The CinéSchool Film Selection for the 2024-2025 school year features a diverse lineup of French and Francophone films tailored to various age groups, from elementary to high school. Each film is accompanied by engaging educational resources to enhance your students’ learning experience.
Included below is detailed information about each film, including available viewing dates on FestivalScope, synopses, themes, age recommendations, and content advisories. Please note that the online screenings take place on weekends, and students are required to watch the films individually or in a group setting (for group project) at home on their tablets or computers.
To ensure access, registration is required as there is a limited number of views per screening. You can also find those information in French in the booklet, or on FestivalScope’s website (bilingual).
SEPTEMBER: Coco Ferme (Coco Farm)By Sébastien Gagné, 2023, 1h27, Canada (Québec)**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Sept. 27-30, 2024**
Age 11 & upThemes: Friendship, solidarity, debt, local agriculture, Quebec, entrepreneurship, perseveranceIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
12-year old Max is upset, he’s been forced to close his “business” and move to the countryside with his quirky father. When Max discovers free run chickens in his cousin Charles’ abandoned barn, a new business idea captures his imagination. Seeing a gap in the egg market for organic, farm-to-table offerings, Max puts his ingenuity to work to prove he’s got what it takes to make it as a businessman and surprisingly to him… A chicken farmer. With a bit of innocent charm and a lot of sweat equity, can the kids bring their entrepreneurial aspirations to fruition within the ridiculous reams of red tape laid out by Quebec’s regulatory system? Max sure thinks it’s possible, and his hyper-fixated vision gives the others hope. A heartwarming story of community care and the need for responsible small businesses to make their own seat at the table. *Note: the film depicts adult alcohol abuse. However, the character has a positive journey and manages to stop drinking
Presented in partnership with le Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec and Québec Cinéma.
OCTOBER: Ernest et Célestine, le Voyage en Charabie (Ernest and Celestine, a Trip to Gibberitia)By Julien Chheng & Jean-Christophe Roger, 2022, 1h20, France-Luxembourg**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Oct. 25-28, 2024**
Age 5 & upThemes: Music, musical instruments, friendship & mutual aid, travel, family & origins, arbitrary, employmentIn English with French subtitlesWatch the trailer
Ernest and Celestine are travelling back to Ernest’s country, Gibberitia, to fix his broken violin. This exotic land is home to the best musicians on earth and music constantly fills the air with joy. However, upon arriving, our two heroes discover that all forms of music have been banned there for many years – and for them, a life without music is unthinkable. Along with their friends and a mysterious masked outlaw, Ernest and Celestine must try their best to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears.
Presented as part of the Festival de la Francophonie “Refaire le monde” (launched on the occasion of the XIXᵉ Sommet de la Francophonie in France) and the Festival de littérature Jeunesse en Louisiane organized by the Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans and Villa Albertine.
The filmmakers will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
November: La Mélodie (orchestra Class)By Rachid Hami, 2017, 1h42, France**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Nov. 15-18, 2024**
Age 14 & upThemes: Music, learning to play an instrument (violin), school band, youth, helping others, perseveranceIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
Simon is a distinguished, but disillusioned violinist. Arnold is a shy student who is fascinated with the violin and discovers that he has a real talent for it. With Arnold’s raw talent and the joyous energy of his class, Simon gradually rediscovers the joys of music. Together, they will overcome many obstacles and succeed to enroll the class in an end- of-the-year concert at the prestigious Philarmonie de Paris. Somewhere between the movies ‘The Chorus’ and ‘The Class’, ‘Orchestra Class’ is an urban tale, a musical and personal adventure that trains a spotlight on classical music as a fabulous vector of exchange. *Please note: the film contains some explicit language, potentially offensive language and allusions to adult themes.
The filmmaker will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
DECEMBER: Dounia et le grand pays blanc (Dounia and the great white north)By Marya Zarif & André Kadi, 2023, TV Series (season 2), 50 min., Canada (Québec)-France**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Dec. 6-9, 2024***
Age 7& upThemes: Francophonie, Quebec, family ties, native cultures, Syrian refugees, solidarity, mutual aid, humanity, Quebec culturesIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
After fleeing Syria, Dounia and her grandparents discover Canada, their new home. They learn about the seasons, the food and the language. Three cultures meet and get to know each other: Dounia’s Syrian culture, Rosalie’s Québécois culture and Miguizou’s Aboriginal culture. Dounia must also come to terms with the trauma of war and the absence of her father. Her father is finally released from prison in Aleppo and sets out to find his daughter. With the help of her new friends, Dounia gradually discovers that her heart is connected to the world’s, and she uses it to guide her father back to her.
Presented in partnership with le Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec.
