Alpe d'Huez International Comedy Film Festival

The Alpe d'Huez International Comedy Film Festival: The Great Celebration of Laughter in Cinema

Since 1997, the Alpe d'Huez International Comedy Film Festival has established itself as the only film festival in France entirely dedicated to the comedy genre. Nestled in the heart of the prestigious Alpe d'Huez ski resort, in the Grandes Rousses massif in Isère, this annual January event brings together the best of French and international comedy in an exceptional alpine setting, at an altitude of 1,800 meters.

From Chamrousse Origins to Alpe d'Huez Acclaim

The festival's roots lie in the Chamrousse Humor Film Festival, created in 1976 in the neighboring resort and active for twenty years. In 1997, the event was relocated to Alpe d'Huez, where it took on a new dimension under the name International Comedy Film Festival. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, becoming a must-attend event for comedy film professionals and a recognized springboard for new talents.

A Unique and Accessible Format

The festival is distinguished by a rare feature in the world of film festivals: all screenings are free and open to the public, subject to available seating. For a week, the Palais des Sports et des Congrès of Alpe d'Huez (AgorAlp) transforms into a true cinema complex, offering screenings from morning to evening in its various rooms.

The official selection includes around ten feature films in competition, presented in national preview, as well as a short film competition. Screenings outside the competition, special sessions, and masterclasses complete a rich and varied program.

A Historic Award List

The festival has built a reputation for discovering talents and successful films. Among the works revealed or awarded at Alpe d'Huez are comedies that have become cult classics: Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis by Dany Boon (2008), Intouchables by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano (2011), Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu ? by Philippe de Chauveron (2014), and Le Sens de la fête (2017). These films, awarded at the festival before their national release, went on to achieve colossal box office success, confirming the keen eye of the jury and the Alpe d'Huez audience.

Prestigious Juries and a Popular Audience Award

Each edition brings together a jury of cinema and humor personalities, chaired by an iconic figure. The awards include the Grand Prix, the Special Jury Prize, the Best Actress and Actor Awards, the Best Short Film Award, the Audience Award, the Canal+ Jury Prize, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region Audience Favorite Award. The Audience Award, in particular, has proven over the years to be a reliable indicator of the commercial success of the awarded films.

A Unique Atmosphere Between Cinema and Mountains

The alliance of the seventh art and winter sports gives the festival an incomparable atmosphere. Festival-goers can alternate between screenings and skiing on the slopes, while film crews take over the resort for informal meetings and moments of sharing with the public. Evenings, debates, and events punctuate a week dedicated to laughter, conviviality, and cinematic discovery.