Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes
The fiction and documentary film festival of Valenciennes at Pathé
2026
About Festival 2 Cinéma
Festival 2 Cinéma — edition 2026
Festival 2 Cinéma 2026 — 16th Edition
The 16th edition of the Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes will take place from Friday, September 25th to Tuesday, September 29th, 2026 at Pathé Valenciennes, 59 rue des Alpes. Five days of screenings attended by film crews, organized by the Atmosphères association.
The Official Selection
The festival features three sections: a fiction competition with 8 films from around the world, a documentary competition with 7 international feature films, and out-of-competition previews (special screenings, family cinema, closing film, and a youth section). Additionally, there are Cartes Blanches films, selected by jury presidents, guests of honor, and film industry professionals, as well as free masterclasses led by industry experts.
Program Status
Film submissions are open until August 31st, 2026. Only feature films at least 70 minutes long with a release date from September 30th, 2026, are eligible; films previously shown at Berlin, Cannes, Angoulême, Venice, Toronto, Deauville, and San Sebastián are also eligible. As of mid-August 2026, the "Program" and "Guests" pages on the official website display "More info coming soon": the screening schedule, film list, and guest list have not yet been published. The 2026 poster will be unveiled on August 17th.
Get Involved
The Atmosphères association is recruiting volunteers for this 16th edition in two areas: drivers to transport guests from Lille, Brussels, and Paris airports, and hospitality (distributing posters and programs, guiding the public, welcoming school groups, and production support). The festival is also recruiting members for its student jury. Applications can be submitted via the Resources section of the official website.
Programme Festival 2 Cinéma 2026
What is published as of mid-August 2026
The detailed screening schedule has not yet been released: film selection closes on August 31st, 2026, and the "Program" page on the official website indicates "More info coming soon." Here is what has been announced.
Setting and Dates
- Friday, September 25th to Tuesday, September 29th, 2026 — 16th edition, at Pathé Valenciennes, 59 rue des Alpes
- Five days of screenings, with film crews in attendance
Announced Sections
- Fiction Competition — 8 films from around the world
- Documentary Competition — 7 international feature films
- Out-of-competition previews — special screenings, family cinema, closing film, youth section
- Cartes Blanches Films — films chosen by jury presidents, guests of honor, and industry professionals
- Masterclasses — free, led by cinema professionals
School and Group Screenings
- School screenings on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, morning and afternoon
- Groups of 15 or more people by reservation (schools, associations, retirement homes, community centers) via Camille Kitten, Public Relations Manager: [email protected]
Ticketing
- Online at pathe.fr and on the Pathé Gaumont cinema app
- At Pathé Valenciennes from 1:00 PM to 10:15 PM, at kiosks and ticket counters
- 5-ticket booklets sold exclusively at Pathé Valenciennes, starting in early September
Prices Festival 2 Cinéma 2026
Standard rate: 8 €
Gala screenings (opening, closing, celebrations): 10 €
Cartes Blanches films: 7 €
Reduced rate, all screenings: 7 € — at the Pathé Valenciennes counter, with proof: Écran 2 Valenciennes members (2026 membership card), Transvilles customers (pass + proof of purchase), under 26s (student card or ID), for standard and gala screenings
Under 14s: 5.50 €
5-ticket booklet: 30 €, i.e., 6 € per screening, valid for all screenings, non-nominative vouchers to be exchanged at the counter. Sold only at Pathé Valenciennes starting in early September.
Groups of 15 or more, by reservation: 5.50 € for standard screenings, 7 € for gala screenings, 4.50 € for short programs
School groups of 15 or more, by reservation: 4.50 € for short programs, 5.50 € for documentary and fiction competitions, out-of-competition previews and Cartes Blanches, 7 € for galas
Organizations: 5.50 € voucher, for 100 tickets or more
CinéPass and CinéCartes accepted.
Free masterclasses.
Pro tip: 10% discount at the restaurant L'Édito upon presentation of a festival entry ticket; and upon presentation of a same-day receipt, tickets are 7 € for festival screenings.
