C.L.A.C. Festival — Certain.e.s L'Aiment Court
The student short film festival in Lyon
About CLAC
The C.L.A.C. Festival (Certain·e·s L'Aiment Court) is a Lyon-based short film festival organized annually by the Bureau des Arts of emlyon business school. Established in 2005, it highlights the talent of young filmmakers aged 18 to 30 by screening their films on the big screen in front of nearly 300 spectators and a jury of cinema professionals. Inter-school competition, a thematic official selection, exchanges with creative teams, and an awards ceremony punctuate two cinematic evenings in Lyon.
The C.L.A.C. Festival: over twenty years of passion for short films
Since 2005, the C.L.A.C. Festival (Certain·e·s L'Aiment Court) has been the unmissable event for student short films in Lyon. Created and supported by the Bureau des Arts of emlyon business school, it celebrates the short format every year by offering a significant showcase for young French and international filmmakers aged 18 to 30. A team of about fifteen students is involved in each edition of the festival.
Two evenings of screenings and encounters
The festival takes place over two consecutive evenings in a major Lyon cinema:
- First evening: inter-school competition bringing together major Lyon schools and associations (emlyon, INSA Lyon, Centrale Lyon, ESD, EICAR, ESMA, Émile Cohl, Université Gustave Eiffel), followed by discussions with the creative teams.
- Second evening: screening of short films in official competition around the year's theme, public vote, professional jury deliberation, followed by the awards ceremony and closing cocktail.
A springboard for young filmmakers
Films submitted to C.L.A.C. must adhere to a mandatory theme that changes each year, and their duration must be between 2 and 12 minutes (excluding credits). Works must be directed by filmmakers under 30 years old. A jury of cinema professionals (directors, actors, producers, casting directors, etc.) evaluates the competing films and awards several prizes at the closing ceremony: Jury's Favorite, Best Direction, Engaged Screenplay, and Audience's Favorite. Each edition attracts approximately 300 spectators.
A festival rooted in Lyon's cultural life
Over its editions, the C.L.A.C. Festival has established itself as a recognized player in the Lyon cinematic scene. Driven by the energy and and commitment of emlyon students, it illustrates the vitality of short films as a full-fledged art form. The festival has forged links with cinema professionals and cultural institutions in the metropolis, confirming its role as a bridge between the student world and the film industry. Among the themes of recent editions: Silence (2025), Déséquilibre (2024), Éclipse (2023), Chimères (2022), and La 25e heure (2021).
Pathé Bellecour: the festival's new setting
For its 2026 edition, the festival is moving for the first time to the Pathé Bellecour cinema, right in the heart of Lyon's Presqu'île. This emblematic venue (Dolby Atmos, Onyx Led screen) offers selected films professional screening conditions worthy of the greatest works on the big screen. The closing evening continues at L'Officine de l'Hôtel-Dieu, a few steps from the cinema.
CLAC — edition 2026
The 22nd edition of the C.L.A.C. Festival was held on May 6 and 7, 2026 at the Pathé Bellecour cinema, in the heart of the Lyon Presqu'île — a first in the festival's 22 years of existence. On the theme « Origins », 12 short films by directors aged 18 to 30 were screened in competition before nearly 300 spectators and a jury of cinema professionals.
22nd Edition — « Origins »
For its 2026 edition, the C.L.A.C. Festival took over the mythical Pathé Bellecour cinema, in the heart of the Lyon Presqu'île, for the first time in its 22 years of existence. The theme of the edition, « Origins », invited filmmakers to explore « what set things in motion »: founding moments, new beginnings, roots, legacies — all facets that define our identity, whether geographical, familial, intimate, or collective.
12 Films, 4 Awards, One Theme
As every year, the films selected for official competition (2 to 12 minutes long excluding credits, directors under 30 years old) were evaluated by a jury of cinema professionals. Four awards were presented at the close of the second evening:
- Jury's Favorite — 400 €
- Best Direction — 200 €
- Engaged Screenplay — 200 €
- Audience's Favorite — 200 €
A Student Team of 15 People
As with every edition, a team of about fifteen students from emlyon business school dedicated themselves throughout the year to organize the festival, from the call for films (closed on March 5, 2026) to the awards ceremony. For this 22nd edition, the co-managers were Capucine Bacrot and Vincent Massotte.
Programme CLAC 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 — Inter-school Competition
Doors open: 6:30 PM — Pathé Bellecour Cinema
Opening night of the festival with an inter-school competition bringing together short films produced in major Lyon schools and associations. Eight institutions in the running:
- emlyon business school
- INSA Lyon
- Centrale Lyon
- ESD (École Supérieure de Design)
- EICAR Lyon
- ESMA (École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques)
- Émile Cohl
- Université Gustave Eiffel
Screenings followed by discussions with the creative teams.
Thursday, May 7, 2026 — Official Selection « Origins » + Awards Ceremony
Doors open: 6:30 PM — Pathé Bellecour Cinema
Closing night featuring the 2026 official selection on the theme « Origins »:
- Screening of the 12 short films selected for official competition (2 to 12 minutes long, directors aged 18 to 30).
- Deliberation by the professional jury and public vote.
- Awards ceremony for the 4 prizes (Jury's Favorite, Best Direction, Engaged Screenplay, Audience's Favorite).
- Closing cocktail at Officine de l'Hôtel-Dieu, a short walk from the cinema.
Jury 2026
- Damien Laquet — Actor and voice-over artist (notably the official international voice of the Raving Rabbids). Over 20 years of experience in stage, audiovisual, and media.
- Stéphane Roche — Producer, founder of Arts Films in Lyon (2007). Specialized in the development of cinematographic projects and the detection of new talents.
- Ugo Savary — Director and actor, author of short films including Citégalité (2020). Passionate about actor direction.
- Christiane Bornet — Lyon casting director, specialized in talent scouting and regional casting for cinema and television.
- Laurent Paillot — Actor active in French cinema and television, having worked with many renowned directors. Based between Lyon and Paris.
Highlights CLAC 2026
- A first in 22 years: the festival moves from Pathé Vaise to the mythical Pathé Bellecour, in the heart of the Lyon Presqu'île.
- 2026 Theme: « Origins » — free interpretation.
- 12 short films in official competition, 4 awards presented by a professional jury.
- Closing cocktail at the Officine de l'Hôtel-Dieu.
- Unique inter-school competition bringing together 8 major Lyon schools (emlyon, INSA Lyon, Centrale, ESD, EICAR, ESMA, Émile Cohl, Université Gustave Eiffel).
Prices CLAC 2026
Practical information — CLAC
Practical Information
Access to Pathé Bellecour Cinema
Address: 79 rue de la République, 69002 Lyon (2nd arrondissement, Presqu'île).
- By metro: Bellecour station (lines A and D), 250 m away.
- By bus: numerous lines serving the Presqu'île.
- By bike: Vélo'V stations nearby.
- By car: Bellecour Indigo parking (478 spaces) less than a 5-minute walk away.
Closing Cocktail
The evening of May 7th continues at L'Officine de l'Hôtel-Dieu, a few steps from the cinema.
Prices
Detailed prices are communicated annually upon ticket office opening on festivalclac.com/billetterie. Reduced prices for students and scholarship holders.
Contact
C.L.A.C. Festival — Bureau des Arts emlyon business school
Email: [email protected]
Website: festivalclac.com
Instagram: @festivalclac
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Where does it take place — CLAC
Cinéma Pathé Bellecour
79 rue de la République, 69009 Lyon