Film Series: February Fantastique 2026

The Alliance Francaise Chicago and Stephanie “La Gialloholique” Sack are thrilled to announce the debut of February Fantastique 2026, a month-long film French film festival celebrating the strange, the spectacular, and the sublime.  From mid-century surrealism to groundbreaking sci-fi to offbeat fantasy, February Fantastique invites audiences to rediscover France’s cult classics and hidden gems that continue to inspire filmmakers and dreamers today.

Screening every Monday evening in February 2026 at the Alliance France Chicago, this year’s program features four hand-curated films from 1960–1980, each chosen for its bold vision, creative flair, and enduring influence on genre cinema. 

Uniquely French in spirit, Cinéma Fantastique traces its lineage back to early visionaries like Georges Méliès and Alice Guy-Blaché, whose experiments in optics, illusion, and wonder laid the groundwork for a national tradition in which fantasy and artistry are inseparable. 

By the 1960s, Cinéma Fantastique had found new resonance in post-war France — no longer dismissed as pulpy B-movies, but embraced as a mirror of modern uncertainty and imagination. Rooted in the traditions of European surrealism and high art, Fantastique explores the shadowlands between beauty and terror, waking and dreaming. 

Blending elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, the genre transforms the impossible into the inevitable — using the fantastic not as escapism, but as a reflection of France’s emerging modernity,  national anxieties, and yearning for transcendence.

“February Fantastique is about rekindling the wonder of 20th century cinematic discovery,” says co-producer and Festival Hostess Stephanie Sack.  “These films remind us how, even in times of uncertainty and change, human ingenuity and imagination can illuminate even the darkest winter nights.”

Festival Highlights

• Four iconic films (1960–1980): Curated to represent two decades of cinematic daring and artistic experimentation, including:

  • Les Yeux sans visage (Eyes Without a Face) (February 2)
  • Fahrenheit 451 (February 9)
  • Le Fantôme de la liberté (The Phantom of Liberty) (February 16)
  • Fascination (February 23)

• Special guest introductions and Q&A sessions with film historians and local authors.

• Newly restored titles digitally screened at the Alliance Francaise Chicago’s Julius Lewis Auditorium.

Guests may register for individual screenings at $15 for Members/$25 for Non-Members, or for the entire series at $45 for Members/$75 for Non-Members.

The festival runs between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.every Monday evening on February 2026.

About the Festival Curator

Stephanie Sack

Stephanie “La Gialloholique” Sack is a longtime Francophile and devoted enthusiast of European cinema, with a special passion for films from the 1960–1980 period. Her love of cinema centers on exploring the artistry, context, and emotion behind works that have often been overlooked or misunderstood. Known for her thoughtful curation and infectious enthusiasm, Stephanie brings fresh perspectives to audiences eager to rediscover hidden gems of film history. She celebrates the cultural richness and visual daring of mid-century European filmmaking, particularly the stylish intensity of Italian Giallo, French Fantastique, and Soviet Sci-Fi. Through her ongoing programming and producing, Stephanie continues to champion films that challenge convention and deserve a second look.

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