La Rochelle International Film Festival
The meeting point for auteur cinema and cinematic discoveries
La Rochelle — Charente-Maritime (17)
•
Since 1973
Cinema
Edition
2026
2026
Film Festival
About Film Festival
For over 50 years, the La Rochelle International Film Festival (FEMA) has been a must-attend event for cinephiles. This festival highlights auteur cinema, retrospectives, and discoveries from around the world.
Dates
26 Jun
— 04 Jul 2026
Location
La Rochelle (17)
Prices
4.00€ — 105.00€
Status
Confirmed
Edition 2026
Tickets →
Film Festival — edition 2026
The 54th edition of the La Rochelle Cinéma Festival (Fema) takes place from June 26 to July 4, 2026, across the La Coursive, CGR Dragon, and La Sirène venues, featuring nearly 200 films ranging from silent classics to contemporary works. The program includes the complete Jacques Tati collection in restored versions, retrospectives for Diane Keaton, Youssef Chahine (centenary), and Leida Laius, as well as tributes to Nanni Moretti, Dag Johan Haugerud, Léa Mysius, and Cristian Mungiu—who will present the preview of his 2026 Palme d’Or winner, Fjord. The festival also features a Javier Bardem day and five cine-concerts.
2026 Edition — 54th Fema
For its 54th edition, running from June 26 to July 4, 2026, the La Rochelle Cinéma Festival presents nearly 200 films, spanning from silent cinema to the latest releases, staying true to its mission of championing auteur cinema, rare films, and international discoveries. The 2026 poster, designed by painter Stanislas Bouvier, is inspired by Jacques Tati.
Retrospectives
- The Complete Jacques Tati — 6 films in restored versions (Jour de fête, Les Vacances de monsieur Hulot, Mon oncle, Playtime, Trafic, Parade) accompanied by 2 documentaries and guided "Tati tours"
- Diane Keaton — A posthumous tribute featuring 8 films, from The Godfather to Manhattan Murder Mystery, including Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Reds
- Youssef Chahine — A selection of ten films to mark the Egyptian filmmaker's centenary
- Leida Laius — The first retrospective dedicated to the Estonian director (1923-1996), featuring 8 films
Tributes
- Dag Johan Haugerud (Norway) — 7 films including the Oslo trilogy, with the filmmaker in attendance on July 2
- Nanni Moretti (Italy) — A complete retrospective of 19 feature and short films
- Cristian Mungiu (Romania) — 9 films and the preview screening of Fjord, winner of the 2026 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, with the director present
- Léa Mysius — 3 films including the preview of Histoires de la nuit
- Regina Pessoa & Abi Feijó (Portugal) — Animated short film programs, with both filmmakers in attendance
Cine-concerts and Musical Screenings
- Trafic by Jacques Tati with the Temps Calme trio (June 27)
- Finis terrae by Jean Epstein and La Pirogue with Clémence Ducreux, Electra Drossos, and Agathe Lavarel (June 28)
- The Last Laugh by F. W. Murnau with live piano by Jacques Cambra (June 29)
- Faust by Murnau with Jacques Cambra and Raoul Sail-Lefebvre (June 30)
- The Hands of Orlac by Robert Wiene with the Jacques Cambra quartet (July 2)
- Leningrad Cowboys Go America by Aki Kaurismäki followed by a concert by Bob Log III at La Sirène (July 3)
Other Highlights
- A Javier Bardem Day on July 3, featuring films from Jamón Jamón to No Country for Old Men
- "Here and Elsewhere" section: 19 previews and unreleased films, including the opening film Mariage au goût d’orange by Christophe Honoré
- "From Yesterday to Today" section: 21 restored films and re-releases, with tributes to André Delvaux, Michel Piccoli, and Blake Edwards
- "At the Heart of the Doc": 17 documentaries
- Celebrating 40 years of the Rivages/Noir collection on June 29 with Rififi
- Centenary of Pere Portabella and a selection from the Brussels Short Film Festival
- 80th anniversary of the CNC: 8 films supported internationally
- Fema for Kids: 4 short film programs and 5 previews for ages 3 and up
- Fema Encounters: Free admission round tables and lectures (editing with Yann Dedet, music with Olivier Marguerit and Dominik Moll, film restoration, film criticism, etc.)
