To celebrate its 20th annual awards ceremony, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film will be publishing a series of Top 20 lists on its Facebook page. For the website however, we’ve expanded this first list to a Top 50. The 50 Best French Language Films is our first list for the year, in honor of the French Cultural Center, a long-time supporter of the organization, and the first sponsor of the 20th annual Chlotrudis Awards, to be held on Sunday, March 16 at the Brattle Theatre. The entire list of films chosen by Chlotrudis members topped 250.

Topping our list is Jacques Demy’s classic musical, THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG from 1964. The sixties was a good decade for French films, 11 of the Top 50 were released then, the second highest decade following the 2000’s with 12. In the runner-up spot is Michael Haneke with THE PIANO TEACHER, the first of three films of his to appear on the list. Ironically, Haneke is German, but makes most of his films in French. Other directors to score three films in the Top 50 include François Truffaut, whose THE 400 BLOWS comes in at #3, Jean-Luc Godard, whose BREATHLESS comes in at #6, and one of three female directors on the list, Claire Denis, whose BEAU TRAVAIL shows up at #14. The oldest film on the list is from 1928, and that’s Carl Theodor Dreyer’s THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC. Two French Canadian films made the list, #16, Denys Arcand’s THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, and #17, Philippe Falardeau whose MONSIEUR LAZHAR was a Best Movie nominee in 2012.

We hope you enjoy our list of the 50 Best French Language Films of all time!

01 The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Jacques Demy 1964
02 The Piano Teacher Michael Haneke 2001
03 The 400 Blows François Truffaut 1959
04 Amélie Jean-Pierre Jeunet 2001
05 Cache Michael Haneke 2005
06 Breathless Jean-Luc Godard 1960
07 Beauty and the Beast Jiean Cocteau 1946
08 Holy Motors Leos Carax 2012
09 The Passion of Joan of Arc Carl Theodor Dreyer 1928
10 Belle de Jour Luis Buñuel 1967
11 Hiroshima Mon Amour Alain Resnais 1959
12 The Beat That My Heart Skipped Jacques Audiard 2005
13 The Battle of Algiers Gillo Pontecorvo 1966
14 Beau Travail Claire Denis 1999
15 Contempt Jean-Luc Godard 1963
16 The Barbarian Invasions Denys Arcand 2003
17 Monsieur Lazhar Philippe Falardeau 2011
18 Children of Paradise Marcel Carné 1945
19 I’ve Loved You So Long Philippe Claudel 2008
20 The Rules of the Game Jean Renoir 1939
21 Band of Outsiders Jean-Luc Godard 1964
22 Amour Michael Haneke 2012
23 Diabolique Henri-Georges Clouzot 1955
24 Three Colors: Blue Krzysztof Kieslowski 1993
25 Jean de Florette Claude Berri 1986
26 The Widow of St. Pierre Patrice Leconte 2000
27 Army of Shadows Jean-Pierre Melville 1969
28 The Triplets of Belleville JSylvain Chomet 2003
29 Three Colors: Red Krzysztof Kieslowski 1994
30 Eyes Without a Face Georges Franju 1960
31 Ponette Jacques Doillon 1996
32 The Girl on the Bridge Patrice Leconte 1999
33 Rust and Bone Jacques Audiard 2012
34 Bullhead Michaël R. Roskam 2011
35 Fantastic Planet René Laloux 1973
36 35 Shots of Rum Claire Denis 2008
37 Jules and Jim François Truffaut 1962
38 Delicatessen Marc Caro; Jean-Pierre Jeunet 1991
39 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie Luis Buñuel 1972
40 Day for Night François Truffaut 1973
41 Last Year at Marienbad Alain Resnais 1961
42 Persepolis Vincent Paronnaud; Marjane Satrapi 2007
43 Elevator to the Gallows Louis Malle 1958
44 Diary of a Country Priest Robert Bresson 1951
45 The Red Ballood Albert Lamorisse 1956
46 La Moustache Emmanuel Carrère 2005
47 The Grand Illusion Jean Renoir 1937
48 Cleo from 5 to 7 Agnes Varda 1962
49 L’Atlante Jean Vigo 1934
50 Friday Night Claire Denis 2002