Sapphic Film Series: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

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Looking for queer cinema in Vienna? The Sapphic Film Series returns to Villa Vida Café with Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu), Céline Sciamma’s acclaimed 2019 romance about desire, intimacy, art, memory, and being seen.

Join us on Thursday, 3 September 2026 at 19:00 for a free screening at Villa Vida Café.

Language: French with English Subtitles

About Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Set in France in 1770, Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows Marianne, a painter commissioned to create the wedding portrait of Héloïse.

However, Héloïse does not want to pose. Therefore, Marianne must observe her during the day and secretly paint her from memory. As the two women spend more time together, their relationship gradually develops into something far more intimate.

Rather than treating its central relationship as a side story, the film places desire between women at its heart. At the same time, it explores autonomy, creativity, observation, memory, and the restrictions placed on women’s lives.

The film stars Noémie Merlant as Marianne and Adèle Haenel as Héloïse, alongside Luàna Bajrami and Valeria Golino.

A Celebrated Work of Sapphic Cinema

Since its release in 2019, Portrait of a Lady on Fire has become an important contemporary work of sapphic and queer cinema.

The film competed at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where Céline Sciamma won the award for Best Screenplay. It also received the Queer Palm.

Moreover, the film’s distinctive approach to looking, desire, and artistic creation has made it particularly significant within discussions of queer and feminist filmmaking.

However, you certainly do not need to be a film expert to join us. Whether you have watched it many times or have somehow managed to avoid spoilers until now, you are welcome.

Sapphic Film Series in Vienna

The Sapphic Film Series at Villa Vida Café creates a regular space for films centred on sapphic stories, lesbian experiences, queer histories, relationships, and LGBTQIA+ culture.

Some screenings revisit much-loved queer films. Meanwhile, others introduce audiences to stories and histories they may not have encountered before.

Most importantly, the series offers an opportunity to experience queer cinema collectively rather than watching alone at home.

Therefore, you are welcome to come with friends, bring a date, or simply show up by yourself. Coming alone to our events is completely normal.

Who Is Welcome?

The Sapphic Film Series centres sapphic stories and experiences. At the same time, everyone who wants to engage respectfully with queer and sapphic cinema is welcome.

Lesbians, bisexual and pansexual people, queer women, trans people, nonbinary people, gender-diverse people, questioning people, friends, partners, and respectful allies are all welcome.

There is also no expectation that you need to identify in a particular way to attend.

Simply come as you are.

Accessibility at Villa Vida Café

We want our events to be as accessible and welcoming as possible.

Villa Vida Café is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet.

The screening takes place indoors. Seating is available throughout the event, and you are welcome to choose a place that works best for you.

If you have specific accessibility requirements or would like to check whether the setup will work for you, please contact Villa Vida before the event. We will be happy to provide more information and, where possible, find a suitable arrangement.

The screening is completely free, and no registration is required.

So, if you have been waiting to finally see Portrait of a Lady on Fire on a bigger screen — or you simply want an excuse to experience it again with a room full of fellow queer-film enthusiasts — join us at Villa Vida.

Villa Vida

contact@villavida.at

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