The 13th Annual Robert Classic French Film Festival — presented by TV5MONDE and produced by Cinema St. Louis — celebrates St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s cinematic legacy. This year’s featured films span the decades from the 1920s through the 1980s, offering a revealing overview of French cinema. 

The fest annually includes significant restorations, and this year features a quintet of such works: Melvin Van Peebles’ “The Story of a Three-Day Pass,” Diane Kurys’ “Entre Nous,” Joseph Losey’s “Mr. Klein,” Jacques Deray’s “La piscine,” and the extended director’s cut of Jean-Jacques Beineix’s “Betty Blue.”

The fest also provides one of the few opportunities available in St. Louis to see films projected the old-school, time-honored way, with Agnes Varda’s “Vagabond” screening from a 35mm print. 

As part of our year-long Golden Anniversaries programming, which features films celebrating their 50th anniversaries, the fest includes a pair of films from 1971: François Truffaut’s “Two English Girls” and Claude Jutra’s French-Canadian “Mon oncle Antoine.” 

Completing the fest is our pandemic-delayed tribute to the late Anna Karina, who died in December 2019: Jean-Luc Godard’s essential “Vivre sa vie.” 

Every program features introductions and discussions by film or French scholars and critics.

Venues

On Aug. 13-15: Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium, Forsyth Boulevard (two blocks west of Skinker Boulevard) MAP

On Aug. 20-22 and 27-29: Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium in Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave. MAP

Tickets

Tickets are $14 for general admission; $11 for students and Cinema St. Louis members. Advance tickets can be purchased through the Cinema St. Louis website.

Passes

Two types of passes are available: Five-Film Passes are $60, $45 for CSL members; All-Access Passes are $100, $80 for CSL members. Click here to purchase passes.

Parking

Washington U.: Free parking is available on the street and in the yellow-zone sections of lots along Forsyth Boulevard and in the nearby East End parking facility; no permits are required on weekends.

Webster U.: Free parking is available in the lots both in front of and behind Webster Hall; no permits are required on weekends.