It was a surprise hit during lockdown.

And if you found yourself hungrily bingeing French TV shows like Lupin and Call My Agent on Netflix during the darkest days of the pandemic, the 32nd Cork French Film Festival is the perfect excuse to get out of the house and enjoy some more entertainment en francais thid autumn.

Some of the greatest francophone film directors will feature at this year’s event, which returns to The Gate Cinema from Thursday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 5th, 2021. There will be 11 Irish premieres in total, with several coming straight from their world premiere at festivals such as Berlin and Toronto.

The festival, which is presented by Alliance Française de Cork, will feature 12 French-language films including Sisters (Sœurs) which opens the 2021 programme.

The film, released in France in July, marks the return of the ‘grande dame’ of French cinema, Isabelle Adjani and tells the story of three sisters struggling with their complicated Franco-Algerian family history.

“During the lockdown, French-language films and TV shows have become more and more popular,” said Alliance Française de Cork chairman, John Mullins.

“French series like Call My Agent introduced viewers in Ireland and across the globe to some wonderful French actors. Remarkably, the French action thriller Lupin is the most-watched new drama on Netflix in 2021. I hope that this newfound appreciation for French productions will encourage viewers to attend this year’s Cork French Film Festival.”

This year, for the first time, there also will be an online option for film lovers who wish to join in from home. Tickets to the festival can be bought online at corkcinemas.com for screenings at the Gate Cinema in Cork and at corkfrenchfilmfestival.com for online screenings.