Histoires & Crapahutes

Hiking as the common thread of human stories

Born from the passion of two lovers of the outdoors and walking, Jérôme Poizat (from Gard) and Philippe Donadille (from Lozère), Histoires & Crapahutes is a new kind of traveling film festival. Rather than a simple mountain or adventure film festival, it places hiking at the heart of profoundly human stories, where walking becomes the revealer of unique destinies and universal emotions.

The concept is simple and powerful: one evening, one cinema, five documentary films selected for their narrative strength and cinematic quality, all presented and hosted by the two festival founders. For about three hours (including 2.5 hours of screening and a 10-minute intermission), the audience is transported to the four corners of the world, from Corsican trails to Icelandic treks, from the paths of Tajikistan to the Alpine massifs.

Films that tell much more than just hiking

While hiking and landscapes form the backdrop of each film, the themes explored go far beyond the sporting aspect. The selected documentaries explore profound themes: life changes, overcoming disability, exploring unknown territories, resilience, and meeting others. Each evening is structured as an emotional journey, alternating adventure, poetry, and introspection.

Directors are regularly present at screenings to interact with the audience, adding a human and interactive dimension to the cinematic experience.

Season 1 (November 2024 – March 2025)

The first season featured five films: “Bifurcation” (31 min, Cap Corse), “Du fond de l'univers au Dévoluy” (24 min, Dévoluy massif), “Altruiste Altitude” (38 min, Vanoise massif), “Fils du Vent” (16 min, Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan), and “Hraun” (44 min, Iceland). The festival was launched on December 13, 2024, at the Cinéplanet cinema in Alès before touring many theaters in Occitanie and beyond.

Season 2 (Autumn 2025)

The second season presented new adventures including “Une montagne d'espoir”, “Un sentier à soi”, and “Via Alpina”, as well as a preview of the film “Compostelle”. Screenings in Lozère were held in Saint-Chély-d'Apcher (October 11 at 8:30 PM), Mende (October 12 at 5 PM), and Marvejols.

A traveling festival across France

Histoires & Crapahutes travels across France, setting up in cinemas in nearly 80 towns. This traveling format allows it to reach a diverse audience, from large cities to small provincial towns, including rural areas like Lozère. In Mende, it is the cinema Le Trianon that hosts the festival. Supported by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (French Federation of Hiking) and certified by the Région Occitanie, the festival benefits from strong institutional backing.

Mende and Lozère, land of hiking

The presence of Histoires & Crapahutes in Lozère is no coincidence. The department, the least populated in France, is a hiker's paradise with its Stevenson trails (GR 70), the paths of the Cévennes National Park, the plateaus of the Aubrac, and the gorges of the Tarn. The festival resonates here with particular relevance, in a region where walking is part of the identity and daily life.