French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The epic subgenre features grand and sweeping stories often set against significant historical, cultural, or societal backdrops. Epic dramas are characterized by their scope, scale, and often lengthy runtime, as they aim to capture the grandeur of human experiences, events, and emotions.

The period drama subgenre transports audiences to the past, immersing them in historical contexts and offering insights into the lives, relationships, and challenges of characters from different time periods.

Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)

The tragedy subgenre features stories characterized by sorrowful events, unfortunate circumstances, and often a sense of inevitable and irreversible loss or downfall. They evoke deep emotions and can explore themes of human suffering, fate, moral dilemmas, and the complexity of human nature.

Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

1998. Paul leads a solitary life on the German-French border, where his nurse and friend Léa visits him daily, infusing his world with her curiosity and vibrant energy. One day, Léa stumbles upon a mysterious box filled with items from the past. When she brings it up to Paul, it opens a window into his past and the summer of 1940. A summer in which Paul formed an extraordinary friendship with Samuel, a German-Jewish man.

Paul Ahrens and Pierre Kiwitt in Lehitraot (2025)

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Leander Spala (l.) and Joshua Ewert (r.) on the set of Lehitraot

Joshua Ewert and Noah R. Lischka on the "LEHITRAOT" Premiere

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