Practical information — Festival 2 Cinéma
Getting to the Festival
Location
All screenings take place at Pathé Valenciennes
59 rue des Alpes
59300 Valenciennes
15 screens, including one 4DX theater.
By Car
Take the A2 motorway, exit at Valenciennes Centre, head toward the Nungesser district, then follow signs for Espace Cinéma, rue des Alpes. Free 800-space parking available.
By Public Transport
Vosges stop: Bus line 16, tramway T1 or T2. The station is served in the evening by the flexO line, zone E. TransExpress tickets are sold on board for €1.80, or via the TixiPASS app or by credit card on the PassCB validators. Check schedules at transvilles.com.
Ticketing
Tickets are available online at pathe.fr and via the Pathé Gaumont cinema app, or at the Pathé Valenciennes box office from 1:00 PM to 10:15 PM at the kiosks or counters. 5-ticket booklets are sold exclusively at Pathé Valenciennes starting in early September. CinéPass and CinéCartes are accepted.
Groups and Schools
Group screenings are available for parties of 15 or more by reservation: schools from kindergarten to higher education, associations, retirement homes, and community centers. Contact: Camille Kitten, Audience Coordinator, [email protected].
Dining
The restaurant L'Édito offers a 10% discount upon presentation of a festival film ticket. Conversely, a same-day restaurant receipt entitles you to a €7 ticket for festival screenings.
Contact
Association Atmosphères
Maison des Associations, 84 rue du Faubourg de Paris, 59300 Valenciennes
Programming and Guest Relations: [email protected] · +33 (0)3 27 26 78 82
Official website: festival2valenciennes.fr
Festival 2 Cinéma: The Valenciennes Film Hub
The Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes was founded in 2011 by the Atmosphères association, which has been active since 1992, with the goal of bringing high-quality cinema to the Valenciennes region. Over just a few editions, it has established itself as a major cultural event in the Hauts-de-France region, supported by the CNC (National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image) and local authorities.
An Official Selection in Three Sections
The festival's official selection is divided into three main categories:
- Fiction Competition: 8 films from around the world, presented in the presence of their production teams.
- Documentary Competition: 7 international feature-length documentaries.
- Out-of-Competition Previews: Special screenings, family cinema, closing night film, and a youth section.
These are complemented by the Carte Blanche screenings: films chosen by jury presidents, guests of honor, and industry professionals, showcased on the big screen.
Five Days of Screenings
The festival takes place over five days at Pathé Valenciennes, located at 59 rue des Alpes, a 15-screen complex including a 4DX theater. The 15th edition, held in September 2025, features over 60 films. Screenings are attended by directors and cast members, who host Q&A sessions with the audience afterward.
Masterclasses and Meet-and-Greets
The festival hosts free masterclasses led by film industry professionals, including directors, producers, cinematographers, and editors.
The Young Stars Section
The Jeunes Étoiles (Young Stars) section is dedicated to younger audiences, with school screenings held at Pathé Valenciennes. The festival welcomes school groups from kindergarten through higher education by reservation.
2025 Award Winners
The 15th edition, held in September 2025, awarded the following prizes. In the Fiction category: C'est quoi l'amour ? by Fabien Gorgeart (Grand Prix), Maspalomas by Aitor Arregi and José Mari Goenaga (Jury Prize and Critics' Prize), Ce qu'il reste de nous by Cherien Dabis (Audience Prize and Best Actress for Cherien Dabis), Samuel Kircher in La Danse des renards (Best Actor), Sarah Pachoud and Angelina Woreth in Qui brille au combat (Revelation Prize), and L'Affaire Bojarski by Jean-Paul Salomé (Student Jury Prize). In the Documentary category: La Vie après Siham by Namir Abdel Messeeh (Grand Prix and Student Jury Prize), Holding Liat by Brandon Kramer (Jury Prize), Imago by Déni Oumar Pitsaev (Special Mention and Critics' Prize), and Elle entend pas la moto by Dominique Fischbach (Audience Prize).
Where does it take place — Festival 2 Cinéma
Festival 2 Cinéma in brief
History of Festival 2 Cinéma
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Valenciennes
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