The 2023 Edition – FACE Foundation

Get ready to dance through the summer with Films on the Green, New York City’s free French film festival! Our 15th edition is bringing French and international cinema to Manhattan and Brooklyn’s parks from June 2 to September 8. This year’s festival celebrates the art of dance in film with a lineup of 12 stunning features that highlight the beauty, rhythm, and emotion of dance.

Whether you’re a dance enthusiast or simply love a great film, there’s something for everyone in our captivating selection. So, put on your dancing shoes and join us for a mesmerizing cinematic journey through the world of dance in our beautiful New York City parks!

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Check our 2023 Festival booklet:

FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed). All films are shown with English subtitles. Screenings at sunset.
Curated by Nathalie Charles.

Friday June 2 | Central Park
THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) by Jacques Demy
With Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Gene Kelly, Michel Piccoli, George Chakiris, Grover Dal
In the picturesque port town of Rochefort, the spirited Garnier twins, Delphine and Solange, share a strong bond and similar aspirations, despite their contrasting looks. Delphine, the celestial blonde, is a ballet teacher and dancer, while Solange, the fiery redhead, is a singer and composer. Together, they light up the town, imparting music and dance lessons with dreams of finding true love and pursuing their passions in the magical city of Paris.

Friday June 9 | Washington Square Park
THE TANGO LESSON (La Leçon de tango) directed by Sally Potter
With Sally Potter, Pablo Verón, Carlos Copello, Carolina Lotti
Dissatisfied with her latest Hollywood screenplay, filmmaker Sally finds solace in tango lessons with Pablo, an Argentinean dancer living in Paris. As their relationship deepens, they strike a deal: if he teaches her to tango, she will make him a movie star. As they work together to make a movie in Buenos Aires, they confront the complexities of their love and conflicting desires.

Friday June 16 | Washington Square Park
HEARTBREAKER (L’Arnacœur) directed by Pascal Chaumeil 
With Vanessa Paradis, Romain Duris, Andrew Lincoln
Alex is a professional heartbreaker, but when he is hired to break the engagement between heiress Juliette and the man of her dreams, he finds himself facing his toughest challenge yet. With only ten days to succeed, Alex must use all his skills to accomplish his assignment, even if it means stepping outside his comfort zone. Inspired by the iconic film “Dirty Dancing,” he learns to dance like Patrick Swayze and uses all his charms and wit to break down Juliette’s defense and win her heart.

Friday June 23 | Transmitter Park, Brooklyn
LA FEMME ET LE PANTIN directed by Julien Duvivier
With Brigitte Bardot, António Vilar, Michel Roux, Darío Moreno
At the traditional Seville feria, Eva dances the fandango and captures the attention of the wealthy and powerful Matteo Diaz, a bull breeder who finds it difficult to resist her charms. As their passions intertwine, Eva toys with Matteo’s affections, challenging his self-esteem and leading him on a quest to win her heart.

Friday June 30 | Tompkins Square Park
THREE NIGHTS A WEEK (Trois nuits par semaine) directed by Florent Gouëlou
With Pablo Pauly, Romain Eck, Hafsia Herzi
Baptiste’s world is turned upside down when he meets the enigmatic drag queen, Cookie Kunty, and falls headfirst into the dazzling and vibrant world of drag. Initially drawn in by a photography project, he finds himself completely immersed in this new Parisian scene, leading to a passionate and tumultuous relationship with Quentin, the man behind the captivating persona.

Friday July 7 | Seward Park
CASABLANCA BEATS (Haut et fort) directed by Nabil Ayouch
With Anas Basbousi, Ismail Adouab, Nouhaila Arif, Zineb Boujemaa
Anas, a former rapper, is hired to teach hip hop at a cultural center in an underprivileged neighborhood of Casablanca. Amidst the challenges of restrictive traditions and issues of identity, religion, and politics, Anas manages to inspire his students, fostering unity and self-expression through the transformative power of hip hop culture.

