De la Plume à la Toile

A dialogue between literature and cinema

The festival De la Plume à la Toile — from the writer's pen to the cinema screen — is a unique cultural event that highlights the bridges between two major arts: literature and cinema. Created by Hervé and Albéric de Bideran, the festival started from a simple observation: many cinema films have a book as their origin. Each summer, the medieval bastides of Castillonnès and Villeréal thus become the beating heart of a rare dialogue between these two forms of artistic expression.

The Screen side: screenings at Ciné 4

Each day of the festival, a film screening is scheduled at 5 PM at Ciné 4 in Castillonnès, an art-house cinema labeled and installed in Place Jasmin. Spectators discover a film, a documentary, or a series episode adapted from a literary work. This selection allows for an understanding of the adaptation process, from page to screen, and to measure the narrative and aesthetic choices.

The Pen side: meetings with authors

At 7 PM, the festival moves under the 14th-century market hall of Villeréal for a free conference in the presence of the author of the book adapted into a film. These high-quality meetings offer the public the opportunity to interact directly with renowned writers about their work, their writing process, and their experience with film adaptation. A friendly reception is offered to all spectators during the autograph session that follows the conference.

Leading authors

Over the years, the festival has hosted prestigious authors, winners of literary awards, and authors of best-sellers translated worldwide. Among the notable guests of the 2025 edition: Cédric Gras (Albert-Londres prize), Pauline Guéna (author of 18.3, une année à la PJ, adapted by Dominik Moll as La nuit du 12, 7 César awards in 2023), and Laetitia Colombani (author of La tresse, translated into over 40 languages and sold 5 million copies).

Convivial and gourmet evenings

The festival evenings are enhanced by the restaurateurs and food artisans of the Castillonnès region, who offer a wide choice of gourmet specialties. Tables are set up on the Place des Cornières, and musical entertainment accompanies these moments of sharing and conviviality in an exceptional heritage setting.