The turn from summer to autumn always feels like the perfect time to dive into new stories — and this September, France Channel is serving up a fresh selection of films and documentaries to stream at home. It’s a line-up that blends star power, emotional depth, and a taste of French culture at its finest. Whether you’re in the mood for slow-burning drama, intimate character studies, or evocative documentaries, this month’s additions have you covered.

🎬 Feature Films

Eight new feature films join the catalogue this month, and three of them are impossible to ignore — each fronted by a powerhouse of French acting talent.

Lovers / Amants

If you’re a fan of romance laced with tension and moral complexity, Lovers delivers in spades. Starring the magnetic Pierre Niney (The Count of Monte Cristo), this drama begins with a love affair that feels intoxicating and unstoppable — until circumstances force choices that can’t be undone. Niney brings a quiet intensity to his role, anchoring the film’s exploration of desire, loyalty, and the consequences that ripple outward from a single decision. It’s the kind of film that lingers long after, prompting you to question where your sympathies lie.

Belle Épine

Early Léa Seydoux is always a treat to watch, and Belle Épine captures her just before she became an international household name. Here, Seydoux (Mission: Impossible, Spectre, No Time to Die) plays a teenage outsider drawn into the adrenaline-fuelled world of illegal motorcycle racing. Director Rebecca Zlotowski crafts a gritty, intimate coming-of-age story, balancing the thrill of rebellion with moments of deep vulnerability. Seydoux’s performance is raw and luminous, proving why she would go on to become one of French cinema’s most compelling leading ladies.

My New Friends / Les gens d'à côté

Few actors command the screen like Isabelle Huppert, and My New Friends is a reminder of just how precise and fearless her craft can be. Huppert — whose accolades range from Golden Globes to Cannes, BAFTA, and Berlin — embodies a woman navigating the shifting sands of relationships and social boundaries. The film blends sharp observation with moments of sly humour, offering a character study that feels at once specific and universally relatable. In 2020, The New York Times ranked Huppert second on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century — and here, she shows exactly why.

📽 Documentaries

If September is about fresh starts, it’s also about deep dives — and these new documentaries take you there.

• Culinary Road Trip – The latest season of this beloved series returns to explore the flavours of France, from bustling urban markets to tucked-away countryside kitchens. It’s more than a food show — it’s a celebration of craft, tradition, and the people who keep France’s culinary heritage alive.
• Chambord, Then, Now and Forever – Step into the grandeur of France’s most iconic château. This beautifully shot documentary moves between past and present, revealing how Chambord’s Renaissance splendour has been preserved and reimagined over centuries. The result is a portrait not just of a building, but of the nation’s relationship with its history.

Why This Month’s Line-up Matters

France Channel’s September additions feel like an invitation — to watch big performances before they became legendary, to revisit master actors in full command of their craft, and to explore the cultural backdrop that shapes these stories. Whether you’re streaming for the star power or the storytelling, these titles are worth making room for on your watchlist.