Festival des 37
Popular Cinema Festival of the Pays de Craon
About Festival des 37
The Festival des 37 is a popular and participatory cinema festival organized every two years in Craon and the towns of the Pays de Craon, in Mayenne. Supported by the CIAS du Pays de Craon and the association L'Autre Vie du Papillon, it offers screenings of short films written and performed by the inhabitants of the territory, accompanied by meetings with filmmakers, live performances, and workshops. Free and open to all, it works for access to culture and social inclusion through cinematographic creation.
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The Festival des 37: Cinema by and for the Inhabitants
Born in 2013 in the Pays de Craon region, the Festival des 37 takes its name from the 37 municipalities that make up this inter-municipal community in southern Mayenne. This popular cinema festival, organized every two years, is based on a strong conviction: artistic creation is a powerful lever for social inclusion and connection between residents.
A Participatory Project Rooted in the Territory
The Festival des 37 is not like other festivals. For more than thirteen months before each edition, about a hundred residents of the Pays de Craon — young people, seniors, isolated individuals, RSA beneficiaries, cinema lovers — participate in weekly workshops led by professionals from the cinema and performing arts. Screenwriting, acting, set construction, filming: all stages of filmmaking are covered in a collective and supportive approach.
Traveling Screenings Throughout the Territory
The highlight of the festival is the screening of short films made by the residents. These films, based on a collectively chosen theme, are presented at opening and closing sessions, but also travel to different towns in the Pays de Craon. This itinerant approach is at the heart of the project: it allows reaching rural audiences far from cinemas and creating moments of conviviality in each village.
Meetings and Performances
Beyond the screenings, each edition offers a varied program: meetings with filmmakers, live performances, cultural lotteries, participatory workshops, and festive events. A patron — a renowned filmmaker — accompanies each edition, bringing their perspective and experience to the audience. The festival is free and open to all, true to its mission of accessibility and fighting all forms of discrimination.
A Strong Social Commitment
Supported by the CIAS du Pays de Craon and the association L'Autre Vie du Papillon, the Festival des 37 works against all forms of discrimination and exclusion. It is part of a social integration initiative through culture, offering people in vulnerable situations a space for expression, empowerment, and recognition. The festival is supported by local authorities and social integration partners in Mayenne.
Practical information — Festival des 37
Practical Information
Main Venue
Espace culturel Saint-Clément, Place Saint-Clément, 53400 Craon.
A former church converted into a performance hall and cultural venue since 2007, Espace Saint-Clément is the heart of the Festival des 37. It hosts the main screenings of short films made by residents, meetings with the edition's patron, as well as the festival's highlights and opening evenings. The hall offers an intimate and warm setting, perfectly suited to the event's friendly spirit.
Traveling Screenings
True to its mission of reaching the entire territory, the Festival des 37 organizes traveling screenings in several towns of the Pays de Craon. Regularly involved venues include:
- Salle de l'Orion, La Selle-Craonnaise — hosts the closing ceremony
- Communal and multi-purpose halls in the towns of the Pays de Craon
- Community venues and social spaces in the area
The detailed program of venues and times for each screening will be announced a few weeks before the festival on the Pays de Craon website and in the local press.
Getting to Craon
By car: Craon is located 30 km southeast of Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne, 35 km northwest of Segré, and about 50 km south of Laval via the D771. Free parking is available in the immediate vicinity of Espace Saint-Clément and in the town center.
By bus: Regional network Aléop, line Laval – Craon. Stop in the town center of Craon, a few minutes' walk from Espace Saint-Clément.
By train: The nearest SNCF station is Laval (TGV Paris-Rennes), about 50 km away. Connection possible by Aléop bus.
Accessibility
The Espace culturel Saint-Clément is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The organizers ensure that all events are inclusive and accessible to the widest possible audience. Do not hesitate to contact the team in advance for any specific requests.
Prices
The Festival des 37 is entirely free. All short film screenings, live performances, meetings with filmmakers, participatory workshops, and convivial moments are free access, without prior reservation. This free access is at the heart of the festival's project, which aims to remove all barriers to accessing culture.
Period and Frequency
The Festival des 37 takes place every two years, generally in the first or second week of December, lasting one to two weeks. The last edition (5th) was held from December 6 to 14, 2025. The next edition (6th) is scheduled for December 2027.
Contact
CIAS du Pays de Craon — Culture Department
Phone: 02 43 09 19 89
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.paysdecraon.fr
Accommodation
Craon has a few accommodation options: bed and breakfasts, rural gites, and a hotel in the town center. For a longer stay, the neighboring towns of Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne and Segré offer a wider choice. The Pays de Craon tourist office can direct you to available accommodations.
Catering
Several restaurants and food shops are available in the town center of Craon. During the festival, convivial moments with light catering are often offered around screenings and events.
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Festival des 37
Espace culturel Saint-Clément
Place Saint-Clément, 53400 Craon