We love a good popcorn-fuelled romantic comedy as much as the next girl, but once in a while it’s nice to sink our teeth into some serious film.

The Festival International du Film sur L’Art (March 17-27) gives us that chance by screening short and feature length films about architecture, dance, design, fashion, visual arts and music ($12/ticket). With 227 films from 22 countries, there’s plenty to choose from. We’ve already pencilled in Horst Brandenburg’s film about starchitect Zaha Hadid and Farida Khelfa’s take on fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier. We’re also tempted by Anna-Celia Kendall’s short film about one of our favourite childhood toys, Lego.

But we might see more. After all, there’s nothing wrong with having a change of art. —SL

Festival International du Film sur L’Art, tickets at the Place des Arts Box Office, 175 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-842-2112, and at venues 1 hour prior to the show, www.artfifa.com

TIFF might have the star power of Matt Damon and Nicole Kidman, but we’ve got auteurs au but.

The 36th edition of the Montreal World Film Festival will screen 430 films from 80 countries, including Louis Bélanger’s much-anticipated fest opener Route 132. Our picks include the world premiere of Pete Smalls is Dead by indie director Alexandre Rockwell (9:30 p.m., August 28), Christine Cristina, the directing début of Italian diva (and Bernardo Bertolucci muse) Stefania Sandrelli, and a master film class taught by French actor Gérard Depardieu (September 6).

See, Montreal Cannes too!

August 26 to September 6, tickets from $10, 514-848-3883, www.ffm-montreal.org

Watching Diane Kruger stretch her acting chops (and rock those red lips) in Inglourious Basterds had us pining for all things deutsch.

We’re heading to Berlin, cinematically-speaking, for the Goethe-Institut series commemorating the 1989 reunification of Germany. Twenty Years After the Fall presents films about life before and after the wall came down, including the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others (7 p.m., September 24-25), and Lights From Afar, a powerful documentary about disenchanted teens growing up in late 1980s East Berlin (7 p.m., November 13).

Wunderbar!

1989 / 2009: Twenty Years after the Fall, tickets $7, September 17 to December 11, Goethe-Institut, 418 Sherbrooke St. E., Montreal, 514-499-0159, www.goethe.ca/montreal

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Edith Piaf, red-soled Loubs—everything seems more chic avec un accent français so we’re getting our French fix this week at Cinemania.

This fabulous festival showcases 200 international French-language films, conveniently subtitled in English.

We’re looking forward to seeing works by some of France’s hottest female directors including Stéphanie Duvivier’s futuristic thriller Un Roman Policier (Nov 12 and 13), and Anne Fontaine’s quirky comedy, La Fille de Monaco (Nov 16).

C'est formidable!

November 6-16, Imperial Cinema, 1430 Bleury St., Montreal, 514-878-0082, www.cinemaniafilmfestival.com