Désir... Désirs

France's Oldest LGBTQI+ Festival

Founded in 1993, Désir... Désirs is the oldest LGBTQI+ film festival still active in France. It all began in 1992 when the Maison des homosexualités de Touraine, with Philippe Perol and Rémi Lange, proposed to the art-house cinemas Les Studio in Tours to organize a film series. Initially titled "Autres Désirs", the festival became Désir... Désirs from 1995 onwards.

A Transdisciplinary Program

While cinema remains at the heart of the festival, Désir... Désirs has considerably expanded its offerings over the years to provide a rich and varied transdisciplinary program:

• Cinema: feature films, short films, documentaries, previews, retrospectives
• Exhibitions: photography, visual arts, installations
• Live Performance: dance, theater, performances
• Readings and literary encounters
• Concerts: live music related to the festival's themes
• Conferences and debates: reflections on gender and sexuality issues

A Festival That Reaches Beyond Tours

While the Cinémas Studio in Tours remain the central venue of the festival, Désir... Désirs extends throughout the metropolitan area and even beyond. Screenings and events are organized in Blois, Azay-le-Rideau, Pont-de-Ruan, and Loches, reaching a large and diverse audience in Touraine and Loir-et-Cher.

30 Years of Struggles and Celebrations

In 2023, the festival celebrated its 30th edition, a historic anniversary marked by the publication of the collective work "Désir... Désirs, un roseau sauvage", written by nine authors including Tahnne, Karine Espineira, Didier Roth-Bettoni, and Rémi Lange. This book traces the evolution of the festival while drawing parallels with the transformations in society and cinema regarding the representation of sexual and gender minorities. A concert by the Rainbow Symphony Orchestra at the Opéra de Tours marked this anniversary.

A Commitment to Visibility and Diversity

Désir... Désirs highlights gender relations and society's relationship with its sexual and gender minorities. The festival is a space for visibility, celebration, and reflection that actively contributes to the evolution of mindsets and the recognition of LGBTQI+ rights through the lens of art and culture.