Photo: Scene from A Change of Heart (Ils Sont Vivants)with Seear Kohl and Marina Fois

Belmont World Film International Film Series begins its 20th season on Friday, March 25, with the US premier of A Change of Heart (Ils Sont Vivants) starts streaming at 7 p.m. The 2021 French production will also be shown on a CinemaScope screen in person on Sunday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at the Majestic 7 Cinema in Watertown.

Films will be shown in a hybrid of online and in-person screenings. All but the closing night film – Silent Land on Monday, May 16 – will be available for screening online. Three of the eight films will also be screened in person at either the Majestic or the West Newton Cinema.

The schedule of the films as well as tickets, passes and memberships can be found here.

Half of the eight films in the festival are directed by women and six of the directors are also making their feature film debuts, alongside two veteran directors: two-time Cannes Film Festival winner Tony Gatlif (Djam, BWF 2018) and Philippe Le Guay (Women on the Sixth Floor). Each film will accompanied by both online and in-person discussions with filmmakers or expert speakers via Zoom on Monday nights at 7 p.m.

Founded in 2001 by Naomi Ellenberg-Dukas, Belmont World Film began with the premise that foreign-language film is not only a vehicle for hearing another language in action, but it can also foster an emotional understanding of other cultures.