The weekend of April 17-19, 2025, French majors and minors in Brittney Gehrig’s French 400 class organized their inaugural Boise French Film Festival in collaboration with Richard St.Ofle’s FILM 495 class.
Opening night featured the classic film “La Haine.” On the second evening, attendees viewed “Ascenseur pour l’échafaud” followed by discussions of the films’ themes. The final day showcased seven short films submitted by creators from around the Francophone world, and included a conversation with one local Congolese-American director about his featured film and process.
The festival provided excellent exposure to Francophone cultures for the community, as well as an opportunity for French and film students to gain real-world experience in their respective fields. The Boise French Film Festival thanks the Idaho Film Collection and the Department of World Languages for their generous support of the project. Planning for 2026’s festival is already underway.