La Baule Festival of Film Music
Film and film music celebrated on the Atlantic coast
About La Baule Festival
The La Baule Festival of Film Music: Where Cinema Meets Music
Since 2014, the La Baule Festival of Film Music has held a unique place in the French festival landscape. Founded by Sam Bobino, an event producer, and Christophe Barratier, director of Les Choristes, it is the only French festival entirely dedicated to the relationship between the seventh art and original film music. Initially scheduled for November, the festival has moved to June to offer the public a unique seaside experience.
A Program at the Crossroads of Cinema and Music
The heart of the festival is its official selection, composed of preview feature films presented in the presence of their filmmaking teams. A professional jury—chaired over the years by personalities such as Zabou Breitman (2025), Franck Dubosc (2024), and Radu Mihaileanu (2023)—awards the Grand Prix for Best Film, the Award for Best Film Score, the Award for Best Performance, and the Award for Best Short Film.
The Groupe Barrière Audience Award is given by spectators, while the Award for Best Film Score of the Year honors a composer for their overall work on a film released that year. The festival also presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to a major figure in cinema or film music.
Exceptional Concerts and Encounters
Beyond screenings, the festival offers original concerts celebrating the great film scores. In 2025, Lambert Wilson gave a tribute concert to Yves Montand. In 2024, a concert was dedicated to the music from Claude Lelouch's films. These musical evenings, held in the auditorium of the Palais des Congrès Atlantia, are among the festival's highlights.
Master classes allow the public to interact with composers, directors, and actors. The festival also screens musical documentaries exploring the world of musical creation for cinema, and an exhibition related to the edition's theme.
La Factory: Discovering Young Talents
The festival includes La Factory, a program dedicated to young film music composers. Organized in partnership with the Conservatoire Paul Dukas in Paris, this initiative allows young talents to present their creations to an audience of professionals and cinephiles. The Young Composer Revelation Award is presented within this framework.
A Festival Rooted on the Atlantic Coast
Based in La Baule-Escoublac, the festival utilizes several emblematic venues in the seaside resort: the Palais des Congrès et des Festivals Jacques Chirac — Atlantia for ceremonies, concerts, and main screenings, the Gulf Stream cinema for additional screenings, the Chapelle Sainte-Anne for exhibitions, and the La Baule market for town events. This network of venues makes the festival a unifying event for the entire seaside town.
La Baule Festival — edition 2026
The 12th edition of the La Baule Film and Film Music Festival takes place from June 24 to 28, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès et des Festivals Jacques Chirac — Atlantia, at the Gulf Stream cinema, and at the Chapelle Sainte-Anne. Under the theme of travel, this edition pays tribute to composer Bruno Coulais (Les Choristes, Microcosmos, Himalaya, Océans) during a special concert on Saturday, June 27, coupled with the awards ceremony.
12th Edition — June 24 to 28, 2026
The La Baule Film and Film Music Festival returns for its 12th edition from Wednesday, June 24 to Sunday, June 28, 2026. For five days, the Palais des Congrès et des Festivals Jacques Chirac — Atlantia, the Gulf Stream cinema, the Chapelle Sainte-Anne, and the La Baule market will host a new selection of feature and short films in preview, a special concert, master classes, meetings with film crews, and an exhibition.
2026 Theme: Travel
The 2026 edition is themed around travel — geographical journey, inner journey, identity journey. A common thread found both in the selected films and in the festival poster, designed by Sébastien Dupouey and Mathilde Huaulmé, where the Hôtel Hermitage Barrière, celebrating its centenary, serves as a nod to the passage of time in cinema.
Bruno Coulais, Composer in the Spotlight
This year, the festival celebrates composer Bruno Coulais, a major figure in French film music. Author of over two hundred scores for cinema and television, three-time winner of the César for Best Original Music (Microcosmos: Le Peuple de l'herbe, Himalaya: L'Enfance d'un chef, Les Choristes) and nominated for an Oscar for the original song from Les Choristes, he will be the subject of a special concert on Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 PM in the Atlantia auditorium (duration 2h15, including 1h15 of concert), preceded by the awards ceremony.
