The CinéSchool 2026–2027 film selection features a diverse lineup of French-language films for students from elementary through high school. Each title is paired with engaging educational resources designed to enrich the viewing experience and support French-language learning.
Below, you will find detailed information about each film, including streaming dates on FestivalScope, synopses, themes, age recommendations, and content advisories. Please note that screenings take place online over designated weekends, and students watch the films at home on a tablet or computer, either individually or with their families, using their teacher’s FestivalScope access.
Since the number of views for each screening is limited, advance registration is required. Additional information will also be available in French in the booklet (To be published) and on FestivalScope (To be updated).
Directed by Jérémie Degruson, 2023, 1h30, France–Belgium–SpainAge: 5+ | Language: in French with English, French or Spanish (Spain) subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of September 25–28, 2026Themes: Imagination, Friendship and loyalty, Courage, Adventure, Stereotypes, Identity, Freedom
When the lights go out in an old theater in Central Park, the puppets come to life. Among them is Don, always cast as the fool, who dreams of becoming a hero. Through the power of imagination, he turns his world into an adventure. When he finally gather the courage to step outside and discover the world, he meets DJ Doggy Dog, an abandoned stuffed animal who dreams of becoming a rap star. Together, they embark on an extraordinary journey through New York to make their dreams come true, proving that even the smallest characters can play big roles !Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, and written by the screenwriters of Toy Story, the film offers a playful and accessible introduction to themes of imagination, identity, and adventure.*Please note: The film explores stereotypes and assigned roles through characters seeking to break free from them. Some scenes may be slightly unsettling for very younger viewers (puppet theft, mild suspense, imaginary creatures), as well as a few instances of colloquial language.
Directed by Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat and Nathaniel H’limi, 2025, 1h21, France–LuxembourgAge: 8+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of October 23–26, 2026Themes: Grief, Resilience, Family Reunification, Trauma (terrorist attacks), Palace of Versailles, French History
After her parents’ passing, eight-year-old Violet goes to live with her uncle, Regis, a gruff maintenance worker at the Palace of Versailles. Despite a rocky start, Violet and Regis learn to live and face life’s challenges together. Through complex friendships, first loves and a Christmas trip to Violet’s grandparents, they slowly create a new life rich in discoveries and tender moments in the heart of Versailles.*Please note: the film includes references to grief (loss of parents) and terrorism (Paris attacks, evoked in the background). These elements are presented indirectly (e.g., through radio mentions or visual details) and handled with sensitivity. The story follows a child coping with loss and adjusting to a new family situation
Presented in partnership with Unifrance as part of MyFrenchAnimationDays (MyFAD).
Bonus: The filmmakers, Clémence Madeleine-Perdrillat and Nathaniel H’limi, will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
Directed by Olivier Pairoux, 2021, 1h40, BelgiumAge: 12+ | Language: in French with English or French subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of November 6-11, 2026Themes: Science, Astrophysics, Space, Sciences, Joseph Kittinger, Father-son relationship, Illness, Grief, Perseverance
At only 11 years, Jim is a gifted boy passionate about space and science. Arriving in a new town with his dad, Jim has to participate in a young scientist competition with his new classmate Emma, a sensitive and discreet girl. Despite her reluctance, Jim convinces her to imitate Kittinger’s ‘Excelsior’ project (first man to reach the frontier of space in 1960) and to build secretly a real air balloon. This calling comes from his father, Graham, an astrophysicist who was meant to carry out a space mission very soon. Since Jim’s mother died, this project is very important to him. But when he discovers Graham has given up without telling him, his world falls apart. The competition turns into an obsession and Jim wants to prove unlike his father that he won’t give up. Jim pushes Emma to her limits and drags her into an adventure which is going to bring them closer.*Please note: the film includes references to grief (loss of a parent) and emotional distress, as well as scenes involving risk-taking and unsafe behavior (including a homemade balloon experiment and moments of peril, including risk of drowning). It also contains mild language, and brief depictions of conflict (arguments, pushing between children), bullying/pranks, and property damage (vandalism/sabotage).
Presented in partnership with Wallonie-Bruxelles International.
Bonus: The filmmaker Olivier Pairoux will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
Directed by François Narboux, 2022, 45 min., FranceAge: 4+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of December 4-7, 2026Themes: Winter, Friendship, Courage, Creativity, Environment, Outdoor games, Literary adaptation
Edmond the squirrel and his friend Lucy, a young bear cub, live in a majestic chestnut tree deep in the heart of the forest. Together with their family and friends, they play and grow up in a natural world full of adventures. Even in winter, when everything is white and quiet, they discover that the season is full of wonderful surprises!This program brings together four charming adventures, including The Shortest day and The Surprise winter, featuring Edmond and Lucy, along with their friends Mitzi, Georges-Hibou, and Mima.Adapted from the Edmond and His Friends picture book series, written by Astrid Desbordes, and illustrated by Marc Boutavant (Nathan).
Directed by Camille Budin, 2018, 52 min., Documentary, SwitzerlandAge: 9+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of January 22-25, 2027Themes: Astronomy, Environment, Education/Teaching, Physics, Astrophysics, Solar System, Cosmos, Winter, Documentary
A primary school class in the Swiss mountains embarks on an adventure to discover the mysteries of the universe, guided by the Canadian astrophysicist Stéphanie Juneau. The Big Bang, the birth of stars, Supernovas, black holes, planet Earth… Nowadays hardly anything holds any mystery for children anymore. Or does it? As these kids soon come to realize, mystery – like the universe – has no bounds. A fact they see reflected in the striking, breathtaking – often tempestuous – nature, that surrounds their school, which lies huddled away at the bottom of a valley. Over the course of a weeklong introductory workshop on astronomy, the kids discover that every little thing – from the infinitely small to the infinitely large – is connected; and how they too have an impact on the precarious balance between Earth and Sun. Thus, their reactions, their games, the way they put their new knowledge into practice and above all their innocent – often clumsy – questions, inevitably refer to a bigger, almost metaphysical and universal questioning: “What is our place in the universe?”.
Presented in partnership with The Embassy of Switzerland in the United States.
Directed by Rémi Bezançon & Jean-Christophe Lie, 2012, 1h18, France-BelgiumAge: 9+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of February 5-8, 2027Themes: Historical tale, Travel, Slavery, Racism, Freedom, Africa, 19th century
Inspired by the true story of the first giraffe to visit France, Zarafa is a sumptuously animated and stirring adventure, and a throwback to a bygone era of hand-drawn animation and epic storytelling set among sweeping CinemaScope vistas of parched desert, wind-swept mountains and open skies.Under the cover of darkness a small boy, Maki, loosens the shackles that bind him and escapes into the desert night. Pursued by slavers across the moon-lit savannah, Maki meets Zarafa, a baby giraffe – and an orphan, just like him – as well as the nomad Hassan, Prince of the Desert. Hassan takes them to Alexandria for an audience with the Pasha of Egypt, who orders him to deliver the exotic animal as a gift to King Charles of France. And so Maki, Zarafa and Hassan take off in a hot-air balloon to cross the Mediterranean, setting off an adventure across Northern Africa, the bustling port of Marseilles, and over the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, arriving at last in Paris. But all the while, Maki is determined to find a way to return Zarafa to her rightful home.*Please note: the film includes depictions of slavery and forced captivity, as well as themes of racism and separation from family. It contains scenes of violence and peril (including the killing of animals, use of weapons, and moments of danger such as chases and attacks), as well as references to death. The film also includes brief depictions of alcohol use (a character coping with hardship through drinking)
Directed by Yan Lanouette Turgeon, 2024, 1h51, Canada (Québec)Age: 14+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of March 12-15, 2027Themes: Grief and Resilience, Social Anxiety/Loneliness, Rebuilding One’s Life/Overcoming Obstacles, Family Love, Creativity, Opera and Music, Love of Animals
11-year-old orphan girl Simone is forced to leave her farm home and her animals behind to go live in the city with her only relative – Uncle Philippe. She brings along her best friend, a skunk, named Boots. Philippe is a one-time wonder composer but lacks inspiration for a new opera. The arrival of this niece he never met completely turns his isolated and organized life upside down. Simone makes it her mission to help her uncle reopen his heart and hopefully, by doing so, find a home for herself, Boots and all the abandoned animals she has rescued. *Please note: the film includes references to grief and loss (death of parents and a grandparent), as well as emotional distress related to family separation, including temporary placement with a relative and discussion of foster care. It also contains a scene depicting an anxiety attack/panic episode. Brief moments of conflict (arguments) and deception (a child lying at an adult’s request) are also present.Presented in partnership with le Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec and Québec Cinéma.
Directed by Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy, 2025, 1h27, Rated PG, FranceAge: 7+ | Language: in French with English subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of April 9-12, 2027Themes: Adventure, Pets, Revenge, Solidarity and Teamwork, Class Inequality and Freedom
When a crew of animal bandits embark on a fairly routine swindle, they find themselves caught up in a high-tech, professional train heist. It’s up to Falcon, a petty thief raccoon and Rex, a righteous police-dog, to save the animals stuck onboard this high-speed runway train.*Please note: The film features some mild action and suspense (a runaway train and moments of danger), balanced with humor and strong themes of teamwork and resilience. It also includes a few instances of light language and playful humor.
Bonus: The filmmaker Jean-Christian Tassy will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
Directed by Arnaud Demuynck & Rémi Durin, 2022, 1h02, France–Belgium–SwitzerlandAge: 4+ | Language: in French with English or Spanish (Spain) subtitles | Watch the trailer
Available for viewing on FestivalScope: Weekend of May 7-10, 2027Themes: Music / Songs, Friendship, Love, Intergenerational Relationships, Solidarity, Musical Tale
On top of the highest mountains on Earth lives a plant that feeds on the most perfect sunlight. It is called… the Himalayan flower. Yuku leaves her family to search for this flower of eternal light. She wants to give it to her grandmother who announced that the time has come for her to go with the little blind mole into the meanders of the earth. But to find it, Yuku’s journey will be long and full of obstacles. She has to cross the terrible domain of sewer rats under the castle, the meadow where cruel and voracious crows reside, the enchanted forest where everyone gets lost and, above all, the little bridge of fear guarded by the wolf! Yet on her way, through her music and songs, Yuku makes many friends. They are the most precious ingredient for succeeding in the adventure of life.
Photo credits: Les Inséparables © 2023 nWave – Octopolis ACF; La vie de château – Mon enfance à Versailles © Films Grand Huit; SpaceBoy © Kwassa Films; L’hiver d’Edmond et Lucy © Miam! Animation; Grand et Petit © Intermezzo Films; Zarafa © 2011 Pathé Films-France 3 Cinema-Chaocorp-Scope Pictures; Mlle Bottine © Danny Taillon-Immina Films; Falcon Express © TAT production-Apollo Films Distribution-France 3 Cinéma-Kinologics; Yuku et la fleur de l’Himalaya © Artemis Productions.
Curated by Nathalie Charles, Program Officer, in charge of CinéSchool.