Short Film Festival_Chrysalis & AF_square

“Third Act” Short Film Festival by Chrysalis

🎬 As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusive social change, Chrysalis will present the “Third Act” Short Film Festival on 27–28 May at Alliance Française de Colombo, the festival’s venue partner.

🎭 Organized as part of Chrysalis’ continued advocacy through arts and storytelling, the festival reflects the organization’s mission to catalyze inclusive growth and empower women and youth through dialogue, creativity, and community engagement.

🎥 The two-day festival will feature a curated selection of Sri Lankan short films by emerging and established filmmakers, highlighting diverse women-centered narratives and powerful storytelling from across the island.

🌟 As Chrysalis celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, “Third Act” stands as a reflection of a decade of creating platforms that amplify voices, challenge barriers, and inspire change. Further details on the festival program will be shared soon on social media.

New- Le Panache, directed by Jennifer Devoldère

Le Panache, directed by Jennifer Devoldère

 Colin, 14 years old, enters a new school and quickly feels overwhelmed as he stutters and struggles to fit in. His meeting with Mr. Devarseau, a charismatic French teacher, becomes a turning point that pushes him to face his fears and step out of isolation. Now, with new friends and growing confidence, Colin discovers a new goal: to go on stage and perform.

⚡ This film, like Le Petit Prince, explores how courage, friendship, and self-confidence can help overcome inner struggles and fear.

 

📅 Date: Saturday, May 16

⏰ Time: 3:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07
🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For families and all audiences

New- Vingt Dieux, directed by Louise Courvoisier

Vingt Dieux, directed by Louise Courvoisier

 Totone, 18, spends most of his time drinking beers and hanging out with his friends in the Jura region. But reality soon catches up with him when he has to take care of his 7-year-old sister and find a way to earn a living. Determined to change his life, he sets out to make the best county cheese in the region—hoping to win the gold medal and a prize of 30,000 euros.

⚡ This film, like Le Petit Prince, follows themes of coming of age and the transformative nature of life, exploring how challenges can shape a young person’s path.

🏆 Award-winning film, honoured at both the César Awards and the Cannes Film Festival

 

📅 Date: Thursday, May 14
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07
🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 13+

Le Petit Prince Art Workshop for Kids with The Secret Garden

Le Petit Prince | Art Workshop for Kids with The Secret Garden

🎉 Join us at Alliance Française de Colombo for a special workshop in collaboration with Priscilla Caren from The Secret Garden, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the publication of “Le Petit Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, inspired by the magical universe of this much-loved piece of French literature.

🌟 Children will explore their imagination and artistic expression as they create their own character depictions, a unique planet, and even a spaceship shooting across the stars.

👧🧒 Designed for children aged 8–11 years, in collaboration with The Secret Garden

 

📅 Date: Friday, May 9th

⏰ Time: 3:00 PM

🎟️ Free registration- events@alliancefrancaise.lk

📍 Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

Le Petit Prince Reading Session for Kids

Le Petit Prince | Reading Session for Kids

🎉 Join us at Alliance Française de Colombo to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the publication of  “Le Petit Prince | The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the renowned French writer and aviator.

🌟 Le Petit Prince is a timeless tale that explores friendship, love, and the meaning of life through the eyes of a young traveler journeying across planets, capturing the hearts of readers of all ages.

👧🧒 A special session for kids at the library of the Alliance Française de Colombo, featuring an engaging reading activity to introduce them to this magical story and inspire their imagination.

 

📅 Date: Saturday, 9th of May

⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Library, Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

5) Along the River Seine Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind

Along the River Seine: Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind | Literary Evening

🎬 The Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust, presents a special literary evening, screening, and discussion: “Along the River Seine: Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind.”

 

📚 This event explores and reflects on the life and work of Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976), one of Sri Lanka’s most influential literary figures. A self-taught intellectual, Wickramasinghe engaged deeply with global thought, drawing inspiration from French literary giants such as Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac, Guy de Maupassant, André Gide, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

 

🗼 The session will also reflect on his intellectual and cultural connections with France, including his visit in 1968, highlighting the influence of French literature on shaping the modern Sri Lankan mind.

 

🎥 The evening will feature a screening of Rendez-Vous Special with Yasmin and Kumar, centred on the legacy of Martin Wickramasinghe, offering insights into his enduring contribution to literature and thought.

 

💬 The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Uditha Devapriya, providing a deeper understanding of Wickramasinghe’s work and relevance today.

 

📅 Date: 29 April 2026
 Time: 06:30 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, No. 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7

📧 Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk 

4) L'une chante, l'autre pas- French Film

L’une chante, l’autre pas | French Film Screening

🎥 “L’une chante, l’autre pas” (Restored Classic)- directed by Agnès Varda

 

 The film is a feminist musical. Two young women live in Paris in 1962. Pauline (17), a student, dreams of leaving her family to become a singer. Suzanne (22) takes care of her two children and faces the tragedy of their father’s suicide. Life separates them, and each lives her own struggle as a woman. Pauline becomes a singer in a traveling activist group after experiencing a difficult relationship in Iran. Suzanne overcomes her hardships and works at the Family Planning center. Ten years later, they reunite during a feminist demonstration. By the end of this chronicle, they are together again, with their grown-up children.

 

📅 Date : Thursday 23 April 
 Time : 7:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 18+

L’Argent de poche- French film

L’Argent de poche | French Film Screening

🎥 “L’Argent de poche” (Restored Classic), directed by François Truffaut

⚡ À Thiers, dans le Puy-de-Dôme, a handful of children experience the final weeks of the school year, eagerly awaiting the holidays: Bruno, Patrick, Laurent, Mathieu, and Franck, not to mention Martine… Each lives at their own pace, bringing life and spirit to this village, where the two teachers, Miss Petit and Mr. Richet, struggle to capture their attention as the summer camp approaches.

📅 Date : Saturday, 11 April 
⏰ Time : 3:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 10+

La Haine- French film

La Haine | French Film Screening

🎥 “La Haine” (Restored Classic), directed by Mathieu Kassovitz

 

 All night long, clashes erupted between the youths of the “Muguets” housing project and the police because Abdel, a sixteen-year-old boy, was beaten during an interrogation and is near death. Among these kids, blinded by hate, are three ordinary boys: Hubert, Saïd, and Vinz. Together, they are about to experience the most important day of their lives—the day when the fourth “hero” of the story makes its appearance: a gleaming, chrome-plated 9mm Beretta that a plainclothes police officer reportedly lost during the riots.

 

📅 Date : Thursday, 09 April
 Time : 7:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 13+

 

Pop-up Easter Card Workshop

Pop-up Easter Card Workshop

🌸 Celebrate the joy of Easter with a fun-filled creative session at Alliance Française de Colombo! Children will get the chance to explore their imagination and craft their very own colorful pop-up Easter cards to take home or gift to loved ones.

 

📅 Date: Saturday, 04th April

 Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

 

👧🧒 Open to children aged 8 and above

🎟️ Free entry – registration required (limited spots available)

📧 Register now: stagiaire.culture@alliancefrancaise.lk