Highlights Film Festival 2026
- Opening night on June 26: Preview of Mariage au goût d’orange by Christophe Honoré, with the film crew in attendance
- Fjord by Cristian Mungiu, 2026 Palme d’Or winner, preview on June 30 with the director in attendance
- Complete Jacques Tati collection in restored versions, including the Trafic cine-concert with the Temps Calme trio on June 27
- Youssef Chahine centenary: ten films and a round table with Marianne Khoury and Yousry Nasrallah on June 28
- Diane Keaton retrospective in posthumous tribute: The Godfather, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Reds
- A Javier Bardem day on July 3, featuring films from Jamón Jamón to No Country for Old Men
- Six cine-concerts, including Murnau’s Faust and The Last Laugh at the Théâtre Verdière, and Bob Log III at La Sirène
- Complete Nanni Moretti retrospective (19 films) and tribute to Dag Johan Haugerud, who will be present on July 2
- Closing night on July 4 with Blake Edwards’ The Party, preceded by a mini-concert from the La Rochelle Harmonie Orchestra
Programme Film Festival 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026 — Opening Night
- 7:30 PM — Mariage au goût d’orange by Christophe Honoré, preview screening, with the director, Saadia Bentaïeb, and Paul Kircher in attendance · Grande Salle, La Coursive
- 8:00 PM — The Mass Is Ended by Nanni Moretti · Salle bleue, La Coursive
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 10:15 AM — Discussion on film editing with Yann Dedet, moderated by Matteo La Capria · Salle bleue (free admission)
- 10:15 AM — Destiny by Youssef Chahine, with Christophe Honoré in attendance · Théâtre Verdière
- 1:45 PM — L’Inconnue preview, with Arthur Harari in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 2:00 PM — Les Vacances de monsieur Hulot, with Jérôme Deschamps (Les Films de Mon Oncle) in attendance · Salle bleue
- 5:00 PM — Quand la mer monte, with Yolande Moreau and Gilles Porte, followed by a book signing · Grande Salle
- 5:30 PM — Cine-concert Trafic by Jacques Tati with the Temps Calme trio, with Jérôme Deschamps in attendance · Théâtre Verdière
- 8:00 PM — Léa Mysius tribute night: Histoires de la nuit preview, with the director in attendance · Grande Salle
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Occident, with Cristian Mungiu in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 11:00 AM — Round table on Youssef Chahine with Marianne Khoury, Yousry Nasrallah, Christophe Honoré, and Namir Abdel Messeeh, moderated by Jean-Michel Frodon · Théâtre Verdière (free admission)
- 2:00 PM — Mon oncle followed by a Tati tour with Jérôme Deschamps · Grande Salle
- 2:00 PM — Trois adieux preview, with Isabel Coixet in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 5:00 PM — Roma Elastica preview, with Bertrand Mandico in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 8:00 PM — Youssef Chahine centenary night: Cairo Station, with Marianne Khoury and Christian Louboutin in attendance · Grande Salle
- 8:00 PM — Cine-concert Finis terrae by Jean Epstein and La Pirogue with Clémence Ducreux (piano, synthesizers), Electra Drossos (violin), and Agathe Lavarel (flute, vocals) · Théâtre Verdière
- 10:15 PM — Manhattan · Grande Salle
Monday, June 29, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Tales from the Golden Age – Part 1, with Cristian Mungiu in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 2:00 PM — Annie Hall, with Murielle Joudet in attendance · Théâtre Verdière
- 2:00 PM — Round table "Being a young critic today: challenges and perspectives" · Tour de la Chaîne (free admission)
- 2:30 PM — Carmen, l’oiseau rebelle preview, with Sébastien Laudenbach in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 4:00 PM — Lecture on actress Diane Keaton by Murielle Joudet · Théâtre Verdière (free admission)
- 5:15 PM — The Shorts of Regina Pessoa, with the director in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 6:00 PM — Cine-concert The Last Laugh by F. W. Murnau, with live piano by Jacques Cambra · Théâtre Verdière
- 7:45 PM — 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, with Cristian Mungiu in attendance · Salle bleue
- 8:00 PM — 40th anniversary of Rivages/Noir: Rififi by Jules Dassin · Grande Salle
