#3. The Focus Section of the 8th edition of the Madrid Films by Women Festival will be dedicated to French cinema, premiering in Madrid 10 feature films by French female filmmakers

A programme made up of 10 films and 1 round table

In each edition of the Madrid Films by Women Festival, a guest country stands out with the purpose of showing its recent film production directed by women. To date, the Focus Section, which is organised thanks to the invaluable collaboration of the Embassies, film institutes and cultural centres in Spain of each guest country, has been dedicated to the following countries: Austria (2024), Germany (2023), the Netherlands (2022), China (2021), Poland (2020), Switzerland (2019) and Sweden (2018). In 2025 the guest country is France.

Why FOCUS FRANCIA?

It is well known that French cinema is one of the most prolific and interesting in the world, thanks to its history, the solid and consistent policies of state support

- both for production and promotion - and the renewed talent of its creators. A cinematography in which, from pioneers such as Alice Guy, Musidora or Germaine Dulac, female filmmakers have reached a fundamental role in the industry, with key figures such as Agnès Varda, Nelly Kaplan, Marguerite Duras, Claire Denis, Céline Sciamma and... the list could go on. Or mythical actresses such as Jeanne Moreau, Simone Signoret, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve and Annie Girardot, among many others.

Fortunately, due to the great work of Spanish distributors, this cinematography is known and appreciated by the Spanish public. In this varied selection of premieres in Madrid or Spain, we want to show not only established directors but also new voices in French cinematography: Julia Ducournau, Diane Kurys, Alice Winocour, Charlène Favier, Rebecca Zlotowski, Lucile Hadžihalilović. They feature actresses such as Angelina Jolie and Jodie Foster (both filming in French!) and the celebrated Marina Foïs, Aurore Clément, Marion Cotillard and Cécile de France.

The participation of French cinematography in this edition will feature a total of 10 recent feature films directed by relevant female directors:

-Opening Gala: the film Vie Privée (A Private Life), Rebecca Zlotowski (2025) with Jodie Foster, will be premiered at Cinesa Proyecciones

-Focus Francia: made up of 6 recent feature films that premiere at the Academia de Cine (3 films) and in the auditorium of the Institut Français (3 films).

-International Competition: the long-awaited feature film Alpha, by Julia Ducournau (2025) will premiere at the Sala Azcona, Cineteca Madrid.

In addition, in the auditorium of the Institut Français, two more feature films will be screened in two special sessions. On the one hand, in line with Halloween night, on October 31st, we will have the special Night of terror at the Institut Français, in which the feature film Grave (Raw) (2016), by Julia Ducournau, will be screened. After the screening, by courtesy of our sponsors Estrella Galicia and Sidras Maeloc, we will be able to celebrate the most terrifying night of the year and toast with some ciders and beers (for free!). Come in your best costumes!

On the other hand, in the Ciclo Pioneras (Pioneers special), on Friday, November 7th at 8 pm, will screen the classic drama Pour Don Carlos (La capitana Alegría) (1921), by the French director Musidora and Jaime de Lasuen (who signed as Jacques Lasseyne), an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Pierre Benoit, shot in Spain in the Basque Country.

Finally, on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, at 5:30 pm, the round table How did you get here? Case study of the international female film directors participating in the festival, will take place. Four international female directors present at the festival will participate. They will talk about their professional careers, present their projects and discuss the effects of equal and equitable practices in the international film industry. At this table, which will be held in Spanish, French and English, with simultaneous translation and interpretation in sign language and

streaming, we will have the presence of the French director Charlène Favier, director of Oxana, a film about the life of Oksana Shachko, co-founder of Femen.

This ambitious programme has been organised thanks to the invaluable collaboration of the French Embassy in Spain and the Institut Français in Spain and Madrid.