Festival Cinéma du Réel

The Cinéma du Réel Festival: nearly half a century of documentary exploration

Since 1979, the Cinéma du Réel Festival has established itself as one of the major international events for documentary cinema. Founded at the heart of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, it is supported by the Bibliothèque publique d'information (Bpi) and the Association Les Amis du Cinéma du Réel, with the support of the Ministry of Culture. Its mission: to reflect the diversity of genres and approaches in documentary filmmaking, by creating a permanent dialogue between contemporary creation and the history of 'cinéma du réel' (documentary cinema).

Each edition presents approximately two hundred films divided into several sections – international competition, French competition, special screenings, retrospectives, and thematic programs. The festival is recognized for its ability to discover unique works, to give a voice to filmmakers from all backgrounds, and to question the boundaries between reality and its cinematic representation.

A Parisian base, a global reach

For nearly four decades, the Centre Pompidou has been the natural home for the festival, offering its audiences the opportunity to move between screening rooms, contemporary art exhibitions, and debates. With the temporary closure of the Centre Pompidou for renovation work starting in 2025, the festival has reinvented itself by moving into independent art-house cinemas on the Left Bank of Paris, as part of the Centre Pompidou's "Constellation" program.

Eleven awards to celebrate documentary

The festival's awards include eleven major prizes:

• Grand Prix — awarded by an international jury
• International Prize — for a film in the international competition
• CNAP Prize for French Film — reserved for the French competition
• First Film Prize
• Short Film Prize
• Audience Award
• Clarens Foundation Prize for Humanism

Over the decades, these distinctions have launched major contemporary documentary filmmakers, contributing to the international circulation of award-winning films.

A festival at the heart of reflection on documentary cinema

Beyond screenings, Cinéma du Réel is a space for reflection and transmission. Round tables, masterclasses, and meetings with filmmakers deepen the understanding of the aesthetic, political, and ethical issues of documentary filmmaking. Each year, the festival hosts industry professionals – producers, distributors, festival programmers – making this Parisian week an essential hub for the international documentary market.

A passionate and discerning audience

Cinéma du Réel attracts over 25,000 spectators each year, including seasoned cinephiles, film students, researchers, and the curious, all united by a passion for filmed reality. The festival also offers school screenings and programs accessible to young audiences, ensuring the transmission of a taste for documentary to new generations.