The Festival du Cinéma Chinois en France (FCCF) returns for an eventful 11th edition, running from May 10 to June 30, 2026. In Paris, screenings are held at the Pathé Palace cinema, the new luxury venue designed by Renzo Piano, just a stone’s throw from the Opéra Garnier in the 9th arrondissement, as well as at the Pathé Les Fauvettes and at the Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé in the 13th, and at the Christine Cinéma Club in the 6th. For fans of Chinese cinema who can’t get to China, this is clearly the must-attend event of the year.
Four sections make up this edition: Nouveautés, Films classiques, Documentaires and Cinéma virtuel. The Nouveautés section gathers recent productions, most of them not yet released in France. The opening film, Scare Out (2026), is an espionage thriller from Zhang Yimou, shot against a futuristic Shenzhen backdrop and featuring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong. Needless to say, May 10 at Pathé Palace is shaping up to be a standout evening.
Among other titles to watch: The Lychee Road (2025), a historical comedy about a Tang Dynasty official tasked with delivering fresh lychees to the imperial court in under three days; the drama Like a Rolling Stone (2024), inspired by the true story of Su Min, who left her husband at 56 to drive solo across China and became a social-media icon; and Viva la vida (2024), following two young people battling illness who support each other. There’s also the space documentary Shenzhou 13 (2025), the first film shot in 8K from space, and the animated feature Curious Tales of a Temple (2025) from Light Chaser Animation, bringing together six directors for six animation styles in a single feature. We had already enjoyed their Chang'an at the 2024 edition of the festival.
That's the standout feature of this edition: a section entirely dedicated to restored classic films. The Divine (1934), featuring Ruan Lingyu, is being shown in France for the first time in its 4K restored version. Children of Troubled Times (1935) is also on the program, less familiar to the general public but particularly intriguing: its title song has become the national anthem of China. On the documentary side, the lineup includes the trilogy on the Franco-Chinese painter Zao Wou-Ki, the film about composer Chen Qigang, and La Cité oubliée de la dynastie Ming, directed by French filmmaker Stéphane Bégoin.
An exhibition exploring 120 years of Chinese cinema is on display at the China Cultural Centre in Paris (7th arrondissement) from May 19 to July 19, 2026. The Nanjing Photo Studio, a historical drama released in French cinemas in January 2026, is also part of this edition’s lineup.
For opening night on May 10, Jean-Jacques Annaud and Anne Fontaine will headline as ambassadors for this edition, alongside director Zhang Yimou. Isabelle Huppert is the guest of honor: recently shortlisted for a César for Thierry Klifa’s The Richest Woman in the World, she remains one of France’s most internationally active actresses, a perfect fit for the festival’s spirit. The CNC and Unifrance back the event, mirroring the Panorama of French Cinema held in ten Chinese cities.
In Paris, from May 10 to 24, 2026. Then: Strasbourg, May 20 to June 1, Lyon, May 21 to June 18, Brest, May 29 to June 12, Toulouse, June 4 to 6, Marseille and Cannes, June 12 to 14, Montargis, June 22 to 24, and for the first time in New Caledonia (June 4–7) and in Réunion (June 5–7).
This festival is tailored for curious cinephiles, but it isn’t limited to them. With comedies, dramas, animation, and documentaries, it draws a much wider audience beyond the usual fans of Asian cinema. The full program is available at cinechine.org.
Also worth checking out on Sortiraparis:
Dates and Opening Time
From May 26, 2025 to June 14, 2025
Location
Christine Cinema Club
4 Rue Christine
75006 Paris 6
Access
Metro Saint Michel - line 4
Prices
Billets: €4 - €7
Official website
cinechine.org
