LaCinetek Launches 'All for Music' Series in August 2026

LaCinetek has unveiled an exciting new monthly series titled "All for Music," which launched yesterday with the aim of keeping audiences humming throughout the summer of 2026. This collection features nine feature films and one short, exploring not only a variety of musical styles but also the often troubled lives of both genius musicians and those obsessed with sound, who find it impossible to live without music. The title of this programming clearly reflects its intention.

Membership fees for the Cinémathèque des Cinéastes remain unchanged at €4.99 per month or €49 annually, available for subscription on the LaCinetek website. Since it has been six months since the last update on the best online cinema selections, numerous other films and series have been added to the subscription.

Among the offerings is a new quarterly retrospective running until September 27, showcasing six films, including Jean Vigo's L'Atalante and Jean Grémillon's Remorques, along with Marcel Carné's Le Quai des brumes and Hôtel du Nord, all part of the French poetic realism movement. LaCinetek also highlights Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud's Oslo Trilogy in a special two-film selection available until August 16, and features American actor and director Jerry Lewis in three comedies until August 23. Additionally, the character of Dr. Mabuse is explored through three films directed by Fritz Lang, spanning from 1922 to 1960, until September 5.

One of the standout films, The Host by South Korean master Bong Joon-ho, can be viewed repeatedly until September 3. Other cinematic gems still available for a limited time include Edward Yang's Yi Yi (until August 15), Lino Brocka's Insiang (until September 4), and documentaries by Sébastien Lifshitz such as Les Invisibles (September 19) and Bambi (September 21). Classic films like Frank Capra's You Can’t Take It With You and John Hughes' Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are also part of the lineup, currently without a specified end date.

Playing a musician on screen can be a lucrative endeavor, particularly in English-language films. Notable actors such as Barbra Streisand, F. Murray Abraham, Holly Hunter, Anna Paquin, and J.K. Simmons have all won Oscars for their portrayals of singers, composers, pianists, and teachers. While their characters differ significantly, the musical styles depicted in celebrated films like Milos Forman's Amadeus, Jane Campion's The Piano, and Damien Chazelle's Whiplash appeal to a wide range of music enthusiasts.

LaCinetek's selection becomes even more diverse as it includes films from distant countries such as India and Israel, as well as from Germany and the UK. Interestingly, the only French entry in this vibrant series is a short film by renowned director Raymond Depardon, which captures the reaction of New Yorkers to John Lennon’s assassination in December 1980.

Among the most recent films featured is the compelling documentary Searching for Sugar Man by the late Malik Bendjelloul, which chronicles the journey of a musician who fell unjustly into obscurity—a fate that many artists, whether in music or film, may share.

August 2026 'All for Music' Selection

• Amadeus (USA / 1984) by Milos Forman, featuring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, and Elizabeth Berridge – Winner of Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham) at the Oscars, and César for Best Foreign Film in 1985.
• Control (UK / 2007) by Anton Corbijn, starring Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, and Alexandra Maria Lara.
• Ten Minutes of Silence for John Lennon (France / 1983) by Raymond Depardon – Short film.
• Funny Girl (USA / 1968) by William Wyler, starring Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, and Kay Medford – Winner of Best Actress at the Oscars for Barbra Streisand in 1969.
• The Piano (New Zealand / 1993) by Jane Campion, featuring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, and Sam Neill – Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1993, with Holly Hunter winning Best Actress and Anna Paquin winning Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, along with Best Original Screenplay and César for Best Foreign Film in 1994.

• Lili Marleen (West Germany / 1981) by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, featuring Hanna Schygulla, Giancarlo Giannini, and Mel Ferrer.
• The Music Room (India / 1958) by Satyajit Ray, starring Chhabi Biswas, Pinaki Sengupta, and Padma Devi.
• Searching for Sugar Man (Sweden / 2012) by Malik Bendjelloul – Oscar for Best Documentary in 2013.
• The Band’s Visit (Israel / 2007) by Eran Kolirin, featuring Sasson Gabay, Ronit Elkabetz, and Saleh Bakri.
• Whiplash (USA / 2014) by Damien Chazelle, starring Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, and Paul Reiser – Winner of Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons at the Oscars in 2015.