Fridays just haven’t been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage. No large gatherings and limited, socially distanced interactions wipe out typical experiences to kick off a weekend.

But now, the Tournées Film Festival is giving folks at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and the general public something to do on a Friday night.

The film series begins virtually Friday, Feb. 12 and runs for six consecutive Fridays through March 19.

Don’t worry if you don’t know French as the films, when in French, are subtitled in English. And, here’s the best part: the films are all free. Please register for any or all the films here.

Here’s a look at the offerings:

• Feb. 12, Djibril Diop Mambéty’s “Hyenas,” 6 p.m.;
• Feb. 19, Nicolas Champeaux and Gilles Porte’s “The State Against Mandela and the Others,” 5 p.m. (part of Community Engagement Day);
• Feb. 26, François Ozon’s “By the Grace of God,” 6 p.m.;
• March 5, Frank Beauvais’s “Just Don’t Think I’ll Scream,” 6 p.m.;
• March 12, Nadav Lapid’s “Synonyms,” 6 p.m.;
• March 19, Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” 5 p.m.

Each film will be introduced and have a post-screening discussion moderated by one or more CSB/SJU community members (faculty and/or students). The introduction and post-screening discussions will happen via Zoom (the link will be provided upon signing up for the movies through Forms Manager).

The film festival, which aims to bring French cinema to American college and university campuses, is an initiative of the Language and Cultures Department at CSB/SJU. It is made possible through a grant from the French American Cultural Exchange program.

Founded in 1995, the Tournées Film Festival has partnered with over 700 universities, reaching an audience of over half a million students and community members across the United States. This is the fourth time the film festival has been at CSB/SJU.

A number of departments and organizations at CSB/SJU are co-sponsoring individual films. “The State Against Mandela and the Others” is co-sponsored by the Center for Global Education and the Peace Studies Department; “Just Don’t Think I’ll Scream” is co-sponsored by the Art Department; “By the Grace of God” is co-sponsored by the Theology Department; “Synonyms” is co-sponsored by Asian Studies; and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a collaboration with Gender Studies and QPLUS.