Official Program
The festival offers an official selection of French feature films in world premieres (in competition and out of competition), a panorama of unique international films (Spotlight), a selection of short films in competition, musical documentaries, master classes, meetings, and an exhibition at the Chapelle Sainte-Anne. The detailed day-by-day program will be announced on the official website festival-labaule.com as premieres are confirmed.
Programme La Baule Festival 2026
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 — Opening
Opening ceremony and opening film preview at the Palais des Congrès Atlantia, in the presence of the filmmaking teams.
From Thursday, June 25 to Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Official Selection: French feature films in preview (in competition and out of competition)
- Spotlight: Panorama of unique international films
- Short films in competition
- Musical documentaries
- Master classes and meetings with invited artists
- La Factory: Young Talent Composer Revelation Award (in partnership with the Conservatoire Paul Dukas de Paris)
- Exhibition at the Chapelle Sainte-Anne — travel theme
- City activities (La Baule market)
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Atlantia Auditorium
Awards Ceremony followed by special concert « Bruno Coulais, from Microcosmos to Les Choristes » (1h15 of concert, 2h15 total with the ceremony). Live performance of the greatest pieces from Bruno Coulais' filmography.
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Closing
Last screenings and closing of the festival.
Awards
- Grand Prize for Best Film
- Award for Best Film Music
- Award for Best Performance
- Award for Best Short Film
- Groupe Barrière Audience Award
- Award for Best Film Music of the Year
- Young Talent Composer Revelation Award (La Factory)
The detailed program of films and screening times will be progressively published on festival-labaule.com/programme and on the Atlantia ticketing website as premieres are confirmed.
Highlights La Baule Festival 2026
- 12th edition of the only French festival entirely dedicated to the link between cinema and film music
- From June 24 to 28, 2026 in La Baule-Escoublac
- Edition theme: travel
- Composer in the spotlight: Bruno Coulais (Les Choristes, Microcosmos, Himalaya, Océans) — special concert on Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 PM
- Awards ceremony on Saturday, June 27, coupled with the tribute concert
- Four venues: Palais des Congrès Atlantia, Gulf Stream cinema, Chapelle Sainte-Anne, La Baule market
- Ticket office opens on June 15, 2026, on the official website and on Atlantia
Prices La Baule Festival 2026
Practical information — La Baule Festival
Practical Information
Festival Venues
- Palais des Congrès et des Festivals Jacques Chirac — Atlantia — 119 avenue du Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac (ceremonies, concerts, main screenings)
- Gulf Stream Cinema — 2 avenue du Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac (screenings)
- Chapelle Sainte-Anne — La Baule-Escoublac (exhibition)
- La Baule Market — La Baule-Escoublac (town events)
Ticketing and Prices
Festival Pass: €50 (single price, in support of the festival association) — access to all screenings and events for the entire duration of the festival.
Single Ticket: €8 (full price) / €5 (reduced price: under 18s, students up to 25, people with disabilities).
Opening Ceremony and Screening: €10.
Closing Concert: €59 to €64 depending on category.
Passes can be collected at the Palais des Congrès Atlantia. Cinema tickets are available online on the official website and Billetweb, or on-site during the festival.
Access
By Train: La Baule-Escoublac station (TER from Nantes in 1h10, TGV connection at Saint-Nazaire or Nantes). The Palais des Congrès Atlantia is about a 15-minute walk from the station.
By Car: La Baule-Escoublac is accessible via the N171 from Nantes (approx. 1h15) and the D213 from Saint-Nazaire. Free parking is available near the Palais des Congrès.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Official Website: www.festival-labaule.com
The festival does not handle requests by phone.
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Where does it take place — La Baule Festival
Palais des Congrès et des Festivals Jacques Chirac — Atlantia
119 avenue du Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac