Let me start with a story.
In 1883, in France, a group of visionary thinkers—including Jules Verne, Ferdinand de Lesseps, and Louis Pasteur—came together around a bold idea: to share the French language and culture with the world. At the time, it was almost a utopia—a belief that language could connect people across borders. This is how Alliance Française was born in Paris.
More than a century later, that idea is very much alive.
This year, French has become the fourth most spoken language in the world, with over 400 million speakers, and the second most widely learned foreign language, with nearly 170 million learners.
The Alliance Française has grown into a global network of more than 800 chapters in 140 countries. Here in the United States, there are about 100 Alliances—and the network continues to evolve every year. In Kansas City, the Alliance Française was founded in 1963—63 years ago—rooted in that same vision of sharing language and culture.
This global network allows us to share ideas, resources, and inspiration. And it is through these connections—with Alliances from San Diego to Greenwich and Detroit per exemple—that projects like this festival did happen.
From this original idea… to this reality… we asked ourselves: what story do we want to tell?
We chose a theme that feels especially meaningful today: what unites us.
In times of uncertainty, culture—and the love of a language—can bring us together. And that is exactly what we find in French cinema.
After watching around 15 films, we selected seven that reflect this idea. It was not an easy choice, and we truly hope you enjoy the
program we have curated for you.
This festival would not have been possible without the support of our partners and sponsors.
We are especially grateful to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for the STAFE grant,
which supports cultural and community projects led by French organizations abroad.
This project began nearly a year ago, with an idea, a great deal of work, and a full proposal submitted through the French Consulate in
Chicago last October. Seeing it come to life has been incredibly meaningful.
In July 2025, we brought this idea to the Glenwood Arts Theater, and Brian
immediately embraced it with enthusiasm.
We warmly thank Brian Mossman and the Glenwood Arts Theater, where six of our films have been screened, as well as the National WWI
Museum and Memorial for hosting a special screening. Our thanks also go to the Kansas City International Film Festival, TV5 Monde, and
UMKC World Languages for their support.
A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers—board members and community supporters alike—who made this festival possible. From watching
films and shaping the selection to organizing this evening and supporting screenings throughout the week, your dedication has been
essential.
We would also like to thank Nicolas from Cezanne KC for helping
us create this wonderful evening in such a beautiful venue, and Romain from Westport
Café for
his talent as a chef and the delicious meal he prepared for us.
Our Opening Night was a wonderful evening, bringing together our community for great food, conversation, and celebration.
Before dessert, guests enjoyed a raffle made possible by the generosity of our local partners, featuring a wide range of prizes—from restaurant experiences to curated gift baskets. We would like to thank all our donors for making this event possible.
We were also delighted to present the Academy Award–recognized Canadian animated short The Girl Who Cried Pearls (La fille qui
pleurait des perles),
a beautiful tribute to French-speaking cinema from Montreal—screened in English so everyone could simply sit back and enjoy.
We want everyone in the greater Kansas City area who shares our passion for speaking, learning and playing in French to join our community
and enjoy our French programs and events. Become a member of Alliance Française de Kansas City
for exclusive offers, member events, discounts and more.