Festival 1ère Marche

A springboard for young filmmakers

The Festival 1ère Marche is a short film festival organized annually in Troyes by the audiovisual department of the Ligue de l'Enseignement de l'Aube. True to its educational and cultural mission, this festival is a real springboard for young cinema talents, offering aspiring directors the opportunity to screen their films to an audience of 400 spectators in a cinema and to a professional jury composed of recognized actors, screenwriters, directors, and producers from the French film industry.

Over 90 short films over five days

For five days, the festival programs over 90 short films covering all genres — fiction, animation, documentary, experimental — and all lengths of the short format. Screenings take place at the CGR cinema in Troyes, offering selected films optimal conditions for big-screen projection. Screenings are followed by discussions and critical feedback from the jury, allowing young directors to benefit from expert insights on their work and advice for their future careers.

Immersive filmmaking workshops

The originality of the Festival 1ère Marche lies in its immersive filmmaking workshops held prior to the festival. Led by professionals, these workshops allow participants to discover all stages of filmmaking: scriptwriting, shooting, acting, and editing. The short films made during these workshops are then screened at the festival, offering their creators the pride of seeing their work on the big screen in front of an audience and a professional jury.

The Ligue de l'Enseignement, a pillar of image education

The Festival 1ère Marche is part of the broader mission of the Ligue de l'Enseignement de l'Aube in terms of image education and access to culture. Throughout the year, the League's audiovisual department introduces young people to filmmaking techniques as part of extracurricular and after-school activities. The festival is the culmination of this foundational work, celebrating the creativity and commitment of young filmmakers from Aube and across France. Free and open to all, it helps make Troyes a vibrant hub for emerging cinematic creation.