Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne - International Festival of Cinema for Young Audiences

Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne: Young Audiences Cinema Across the Entire Department

Founded in 1983, the Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne festival is one of the oldest film festivals dedicated to young audiences in France. Supported by its namesake association, its mission is to promote quality cinema to children and teenagers, combining media literacy, artistic discovery, and the pleasure of the big screen.

A Unique Traveling Festival

The distinctive feature of Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne is its traveling nature: for nearly a month, the festival unfolds in about fifteen towns across the department, from major cities like Laon, Soissons, Saint-Quentin, Tergnier, and Château-Thierry to more rural communities like Guise, Hirson, Vervins, Saint-Gobain, Villers-Cotterêts, or Coucy-lès-Eppes. Screenings take place in cinemas, cultural centers, and community spaces, making the 7th art accessible to the widest possible audience.

A Rich and International Program

Each edition features over 200 screenings of films and short films from more than 15 countries, with around 35 short films in international competition divided into age-group programs (from 3 to 18 years old). The festival selects new films in various styles: animation, fiction, documentary, experimental cinema. The program also includes thematic feature films, previews, and revisited cinema classics. Each edition is centered around a unifying theme: "Living Nature" in 2025, "Cinema in Cinema" in 2026, "Inventions and Discoveries" in 2024.

Competition and Juries

The international short film competition is judged by several juries: an international youth jury composed of teenagers aged 15 to 18 from France and Europe (Germany, Italy), a professional European ECFA jury (European Children's Film Association), and class-juries from the department that award prizes by age category. The awards recognize the best animated short film, the best film for teenagers, and the best European film.

Workshops, Cine-Concerts, and Activities

Beyond screenings, the festival offers a program of creative and fun workshops related to cinema (over 60 workshops per edition), cine-concerts, cine-snacks for the youngest, and meetings with film professionals (directors, animators, technicians). The Great Children's Day at the Maison des Arts et Loisirs in Laon is a festive and participatory highlight.

Media Literacy and Cultural Action

The Ciné-Jeune de l'Aisne association is committed to media literacy year-round. It coordinates the national programs "École et cinéma" (School and Cinema) and "Collège au cinéma" (Middle School at Cinema) in the department, supports cinema-audiovisual options in high schools, and develops a hub of educational resources. The festival welcomes over 11,000 spectators each year, including about 7,500 schoolchildren and 1,500 general audience members.