CLaP Festival - Latin American Cinema of Paris

The CLaP Festival: A Wide-Open Window on Latin American Cinema

Born in 2023, the Festival de Cinéma Latino-Américain de Paris — better known by the acronym CLaP — filled a gap in the Parisian film scene. While the French capital hosts dozens of festivals dedicated to world cinema, no event was exclusively devoted to the richness of Latin American cinema. The association Image et Parole, driven by a team of passionate cinephiles and professionals, took up this challenge by creating an annual event that has become a benchmark for lovers of Latin American cinema in just a few editions.

A Demanding and Eclectic Program

Each year, the CLaP Festival presents a selection of films in competition, including up to ten feature films (fiction or documentaries) and ten short films. The selected works explore the cultural, social, and political diversity of the Latin American continent, from Mexico to Argentina, including Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Cuba. The festival highlights independent cinema, showcasing emerging directors alongside established filmmakers.

Three Prestigious Awards

Three distinct juries award the festival's prizes: Le Grand CLaP, the award for best feature film given by a jury of professionals; Le CLaP des Universités, an award presented by a jury of cinema students; and Le CLaP Court-métrage, which recognizes the best short film. This triple distinction reflects the festival's commitment to cross-referencing perspectives and sensibilities on the presented works.

Rooted in Parisian Art-House Cinemas

The CLaP Festival takes place in emblematic Parisian art-house cinemas, notably the Espace Saint-Michel in the Latin Quarter and the cinema Le Grand Action. This choice of independent venues, at the heart of Parisian cinephilia, places the festival within a framework of proximity to the audience and support for alternative distribution channels.

Screenings are accompanied by meetings with directors, debates, and discussions that enrich the audience's experience and create a genuine dialogue between Latin American filmmakers and the French public.

A Young and Ambitious Festival

In just three editions, the CLaP Festival has established itself on the Parisian film calendar. Its program, praised by critics and audiences alike, attracts a growing number of spectators, professionals, and filmmakers. The festival benefits from the support of the City of Paris and institutional partners involved in promoting Latin American culture in France, such as the Maison de l'Amérique Latine.