From May 30 to June 27, Villa Albertine’s beloved free outdoor French film festival, Films on the Green, will return to parks across Manhattan, featuring 3 captivating films that celebrate the glamour of French fashion.
This summer, Films on the Green steps into the world of fashion, where cinema meets couture through three iconic French films. The series opens with the understated elegance of Coco Before Chanel, tracing the early rise of a visionary who redefined style; continues with the pastel-colored charm of The Young Girls of Rochefort, capturing the spirit of 1960s flair; and concludes with Falbalas, a hidden gem that dives into the glamorous yet demanding world of Parisian haute couture—a film so impactful it inspired none other than Jean Paul Gaultier to pursue fashion. A tribute to design and the timeless allure of French style on screen.
In another exciting first, this year’s screenings will open with a selection of AI Shorts curated by mk2, one of the leading companies in arthouse cinema. These short films, created or enhanced using artificial intelligence, were shown in France during the Artefact AI Film Festival after being selected by an exceptional jury chaired by the director of Amélie, legendary filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet. They open up new creative horizons and resonate with Villa Albertine’s ongoing exploration of the intersection between art and technology, from our dedicated AI Residencies for artists to the latest issue of States magazine, “Arts in the Age of AI.”
Free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required.Films begin at sunset. All films have English subtitles.
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All films are shown with English subtitles. Screenings at sunset.
May 30, 2025 | Central Park – Cedar HillCoco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel)Directed by Anne Fontaine With Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, and Emmanuelle Devos2009, History-Drama, 1h50, France-Belgium, PG-13
Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amélie) shines in this intriguing portrait of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, the orphan who would build a fashion empire and be known universally by her nickname, Coco. She journeys from a mundane seamstress job to boisterous cabarets to the opulent French countryside, possessing little more than her unwavering determination, unique style and visionary talent. Also starring Benoît Poelvoorde (In His Hands) and Alessandro Nivola (Junebug). Featuring lush settings and stunning costume design, Coco Before Chanel is the gripping and dramatic story of an icon who defied convention and defined the modern woman.
June 13, 2025 | Washington Square ParkThe Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)Directed by Jacques Demy With Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Michel Piccoli, Grover Dale, Gene Kelly, Georges Chakiris, and Danielle Darrieux1967, Romance-Comedy, 2h06, France
Jacques Demy followed up The Umbrellas of Cherbourg with another musical about missed connections and second chances, this one a more effervescent confection. Twins Delphine and Solange, a dance instructor and a music teacher (played by real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac), long for big-city life; when a fair comes through their quiet port town, so does the possibility of escape. With its jazzy Michel Legrand score, pastel paradise of costumes, and divine supporting cast (George Chakiris, Grover Dale, Danielle Darrieux, Michel Piccoli, and Gene Kelly), The Young Girls of Rochefort is a tribute to Hollywood optimism from sixties French cinema’s preeminent dreamer.
June 27, 2025 | Riverside Park Pier IFalbalasDirected by Jacques Becker With Micheline Presle, Raymond Rouleau, Jean Chevrier from La Comédie Française, Gabrielle Dorziat, Françoise Lugagne, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, and Christiane Barry1945, Romance-Drama, 1h51, France, PG-12
Womanizing dress designer Philippe Clarence (Raymond Rouleau) finally falls in love, only she’s his best friend’s fiancée. Micheline Lafaurie (Micheline Presle) finds herself in an impossible situation, a choice between a loveless marriage with her dependable fiancée and the dress designer with whom she is infatuated.
Films on the Green is organized nationwide in partnership with the Fondation Louis Roederer, BNP Paribas, TV5MONDE, and JCDecaux.
Nathalie Charles Festival Manager nathalie.charles@villa-albertine.org