film directors in 2025 were female,” Ripoll said. “Since we have a theme each year and Alliance Française promotes diversity in every aspect, we decided to highlight women’s perspectives.”

That commitment runs through the entire lineup, where most short and feature films are either directed by women or center on female protagonists. Ripoll is equally intentional about including male filmmakers who champion women.

“It’s not only women. It’s also those who put women first,” Ripoll said. “They must be in the conversation with us.”

The festival opens on May 3 at The Lot with “Colors of Time” (La venue de l’avenir), a portrait of women across generations directed by Cédric Klapisch, followed by a red-carpet gala featuring champagne and music by French DJs. 

Among other La Jolla screenings is “Promised Sky” (Promis le ciel), a story of exile and solidarity shared by women from sub-Saharan Africa stranded in Tunisia. The festival’s slate also includes “Out of Love” (Les enfants vont bien), Nathan Ambrosioni’s intimate portrait of motherhood and independence, and “Summer Beats” (Ma frére), a coming-of-age story directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Guéret. 

No figure draws more anticipation in La Jolla than Delpy, best known to American audiences for the “Before” trilogy alongside Ethan Hawke. 

“She’s a talented actress, as well as a talented filmmaker,” Ripoll said of Delpy. “Through her conversation, we’ll learn more about the difficulties she’s faced, especially as a director, from raising funds to building a team around an idea.”

In “Meet the Barbarians,” Delpy follows residents of a small French village who set out to assist refugees they believe are Ukrainian, only to discover they are Syrian. The ensuing cultural collision is explored through sharp wit and a distinctly female lens. 

“It was, for me, something important to show,” Ripoll said. “This movie talks about racism and discrimination, but she also managed to create something fun as a drama. It’s really well done.” 

The festival closes on May 7 in Carlsbad with “Welcome to Iceland” (Bienvenue en Islande), André Nerman’s story of a mother fighting for her disabled child, partially filmed in San Diego. 

The Alliance Française San Diego, founded in 1927, operates as a French-language school and cultural center with 537 members. Beyond the film festival, the organization offers courses, certifications, art exhibitions, and cultural events.

As a French native and San Diego resident since 2012, Ripoll sees the festival’s purpose extending beyond entertainment.

“Movies are a way to educate yourself and change from what you’ve learned or what you know from your environment,” she said. “Education is what motivates me, and the film festival is a way to be educated by seeing different things.” 

The full festival schedule and tickets can be found here.