American Cinematheque's Bleak Week 2026: Fifth Annual Festival of Despair Features Huppert, Aster, and 45+ Films
By
Alison Foreman
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
The American Cinematheque's Bleak Week returns for its fifth year in Los Angeles (June 1-7), featuring over 45 films exploring human suffering and existential dread across the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre, and Los Feliz 3. The lineup includes special guests Isabelle Huppert and Ari Aster, among others, as the festival turns cinematic despair into a communal summer event.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledMisery has always loved company, but it took the brilliant programmers at the American Cinematheque to turn communal wallowing at the movies into an annual must-see event.
More than 45 films will explore the universal themes of human suffering and existential dread in the latest edition of the event.
Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair returns to Los Angeles from June 1 to 7 with another eclectic summer lineup that lets film fans treat bad vibes on the big screen like a refreshing dip in their local pool.
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