Images of War Festival
Festival for image education about war in Souchez, land of memory
About Images of War
A festival born on a land of memory
A few minutes from Lens and at the foot of the 14-18 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Memorial, the largest French military necropolis, the village of Souchez is a place steeped in history. It is on this land, marked by the battles of Artois during World War I, that the Images of War Festival was born in 2024, to question how images shape our understanding of armed conflicts.
Image education and reflection on war
The Images of War Festival is distinguished by its educational mission. Through film and documentary screenings, exhibitions, and meetings with directors, historians, and journalists, the festival invites the public to engage in in-depth reflection on the place of war images in our society and their influence on our perception of historical and contemporary conflicts.
A demanding film program
Each edition offers a selection of films and documentaries dedicated to wars and conflicts:
- Historical documentaries: films about World War I, trench warfare, the battles of Artois
- Fiction films: major cinematic works dealing with war
- Documentary series: episodes of series dedicated to conflicts
- Short films: original creations on the theme of war and memory
Renowned partners
The festival benefits from the support of prestigious partners in the field of images and memory: Séries Mania, the major series festival in Lille, CinéLigue Hauts-de-France, a film distribution network, and the ECPAD (Defense Communication and Audiovisual Production Establishment). This collaboration guarantees the quality and relevance of the programming.
Heritage sites
Screenings and exhibitions take place in two emblematic venues:
- Salle Jean Renoir, Route de Carency in Souchez: main screening room
- Centre d'histoire du Mémorial 14-18, 102 rue Pasteur in Souchez: exhibitions and meetings in this place dedicated to the memory of the Great War
Images of War — edition 2026
Prices Images of War 2026
Practical information — Images of War
Locations
The Images of War Festival takes place in Souchez (62153), a village located 15 minutes from Lens, at the foot of the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette hill. Two venues host the festival events:
- Salle Jean Renoir, Route de Carency, 62153 Souchez — main screening room for films and documentaries, equipped with a large screen and a quality sound system
- Centre d'histoire du Mémorial 14-18 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, 102 rue Pasteur, 62153 Souchez — exhibition and conference space, located near the largest French military necropolis (over 40,000 graves)
Access
- By car: From Lens (15 min), take the D937 towards Souchez then Arras. From Arras (15 min), N17 towards Lens then D937 towards Souchez. From Lille (45 min), A26 exit 6.1 then D937. Free parking near both festival venues.
- By train: Lens station (TGV Paris in 1h10, TER Lille in 30 min), then Tadao bus towards Souchez (line 32) or car (15 min). Arras station (TGV and TER), then car (15 min).
Dates
The festival takes place annually around November 11th, the day commemorating the Armistice of 1918. The program spans five days, from November 7th to 11th, with screenings during the day and in the evening.
Prices and booking
All sessions (screenings, conferences, exhibitions) are completely free. Reservation is mandatory for screenings on the website imagesdeguerre.fr. As places are limited, it is highly recommended to book as soon as ticketing opens, several weeks before the festival.
Typical program
The festival offers daily screenings of films and documentaries, followed by debates and discussions with directors, historians, and journalists. Exhibitions are continuously accessible at the Centre d'histoire du Mémorial 14-18. Thematic meetings and conferences enrich the program.
Nearby attractions
The festival is an opportunity to visit the 14-18 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Memorial, the national necropolis, and the Anneau de la Mémoire (Ring of Memory), an international monument bearing the names of 580,000 soldiers of all nationalities who fell in Nord-Pas-de-Calais during the Great War.
Contact
Lens Tourisme — Tel: 03 21 67 66 66
Mémorial 14-18 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette — Tel: 03 21 74 83 15
Festival website: imagesdeguerre.fr
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Where does it take place — Images of War
Salle Jean Renoir et Centre d'histoire du Mémorial 14-18
Route de Carency, 62153 Souchez