Italian and French Film Festival — March 27–30, 2026

Join us for four days of Italian and French cinema on campus and in the city!

Building on the success of our 2025 Italian Film Festival, we are inaugurating the very first Italian & French Film Festival, organized by Anthony Russell and Sonja Bertucci (University of Richmond) in collaboration with Luca Peretti (University of Cambridge). For this groundbreaking edition, we will be showcasing eight thought-provoking contemporary films from Italy and France.

The festival is designed to bring together UR students, faculty, and staff, as well as the wider Richmond community. It will include a screening of Gillo Pontecorvo’s classic The Battle of Algiers (1966) in celebration of the film’s 60th anniversary, followed by a roundtable; as well as a special screening and guest for the conclusion of the festival at the Byrd Theatre — followed by a reception in the sumptuous renovated mezzanine of the iconic theater.

Guest scholars and filmmakers will introduce screenings, lead roundtable discussions, and engage audiences in conversation. Across four days, the festival will bring together French and Italian cuisine, intellectual exchange, and the magic of cinema, making each screening a celebration of culture and community.

The 2026 festival will feature:

• Screenings of eight films from Italy and France on the University of Richmond campus and at the historic Byrd Theatre.
• Two roundtables with filmmakers and guest scholars.
• An opening and a closing reception celebrating French and Italian cuisine.
• A special 60th-anniversary screening of Gillo Pontecorvo’s masterpiece The Battle of Algiers (1966).
• A closing night screening and reception at the Byrd Theatre on Monday, March 30.

All events are free and open to the public.

Program details coming soon.