Irish Film Institute -2025 IFI FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL GUESTS

2025 IFI FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL GUESTS

 

Jean-Baptiste Bonnet

Jean-Baptiste Bonnet graduated in photography from the École des Gobelins in Paris and transitioned to filmmaking, working as a cinematographer on a number of creative documentaries for Arte, France Télévisions and the Centre Georges Pompidou. In 2020, he founded Habilis Productions, and in 2021, he was selected for the EURODOC programme with his feature documentary Save Our Souls. Jean-Baptiste is currently producing and developing several projects, with particular interest in international co‑productions.

We are delighted to welcome Jean-Baptiste at the festival and take part in a post-screening Q&A with his latest feature, Save Our Souls on Friday, November 28th at 18.20.

 

Lucile Hadžihalilović

Award-winning director Lucile Hadžihalilović studied filmmaking at the prestigious IDHEC (now La Fémis) in 1983. With fellow filmmaker and partner Gaspar Noé, she founded the production company Les Cinémas de la Zone and produced films including Carne (1991) and I Stand Alone (1998). Her films La Bouche de Jean-Pierre (1996) and Innocence (2004) established her as one of the most formally distinctive and daring French filmmakers of recent years.

We are delighted to welcome Lucile at the festival and take part in a post-screening Q&A with her latest feature, The Ice Tower on Thursday, November 20th at 20.15 and a Masterclass on Friday, November 21st at 13.00.

 

Samuel Kircher

Samuel Kircher grew up in a family passionate about cinema. He is the youngest son of actors Irène Jacob and Jérôme Kircher, and brother of actor Paul Kircher. While he was not initially destined to become an actor, Samuel found his starring role in Catherine Breillat’s relationship drama Last Summer (2023). For this performance, he received nominations for Best Male Revelation at both the César Awards and Lumière Awards.

We are delighted to welcome Philippe at the festival and take part in two post-screening Q&As with his latest feature, Wild Foxes on Sunday, November 30th at 15.20.


Festival Introductions

The screening will be introduced by Corey Cribb, Postdoctoral researcher in French Studies at Technological University Dublin
THE BUTCHER (LE BOUCHER) on Sunday 23rd at 13.00
The screening will be introduced by Prof. Douglas Morrey, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts, University of Warwick. He specialises in Contemporary French Literature and French Cinema.
LUMIÈRE! THE ADVENTURE BEGINS on Saturday 22nd at 15.40
The screening will be introduced by Dr. Tony Tracy, Head of Huston School of Film & Digital Media, University of Galway
THE BUTCHER (LE BOUCHER) on  Sunday 23rd at 13.00
The screening will be introduced by Marie-Pierre Richard, Festival Director, IFI French Film Festival.
SILENT REBELLION (À BRAS LE CORPS) on  Thursday 27th at 20.30
The screening will be introduced by Marie-Pierre Richard, Festival Director, IFI French Film Festival.
The screening will be introduced by Dr. Douglas Smith, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, UCD

Programme