Festival des 3 Continents
The cinemas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia
About 3 Continents
Created in 1979 by Philippe and Alain Jalladeau, the Festival des 3 Continents is the world's first film festival entirely devoted to films from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Every year in November, for nine days, Nantes becomes the capital of the cinema of the three continents, with a demanding selection of fiction films and documentaries presented in international competition. The festival awards the Golden Montgolfier and the Silver Montgolfier, recognizing the best films from a program that mixes discoveries, retrospectives, tributes, and thematic screenings. A pillar of global cinephilia for over forty years, the festival attracts more than 26,000 spectators each year and welcomes professionals, journalists, and filmmakers from around the world. It also offers the Produire au Sud program, a training workshop for emerging producers, as well as screenings for young audiences from the age of 3.
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The Festival des 3 Continents: A Window onto World Cinemas
Since 1979, the Festival des 3 Continents has held a unique place in the global film landscape. Founded in Nantes by brothers Philippe and Alain Jalladeau, it is the first international festival entirely dedicated to the cinemas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia. This pioneering mission has helped introduce major filmmakers such as Hou Hsiao-hsien, Abbas Kiarostami, Souleymane Cissé, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul to European audiences.
A Rich and Demanding Program
The heart of the festival is its international competition, which each year presents about ten feature films in their French or world premiere. The selected films are judged by a professional jury that awards the Golden Montgolfier and the Silver Montgolfier, as well as by a young jury and the public, who award their own prizes.
Alongside the competition, the festival offers special screenings, retrospectives dedicated to great filmmakers, tributes to cinema personalities, and thematic programs that shed light on the aesthetic, social, and political issues of the cinemas of the three continents.
A Commitment to Transmission and Training
The Festival des 3 Continents is not limited to film screenings. It is also a major player in professional training through the Produire au Sud program, an international workshop that supports emerging producers in developing their projects. This internationally recognized initiative has contributed to the emergence of numerous award-winning films at major festivals.
The young audience program, titled "Premiers Pas vers les 3 Continents" (First Steps towards the 3 Continents), offers screenings suitable for children aged 3 and up, accompanied by cultural mediation, affirming the festival's commitment to training the audiences of tomorrow.
A Festival Rooted in its Territory
Based in Nantes, the festival invests several cinemas and cultural venues in the city and its metropolitan area each year, notably the Katorza, the Cinématographe, the Concorde, the Espace Cosmopolis, and the Théâtre Graslin. Screenings are also organized in towns in Loire-Atlantique such as Ancenis, Clisson, Héric, Saint-Herblain, and Saint-Nazaire, strengthening the festival's territorial roots.
3 Continents — edition 2026
The 48th edition of the Festival des 3 Continents will be held from November 20 to 28, 2026, in Nantes. The festival will continue its mission of discovering and showcasing the cinemas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia, with an international competition, retrospectives, tributes, special screenings, and the Produire au Sud training program.
48th Edition — November 20 to 28, 2026
The Festival des 3 Continents returns for its 48th edition from November 20 to 28, 2026, in Nantes. For nine days, the festival will offer a demanding selection of fiction films and documentaries from Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
The international competition will feature about ten feature films in their French or world premiere, judged by a professional jury awarding the Golden Montgolfier and Silver Montgolfier. The Audience Award and the Young Jury Award will also be presented.
The full program, including retrospectives, tributes, special screenings, and the professional segment Produire au Sud, will be announced in the fall of 2026 on the festival's official website.
Programme 3 Continents 2026
2026 Program
The full program for the 48th edition will be announced in the fall of 2026. As every year, the festival will offer:
- International Competition: feature fiction films and documentaries from Africa, Latin America, and Asia
- Special Screenings: restored prints, preview screenings, notable works
- Retrospectives and Tributes: programs dedicated to great filmmakers
- Premiers Pas vers les 3 Continents: screenings for young audiences aged 3 and up
- Produire au Sud: training workshop for emerging producers
Highlights 3 Continents 2026
To Note for 2026
- Dates: Thursday, November 20 to Saturday, November 28, 2026
- 48th edition of the world's leading festival dedicated to the cinemas of Africa, Latin America, and Asia
- Venues: Katorza, Cinématographe, Concorde, Cosmopolis, and partner cinemas in Nantes
- Decentralized screenings in the towns of Loire-Atlantique
- Full program to be announced in fall 2026
Prices 3 Continents 2026
Practical information — 3 Continents
Practical Information
Screening Venues
Festival screenings take place in several cinemas and cultural venues in Nantes:
- Katorza Cinema — 3 rue Corneille, 44000 Nantes
- Le Cinématographe — 12 bis rue des Carmélites, 44000 Nantes
- Concorde Cinema — 79 boulevard de l'Égalité, 44100 Nantes
- Espace Cosmopolis — 18 rue Scribe, 44000 Nantes
- Théâtre Graslin — Place Graslin, 44000 Nantes (opening ceremony)
Additional screenings are held in other partner venues: Pathé, Stereolux, Trempo, as well as in cinemas in Loire-Atlantique (Ancenis, Clisson, Héric, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Nazaire).
Ticketing and Prices
Single screening ticket: €7.50 (full price) / €6 (reduced price: students, under 26s, job seekers, Cezam card holders)
Special rate: €3 (people with disabilities, under 12s, RSA beneficiaries, Carte Blanche)
5-screening pass: €33 (non-nominative, i.e., €6.60 per screening)
Festival Pass: approximately €70 to €85 (unlimited access to screenings excluding ceremonies, benefits at partner restaurants and hotels)
Ticketing generally opens in early November on the festival's official website and at Espace Cosmopolis.
Access
By train: Nantes station (TGV from Paris in 2h15). Festival cinemas are within walking distance of the city center. SNCF TER Pays de la Loire offers a €5 "Live" ticket to travel to Nantes during the festival.
By tram: Lines 1, 2, and 3 serve the city center of Nantes. Commerce or Médiathèque stops for Katorza and Cinématographe.
By car: Nantes is accessible via the A11 (from Paris), the A83 (from Niort/Bordeaux), and the N137 (from Rennes). Paid parking available in the city center.
Accessibility
The festival is committed to making its screenings accessible to people with disabilities. Specific measures are in place in partner venues. For any requests, please contact the festival team by email or phone.
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — 3 Continents
Cinéma Katorza et salles partenaires
7 rue de l'Héronnière, 44000 Nantes