C.L.A.C. Festival — Certain.e.s L'Aiment Court

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.