JANUARY: Loups tendres et loufoques (Wonderful Wacky Wolves)By Anaïs Sorrentino, Arnaud Demuynck, Pascale Hecquet, Rémi Durin, Hugo Frassetto, 2017-2019, 53 min, Belgium-France**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Jan. 24-27, 2025**
Age 4 & upThemes: Wolf figure, traditional tales, learning, environment, vanity / pride, short filmsIn French with English subtitles Watch the trailer
Un loup qui se croit le plus beau, un louveteau qui veut chasser tout seul, un petit loup qui aime la compagnie… Dans ‘Loups tendres et loufoques’, la Chouette du cinéma revisite le loup des contes et des livres, avec humour et poésie, pour lui rendre sa place dans la nature.
FEBRUARY: Neneh SuperstarBy Ramzi Ben Sliman, 2022, 1h35, France**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from Feb. 7-10, 2025**
Age 15 & upThemes: Classical dance, discrimination, injustice, racism, diversity and integration, childhood/youth, suburbsIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
Born to dance, Neneh is a 12-year-old black girl who has just entered the Paris Opera ballet school. Despite her enthusiasm, she will have to work twice as hard to escape her social environment and be accepted by the director of the school Marianne Bellage. The latter, a former star dancer, is indeed the embodiment of ballet and bears a secret that connects her to the little ballerina. *Please note: the film deals with themes of discrimination, bullying and body image. It also includes some mild violence and explicit language.
MARCH: Pattie et la Colère de Poséidon (Epic Tails)By David Alaux, 2022, 1h35, rated PG, France**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from March 21-24, 2025**
Age 8 & upThemes: Ancient Greece, mythology, ancient world, team / cooperation, adventure, guilt / jealousyIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
Life goes on peacefully in Yolcos, a beautiful and prosperous port city in ancient Greece, when its population is threatened by the wrath of Poseidon. An adventurous young mouse and the cat who adopted her unwittingly help old Jason and his Argonauts in their quest to save the city. But more than just a helping hand, the operation will ultimately lead them to confront mythology’s most dangerous mythical creatures and overcome every danger. *Please note: this film is rated PG by the MPAA for action scenes and some dark humor.
Presented in partnership with Occitanie Films. The filmmaker will participate in the interactive exchange on Padlet.
APRIL: Mia et le Migou (Mia and the Migoo)By Jacques-Rémy Girerd, 2008, 1h32, rated PG, France-Italy**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from April 4-7, 2025**
Age 8 & upThemes: Ecology, environment, protection of the planet, initiatory journey, relationship with the father, deforestationIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
Mia is a little girl of barely ten. Alerted by a premonition, she decides to leave her native village somewhere in South America in search of her father. Her father is working on a gigantic project to transform a rainforest into a luxury hotel complex. The journey to find her father will be a long one. Mia will have to cross a faraway mountain surrounded by an enigmatic forest inhabited by mysterious beings… *Please note: this film is rated PG by the MPAA for its thematic elements, some danger scenes and slightly inappropriate language.
MAY: Le Voyage du prince (The Prince’s Voyage)By Jean-François Laguionie & Xavier Picard, 2019, 1h18, France-Luxembourg**Available for viewing on FestivalScope from May 16-19, 2025**
Age 9 & upThemes: Migration, industrialization, ecology, progress, discrimination, science, toleranceIn French with English subtitlesWatch the trailer
An old Prince washes up on an unknown shore. Wounded and lost, he is found by the young Tom and rescued by his parents, two dissident researchers who have dared to believe in the existence of other peoples… The Prince, with the help of his friend Tom, discovers with enthusiasm and fascination this rigid and closed society. Meanwhile, the two researchers dream of convincing the Academy of the truth of their previously rejected thesis…
Photo credits: Coco Ferme © Laurence Grandbois; Ernest et Celestine, le voyage en Charabie © GKIDS; La Melodie © Arnaud Borrel – Mizar Films; Dounia, le grand pays blanc © 2023 Tobo Media Inc. – Du Coup Studio Production Inc.; Loups tendres et Loufoques © Les films du Nord; Neneh Superstar © Mika Cotellon – 2023 Gaumont – France 2 Cinéma – Gaumont animation; Pattie et la colere de Poseidon © TAT productions, Apollo Films Distribution, France 3 Cinéma / 2023; Mia et le Migou © GKIDS; Le Voyage du prince © Shout! Factory.
Curated by Nathalie Charles, Program Officer, in charge of CinéSchool.
Discover below the schools, Alliances Françaises, and FLAM programs that have registered for the 4th edition of CinéSchool for the 2024-2025 school year:
Nathalie Charles | Program Officer nathalie.charles@villa-albertine.org | phone: 929-505-0841