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
- 9:45 AM — Série noire by Alain Corneau, with Christian Roux in attendance · Théâtre Verdière
- 10:00 AM — The Shorts of Abi Feijó, with the director in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 2:00 PM — Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder, with Dominique Sylvain in attendance · Grande Salle
- 2:00 PM — "Before Tati" session, curated and accompanied on piano by Serge Bromberg · Théâtre Verdière (free admission)
- 2:15 PM — Une vie manifeste preview, with Jean-Gabriel Périot in attendance · Salle bleue
- 5:30 PM — Cine-concert Faust by F. W. Murnau with Jacques Cambra (piano) and Raoul Sail-Lefebvre (saxophone) · Théâtre Verdière
- 8:00 PM — Cristian Mungiu tribute night: Fjord, 2026 Palme d’Or winner, preview screening with the director in attendance · Grande Salle
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Discussion on music with composer Olivier Marguerit, with Dominik Moll in attendance · Théâtre Verdière (free admission)
- 10:00 AM — ADRC-AFFN round table "Repertory cinema in search of new audiences" · CGR Dragon (free admission)
- 10:15 AM — Playtime followed by a Tati tour with Murielle Joudet · Grande Salle
- 1:45 PM — Intimacy, with Dominik Moll in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 2:30 PM — Mon oncle, Ciné Relax session · Théâtre Verdière
- 4:30 PM — Lecture "Youssef Chahine, a musical biography" by musicologist Amal Guermazi · Salle bleue (free admission)
- 5:00 PM — Jacques Tati, tombé de la lune, with Jean-Baptiste Péretié in attendance · Médiathèque Michel-Crépeau (free admission)
- 8:00 PM — Evening with Les Films du Losange: Minotaure preview, with Andrey Zvyagintsev in attendance · Grande Salle
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Parade followed by a Tati tour with Stéphane Goudet · CGR Dragon
- 11:00 AM — Jacques Henri Lartigue – La vie en relief preview, with Denis Gaubert in attendance · Salle bleue
- 2:00 PM — Dreams – The Oslo Trilogy, with Dag Johan Haugerud in attendance · Salle bleue
- 4:00 PM — Meeting with Dag Johan Haugerud, moderated by Jérémie Couston · Salle bleue (free admission)
- 5:30 PM — Cine-concert The Hands of Orlac by Robert Wiene with Jacques Cambra (piano), Raoul Sail-Lefebvre (saxophone), Maxime Bentkowski (percussion), and Sidoine Carrez (flute) · Théâtre Verdière
- 7:45 PM — Beware of Children, with Dag Johan Haugerud in attendance · CGR Dragon
- 8:00 PM — Evening with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region: Notre salut preview, with Emmanuel Marre in attendance · Grande Salle
Friday, July 3, 2026 — A Javier Bardem Day
- 10:00 AM — Jamón Jamón by Bigas Luna · Grande Salle
- 11:30 AM — Lecture "Tati from yesterday to today" by Charles Bosson · CGR Dragon (free admission)
- 2:00 PM — The Sea Inside by Alejandro Amenábar · Grande Salle
- 2:00 PM — Jour de fête by Jacques Tati, preceded by a cine-concert by students from the La Rochelle Conservatory · Théâtre Verdière
- 8:00 PM — Mondays in the Sun, with director Fernando León de Aranoa in attendance · Grande Salle
- 8:00 PM — Cine-concert Leningrad Cowboys Go America by Aki Kaurismäki, followed by a concert by Bob Log III · La Sirène
- 10:45 PM — No Country for Old Men by Joel and Ethan Coen · Grande Salle
Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Closing
- 10:15 AM — Playtime followed by a Tati tour with Stéphane Goudet · Théâtre Verdière
- 2:00 PM — Les Vacances de monsieur Hulot, followed by a meeting with Stéphane Goudet · CGR Dragon
- 2:15 PM — Meeting on film restoration with André Labbouz (CST) and Tessa Pontaud (Pathé) · CGR Dragon (free admission)
- 4:00 PM — Meeting with the Fema team and association · CGR Dragon (free admission)
- 8:30 PM — Closing night with the Charente-Maritime Department: The Party by Blake Edwards, preceded by a mini-concert by the La Rochelle Harmonie Orchestra · Grande Salle
Prices Film Festival 2026
Unlimited Pass: 105 € (reduced rate 70 €, Pass Culture offer 50 €)
20-entry Pass: 84 €
10-entry Pass: 57 € (reduced 37 €)
5-entry Pass: 33 € (reduced 22 €)
3-entry Pass: 23 € (reduced 16 €)
1-session Ticket: 9 € (reduced 6.50 €, child rate 4 €)
Reduced rate granted to those under 25, students under 30, job seekers, and beneficiaries of social welfare minimums.
