Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Berkeley

It's time to discover the best of independent French and American cinema, right here in Berkeley!

Co-presented by Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, the highly regarded Champs-Elysées Film Festival will once again visit Berkeley on its U.S tour, with two days of award-winning short, medium, and feature length film screenings at the EB Lower School Campus and the neighboring Meyer Sound Pearson Theater in November.

Justine Lévêque - Artistic Director

Inspiring conversations, emotions, and human and artistic connections between our two countries is at the heart of the festival and remains the number one goal of the US Tour.
It is with great joy that we reconnect with the American audiences, cultural centers, and universities that have supported and promoted our festival for 8 years now. We can’t wait to share our selections during this special advanced premier.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR DAY ONE: NOVEMBER 7
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR DAY TWO: NOVEMBER 8





Day One: Short & Medium Length Films

7pm-9pm Thursday, November 7

On Thursday, November 7, we invite movie lovers and Francophiles of the Bay Area to view a collection of short and medium length films at the EB Lower School Multipurpose Room. The event is free and open to adults 18+.

**Please note there is limited seating of 100, so RSVP is required.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR DAY ONE: NOVEMBER 7

List of 6 items.

  • Papillon by Florence Miailhe

    Animation | 12 minutes
    French, German, Arabic with English subtitles

    While a man swims in the sea, memories come flooding back. From his early childhood to his life as a grown man, all his memories are linked to water. Some are happy, some glorious, some traumatic. This story will be that of his last swim. It will take us from the source to the river - from the waters of childhood pools to those of swimming pools - from a North African country to the shores of the Mediterranean - from Olympic stadiums to water retention basins - from concentration camps to the dreamt beaches of Réunion.

  • FILANTE By Marion Jamault

    Animation | 9 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    Every night, Paulette observes the same shooting star in the sky. She makes her deepest wish: to find her mysteriously missing pet rat. The days go by, but the animal doesn't return. Paulette wants to understand, what's wrong with her star?

  • SIRÈNES by Sarah Malléon

    Fiction | 16 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    Daniel is a widowed father who lives in the north of Martinique with his 8-year-old daughter, Soraya. A fisherman and restaurateur, he tries to make ends meet in a commune hit by a severe economic and social crisis. His daily life is turned upside down the day his daughter sets out to summon mermaids using a conch shell. While the little girl just wants to make friends, Daniel sees in her new obsession the risk of a dangerous invasion

  • PETIT SPARTACUS  by Sara Ganem 

    Fiction | 28 minutes
    French, English, Greek with English subtitles

    Between the brandies and the blocks of the East, I navigate with Spartacus, my bike that speaks Greek. But even the grandeur of the world is not enough to drown my sorrow.

  • LES LIENS DU SANG by Hakim Atoui

    Fiction | 18 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    Ali and Leila visit their mother who has just been discharged from hospital. They have some revelations to make. But they are shocked to discover that she is now living with Elyo, a medical assistance robot. With this strange machine at their side, lunch turns into a family affair. Elyo, feeling that her owner is in trouble, steps in to stop the sources of the attacks, whatever the cost...

  • L’OURSE ET L’OISEAU by Marie Caudry

    Animation | 26 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    In the North, winter is approaching. Bear thinks of her friend Bird who migrated south. Instead of hibernating like she does every year, she decides to travel the world to join him. This long journey through frightening and wonderful landscapes will give Bear the opportunity to experience the strength of her love, and a new taste for the unknown.

    • Papillon

    • Filante

    • SIRÈNES

    • PETIT SPARTACUS

    • LES LIENS DU SANG

    • L’OURSE ET L’OISEAU

DAY TWO: Reception & Feature

6:30pm-9pm Friday, November 8 at Pearson Theater

On Friday, November 8, from 6:30-9pm, join us for a celebratory wine and cheese reception followed by screenings of the short film Beurk and Florent Gouëlou's feature-length documentary, Habibi.

Habibi, is the second feature length film from French filmmaker, Florent Gouëlou, and won the Audience Award for Best French Independent Feature Film at this summer's festival.

A graduate of the Comédie de Saint-Etienne and holder of a Master's degree in Cinema from La Sorbonne Nouvelle, Gouëlou first joined the La Fémis directing department in 2013. With his graduation film, Un homme mon fils, he discovered the world of drag and won the acting prize at the 2018 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival.

Since then, Gouëlou has released three multi-platform short films, all produced by Yukunkun Productions (Beauty Boys in 2019, Premier Amour and Où vont les sons in 2020), and a feature-length fiction film, Trois nuits par semaine, released at the end of 2022 (World Premiere in Venice).

The event is open to the public and will take place at the beautiful Meyer Sound Pearson Theater, located across the street from the EB Lower School campus on 10th Street.

Tickets are $20 per person, on a first-come, first-serve basis to adults 18+. 

**Please note there is limited seating of 55.

Pearson Theater
Meyer Sound
2837 10th Street
Berkeley CA 94710

    • Florent Gouelou

RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR DAY TWO: NOVEMBER 8

List of 2 items.

  • BEURK by Loïc Espuche

    Animation | 13 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    Yuck! Couples kissing on the mouth are gross. And the worst is, you can’t miss them: when people are about to kiss, their lips become all pink and shiny. Little Léo laughs at them, just like all the kids at the summer camp. But he has a secret he won’t tell his friends: his own mouth has actually begun glistening. And, in reality, Léo desperately wants to give kissing a try.

  • HABIBI by Florent Gouëlou

    Documentary | 80 minutes
    French with English subtitles

    Habibi, Chanson pour mes ami.e.s (A Song For My Friends) follows the preparations for the last cabaret of the season. From the Flèche d'Or's solidarity missions to the cabaret artists' rehearsals, it portrays the men and women who bring this venue to life, and raises the question of hospitality and political and artistic commitment. At La Flèche d'Or, as at the Habibi cabaret, hospitality is the result of a series of economic, artistic and human decisions. It's a long series of choices that express a position and tell the story of a collective adventure.

    Habibi's unique approach to documenting the drag community and its connection to a specific Parisian cultural space have resonated widely since its Festival debut, reflecting its appeal to both critics and audiences alike. The film's exploration of themes such as solidarity, artistic transformation, and the political aspects of drag performance are sure to engage our local community as well.

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley

Elementary School Campus

All Are Welcome! (Anti-Discriminatory Policy)

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley does not exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religion. This policy applies to all programs, services, and facilities, including applications, admissions, and employment.