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17th Annual Robert French Film Festival

April 4 – 13, 2025 at Hi-Pointe Theatre

Presented by Cinema St. Louis

The 17th Annual Robert Classic French Film Festival — sponsored by Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation  — celebrates St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s cinematic legacy. 

The theme for this year’s festival is “Cuisine Française” and we will be exploring the role of food in French cinema through classics like Babette’s Feast, Delicatessen, and Merci Pour Le Chocolat.

This year’s festival will also include two St. Louis premieres! Our Opening Night film is the award winning comedy Holy Cow from acclaimed director Louise Courvoisier. The following Friday the film Sugar and Stars will tell the inspirational true story of one man’s journey from foster homes to being a world renowned pastry chef. 

Also included this year are two documentaries. Menus Plaisir – Les Troigros from legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman is a portrait of a restaurant that has held three Michelin stars for over 50 years. Kings Of Pastry from D.A. Pennebaker tells the story of one of the world’s greatest pastry competitions, Les Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. 

Finally, for the kids we have the animated classic Ratatouille.

 Every program features introductions by presenters passionate about French film and food. This year’s special guests include Dr. Natacha Douglas the founder of French Creperie and Isabelle Heidbreder, President of Alliance Francaise who will be teaching us all a few words in French before the screening of Ratatouille. 

Finally, we’re excited to announce the first annual Cinema For French Students program – a partnership with the American Association of Teachers of French. During the festival hundreds of students from all over St. Louis will watch and discuss the documentary ANAIS from filmmaker Hélène Hadjiyianni in their classrooms.