Festival Courtivore

Courtivore: The Short Film Festival Where the Public is King

Since 2001, the Festival Courtivore has been enlivening the Rouen film scene with a concept that is as simple as it is effective: inviting the public to discover short films from around the world and elect their favorite. In a quarter of a century, "films that you can eat with your eyes" — a slogan that has become the festival's signature — have won over a loyal and enthusiastic audience, making Courtivore a major cultural event in the Rouen metropolitan area.

The festival unfolds over a full month, from mid-May to mid-June, following a progressive and participatory format. Competition screenings are held on Friday evenings at the Cinéma Ariel in Mont-Saint-Aignan, a municipal cinema committed to promoting independent film. Each screening presents a selection of short films that the audience rates and ranks. The highest-rated films advance to the grand finale, held at the Cinéma Omnia in the center of Rouen, where the public's final vote determines the winner of the edition.

A Demanding and Eclectic Selection

Each year, the festival's selection committee receives hundreds of film submissions from around the world. The selected program offers a panorama of contemporary short film creation: fiction, animation, documentary, experimental, comedy, drama, thriller. All genres and sensibilities are represented, with particular attention paid to the originality of the subject matter and the quality of the filmmaking.

A Springboard for Filmmakers

Courtivore asserts itself as a true springboard for young directors. Many filmmakers who presented their first films at the festival have gone on to have successful careers. The festival also organizes special screenings throughout the year — Ciné-Piscine (pool screening), Flux Tendu (themed screenings) — which extend the festival spirit beyond the May-June competition.

A Festival Rooted in the Rouen Metropolitan Area

Courtivore is fully integrated into the cultural life of the Métropole Rouen Normandie. The festival benefits from the support of the City of Mont-Saint-Aignan, the City of Rouen, and local cultural partners. With nearly 3,000 spectators per edition, Courtivore demonstrates the vitality of Norman cinephilia and the public's appetite for short and inventive film formats.