Pass sales open since May 13, 2026, session reservations from June 17, 2026, on billetterie.festival-larochelle.org.
20-entry Pass: 84 €
10-entry Pass: 57 € (reduced 37 €)
5-entry Pass: 33 € (reduced 22 €)
3-entry Pass: 23 € (reduced 16 €)
1-session Ticket: 9 € (reduced 6.50 €, child rate 4 €)
Reduced rate granted to those under 25, students under 30, job seekers, and beneficiaries of social welfare minimums.
Pass sales open since May 13, 2026, session reservations from June 17, 2026, on billetterie.festival-larochelle.org.
Edition 2027
Film Festival — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 26 June to 4 July 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information
Practical information — Film Festival
Practical Information
Festival Venues
- La Coursive, 4 rue Saint-Jean-du-Pérot — three screening rooms: Grande Salle (1,000 seats), Salle bleue (280 seats), and Théâtre Verdière (330 seats). You will also find the box office, accreditation desk, bookstore, and festival shop here.
- CGR Dragon, 8 cours des Dames — six screens with a total capacity of over 1,000 seats.
- Auditorium of the Michel-Crépeau Media Library — 80 seats, free admission screenings.
- La Sirène — 800 seats, venue for cine-concerts and special events.
- Tour de la Chaîne and Chapelle des Dames blanches — exhibitions and meet-and-greets throughout the festival.
An information desk is located at Place Barentin, and the "Préau du festival" serves as a friendly meeting spot for food and drinks. Most venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Getting There
- La Rochelle train station is about ten minutes from the city center
- Venues are located in the city center and are within walking distance of each other
- Parking lots nearby
- Yélo public transport network (buses and shuttles)
Ticketing
Book online at billetterie.festival-larochelle.org. For the 2026 edition: festival passes have been on sale since May 13th, 2026; individual session bookings open on June 17th, 2026; badge collection starts on June 24th.
Contact
- La Rochelle Office: 10 quai Georges Simenon, 17000 La Rochelle — 05 46 52 28 96
- Paris Office: 16 rue Saint-Sabin, 75011 Paris — 01 48 06 16 66
- Box Office: [email protected]
- Accreditation: [email protected]
A historic festival
Created in 1973, the La Rochelle International Film Festival, also known as FEMA (Festival and Market for Auteur Cinema), is one of the oldest film festivals in France. Every year at the end of June, it offers a demanding program dedicated to auteur cinema and rare films.
A unique program
The festival is distinguished by its in-depth retrospectives dedicated to major filmmakers, its discoveries of new talents, and its selection of rare or restored films. It attracts the most passionate cinephiles from all over the world.
A meeting place
Beyond screenings, the festival organizes meetings with directors, debates, and conferences. It is also an important professional market for auteur cinema.
Where does it take place — Film Festival
Cinémas de La Rochelle
10 quai Georges Simenon, 17000 La Rochelle, 17000 La Rochelle
Film Festival in brief
Cinema
Charente-Maritime
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