Building on the success of our 2025 Italian Film Festival, we are inaugurating the very first Italian & French Film Festival, organized by Anthony Russell and Sonja Bertucci (University of Richmond) in collaboration with Luca Peretti (University of Cambridge). For this groundbreaking edition, we will be showcasing eight thought-provoking contemporary films from Italy and France.
The festival is designed to bring together UR students, faculty, and staff, as well as the wider Richmond community. It will include a screening of Gillo Pontecorvo’s classic The Battle of Algiers (1966) in celebration of the film’s 60th anniversary, followed by a roundtable; as well as a special screening and guest for the conclusion of the festival at the Byrd Theatre — followed by a reception in the sumptuous renovated mezzanine of the iconic theater.
Guest scholars and filmmakers will introduce screenings, lead roundtable discussions, and engage audiences in conversation. Across four days, the festival will bring together French and Italian cuisine, intellectual exchange, and the magic of cinema, making each screening a celebration of culture and community.
The Global Studio is available to help members of the University of Richmond community use technology to enhance language learning and effectively communicate across cultures. We offer a variety of services including placement testing, self-directed language study, and a variety of technology and online resources that are available for student and faculty use.
Languages offered routinely offered through the SDLAP include Persian (Farsi/Dari), modern Hebrew, and Turkish. Students preparing for or returning from study or service abroad may also use the SDLAP to begin or continue the study of a language not included in the University’s regular course offerings. Languages studied through the SDLAP have included Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Korean, Dutch, and Swedish.
Sonja Bertucci, assistant professor of languages, literatures, and cultures (film studies), was named a University of Richmond Center for Liberal Arts and AI (CLAAI) 2025-2026 Fellow.
Sara Pappas, associate professor of French and visual culture, published the book Naturalism's Imaginary Museum, French Art, and the Eclectic Nineteenth Century.
Michael Marsh-Soloway, teaching faculty of literatures, languages, and cultures, published The Mathematical Mind of F. M. Dostoevsky: Imaginary Numbers, Non-Euclidean Geometry, and Infinity.
Spiders explored the food, music, and history of this West African country during International Education Week.
UR students receive six-figure backing and valuable mentorship through Y Combinator, a startup accelerator to high-tech superstars, like DoorDash and Airbnb.
Mailing Address
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Carole Weinstein International Center
211 Richmond Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: (804) 289-8096
Fax: (804) 287-6446
Department Chair: Dr. Lidia Radi
Academic Administrative Coordinator: Jaime Rung