Wednesday, July 12 | J. Hood Wright Park
NENEH SUPERSTAR directed by Ramzi Ben Sliman
With Oumy Bruni Garrel, Aïssa Maïga, Maiwenn, Steve Tientcheu
At just twelve years old, Neneh is destined to dance and earns a coveted spot at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. Fueled by passion and determination, she must work twice as hard to overcome her challenging circumstances and earn the approval of the school’s director, Marianne Belage. Guarding a secret that connects her to Neneh, Marianne is put in a difficult position and becomes an unwavering protector of the school’s long-held traditions, leading Neneh to question whether she must choose between her dreams and her identity.

Friday July 14 | Seward Park
FRENCH CANCAN directed by Jean Renoir
With Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix
Set in the vibrant Belle Epoque, live entertainment entrepreneur Henri Danglard undertakes the renovation of a historic Parisian cabaret, the Moulin Rouge. Betting on the revival of the cancan dance, he turns young washerwoman Nini into a star dancer. Along the way, Danglard confronts the jealousy of his lover Lola, the fickleness of his sponsors, and the fierce competition of the Montmartre scene.

Friday July 21 | Riverside Park, Pier I
POLINA (Polina, danser sa vie) directed by Valérie Müller & Angelin Preljocaj
With Anastasia Shevtsova, Juliette Binoche, Niels Schneider, Jérémie Bélingard
As a promising classical ballet dancer, Polina is on the verge of joining the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet when she discovers contemporary dance, a revelation that upends her plans. Choosing a new path, she leaves Russia to move to France. Under the guidance of renowned choreographer Liria Elsaj, Polina grapples with finding her artistic voice and forging a new life in the world of dance.

Friday July 28 | Riverside Park Pier I
NHA FALA (My Voice) directed by Flora Gomes (courtesy of Institut français)
With Fatou N’Diaye, Jean-Christophe Dollé, Angelo Torres, Naka Ramiro
In Cabo Verde, singing and dancing is at the heart of social life, but young Vita is forbidden to sing due to an ancestral family curse. During her time in Paris, she meets Pierre, a musician who uncovers her beautiful voice and persuades her to record a song. Terrified of the consequences, Vita returns home to confront her fears and face tradition.

Wednesday, September 6 | Columbia University
DANCING THE TWIST IN BAMAKO (Twist à Bamako) directed by Robert Guédiguian
With Stéphane Bak, Alicia Da Luz Gomes, Saabo Balde, Bakary Diombera
In 1960s Mali, the youth of Bamako embrace the twist dance and rock and roll imported from the West as they dream of political change. Amidst this atmosphere of hope, young socialist Samba encounters the spirited Lara during a political mission to the bush. As their love story unfolds, they face the challenges of revolution and strive to achieve their dreams for a brighter future.

Friday, September 8 | McGolrick Park, Brooklyn
LEAP! (Ballerina) directed by Eric Summer & Eric Warin
Félicie, a spirited orphan from Brittany, yearns to dance her way to stardom at the prestigious Paris Opera, and with her inventive friend Victor, they hatch a daring plan to escape their orphanage and head for Paris. In the bustling and vibrant city, with the Eiffel Tower rising in the distance, Félicie discovers the transformative power of dance, and with determination and resilience, she learns to overcome the odds and pursue her passion.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

FILMS ON THE GREEN is a free French film festival in New York City parks produced by Villa Albertine, the French Embassy, NYC Parks and FACE Foundation.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS : BNP Paribas, JCDecaux, and TV5 Monde

FESTIVAL FRIENDS: agnès b., Maman NYC, The Columbia Maison Francaise, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, The Québec Government Office in New York, Pommery, Nora Coblence, and Frederic C. Weiss.

PARTNERS: The Consulate General of Argentina in New York, The Mexican Cultural Institute in New York, the African Film Festival, Cinema Tropical, PS110 The Monitor School, The Seward Park Conservancy, Summer on the Hudson and The Washington Square Park Conservancy.