Festival CLAP
Francophone Film Festival in Sommières (Gard) — created in 2024
About Festival CLAP
The CLAP Festival is an annual spring event dedicated to Francophone cinema in Sommières, in the Gard region. Created in 2024 by the Clap ! Sommières association, it is held every year at the Le Venise cinema, in partnership with numerous local cultural organizations. The festival offers screenings, meetings, and workshops centered on recent films, with invited directors, technicians, and actors in attendance.
CLAP Festival in Sommières — a young festival dedicated to Francophone cinema
The CLAP Festival is an annual spring event held in Sommières, in the Gard region, at the heart of Occitanie. Created in 2024 by the Clap ! Sommières association, it celebrates Francophone cinema through screenings, meetings with film crews, and educational workshops. The 3rd edition took place from May 6 to 9, 2026.
Le Venise cinema, the festival's central venue
The festival primarily takes place at the Le Venise cinema, an Art & Essai classified venue located at 17 quai Cléon Griolet in Sommières. Screenings and workshops are also offered at the Sommières media library and the Calvisson media library, as well as at the La Calade socio-cultural center.
A program centered on Francophone cinema
Each edition offers previews and recent films with the teams in attendance (directors, screenwriters, actors). The festival welcomes guests of honor — Alice Vial and Valéry Carnoy for the 2026 edition — and highlights Belgium for the third consecutive year. A short film competition for films made in Occitanie is organized annually, with an audience award.
Image education and transmission
The festival places significant importance on image education: school screenings adapted to each age, participatory workshops (dubbing, criticism, radio, green screen), and discussions with film professionals. The La Calade socio-cultural center also awards a prize given by its members.
A festival supported by local cultural stakeholders
The Clap ! Sommières association brings together the Le Venise cinema, Sommières town hall, media libraries, the La Calade socio-cultural center, the Sommières Tourist Office, as well as regional partners such as the Écrans Britanniques de Nîmes, around the event.
Festival CLAP — edition 2026
3rd edition of the CLAP Festival, from May 6 to 9, 2026 in Sommières (Gard), at Le Venise cinema. A festival of Francophone cinema, with Alice Vial and Valéry Carnoy as guests of honor, and Belgium highlighted for the third consecutive year.
CLAP Festival — 3rd Edition (May 6-9, 2026)
The 3rd edition of the CLAP Festival took place from Wednesday, May 6 to Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Le Venise cinema in Sommières, with screenings and workshops relocated to the Sommières media library, the Calvisson media library, and the La Calade socio-cultural center.
Francophone Cinema and Belgium in the Spotlight
The edition opened with L'Âme idéale, the first feature film by Alice Vial (César for Best Short Film for Les Bigorneaux), in the presence of the director. Belgium was highlighted for the third consecutive year, with young Belgian filmmaker Valéry Carnoy presenting his first feature film La Danse des Renards.
Occitanie Short Film Competition
Five short films made in Occitanie were in competition for the 2026 Audience Award, with the directors present during the Saturday afternoon screening.
Workshops and Image Education
Four free workshops were offered: green screen, dubbing, criticism, and radio, with the offer doubling this year and extending to Calvisson. School screenings adapted to each age were also organized throughout the week.
Programme Festival CLAP 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Green Screen Workshop (free) · Sommières Media Library
- 2:30 PM — Dubbing Workshop (free) · Calvisson Media Library
- 8:15 PM — Opening Film L'Âme idéale by Alice Vial, in the presence of the director · Cinéma Le Venise
Thursday, May 7, 2026
- 6:00 PM — La Danse des Renards by Valéry Carnoy, in the presence of the director · Cinéma Le Venise
- 9:00 PM — Plus fort que moi (British cinema), presented by Écrans Britanniques de Nîmes, followed by a discussion with Agnès Romarin (Association Gilles de la Tourette) · Cinéma Le Venise
Friday, May 8, 2026
- 2:45 PM — Young Audience Screening Arco (ages 8+), snack offered · Cinéma Le Venise
- 7:00 PM — C'est quoi l'amour ? by Fabien Gorgeart · Cinéma Le Venise
Saturday, May 9, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Occitanie Short Film Competition (5 films in competition, directors present) · Cinéma Le Venise
- 6:45 PM — Closing Preview Le Garçon qui faisait danser les collines, followed by the awards ceremony · Cinéma Le Venise
- Evening — Quiz and closing concert · Jazz Corner Café
Highlights Festival CLAP 2026
- Opening Film L'Âme idéale by Alice Vial, in the presence of the director
- Belgian filmmaker Valéry Carnoy invited with La Danse des Renards
- Occitanie Short Film Competition (5 films, 2026 Audience Award)
- Belgium highlighted for the 3rd consecutive year
- 4 free workshops: green screen, dubbing, criticism, radio
- Closing evening quiz and concert at Jazz Corner Café
Prices Festival CLAP 2026
Practical information — Festival CLAP
Practical Information
Main Venue
Le Venise Cinema — 17 quai Cléon Griolet, 30250 Sommières.
Other festival venues
- Sommières Media Library
- Calvisson Media Library
- La Calade Socio-cultural Center
- Jazz Corner Café (closing night)
Access
Sommières is accessible by car from Nîmes (approx. 30 km) and Montpellier (approx. 35 km). Parking available near the town center.
Ticketing
Online ticketing on the Le Venise cinema website: venise.cbrcinemas.fr. Prices are according to the cinema's usual conditions. Some workshops are free.
Contact
Clap ! Sommières Association
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 06 12 52 09 26
Official website: clapsommieres.fr
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Where does it take place — Festival CLAP
Cinéma Le Venise
17 quai Cléon Griolet, 30250 Sommières, 30250 Sommières