Les Icares du Cinéma
International Aerial Film Festival of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet
About Icares du Cinéma
Created in 1983 as part of the Coupe Icare, the Les Icares du Cinéma festival is the unmissable event for aerial film in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet in Isère. Every year in September, this international festival screens about thirty films and documentaries from around the world, dedicated to free flight, aerial sports, and the mountains. Paragliding, hang gliding, wingsuit, base jumping, hot air ballooning: Les Icares du Cinéma celebrate the dream of flying through images. Nearly 5,000 spectators attend the big screen screenings, between free daytime sessions and special evening events.
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Les Icares du Cinéma: The International Aerial Film Festival
Born in 1983, ten years after the creation of the Coupe Icare, the Les Icares du Cinéma festival has established itself as the world reference for films dedicated to free flight, aerial sports, and mountains. Organized every year in September on the Plateau des Petites Roches in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, in the heart of the Chartreuse massif facing the Belledonne range, this international festival attracts nearly 5,000 spectators and is a major event for image professionals and free flight enthusiasts.
A Festival Dedicated to Air, Wind, and Flight
Les Icares du Cinéma honors cinematographic productions—short films, medium-length films, and feature films—exploring the themes of air, wind, flight, and all aerial sports: paragliding, hang gliding, freefall, base jumping, wingsuit, paramotoring, hot air ballooning, ultralight aviation, gliding, kite flying, boomerang, and aerobatics. The festival also hosts films dedicated to the mountains, high-altitude adventure, and the exploration of the planet's most spectacular airspace.
Each year, the selection committee receives about 100 productions from around the world. After rigorous pre-selection, about thirty films are chosen for the official competition and screened on the big screen throughout the festival week.
Three Juries for a Demanding Competition
The official competition is judged by three distinct juries, ensuring a diversity of perspectives on the works presented:
- The Professional Jury: Composed of producers, directors, and professionals from the image and sports industries, it awards the Icare d'Or, the festival's highest honor, as well as the prizes for solidarity and free flight.
- The Press Jury: Made up of specialized journalists, it awards the Icare de la Presse to the film it deems most remarkable.
- The Kids' Jury: Composed of 4th and 5th graders from local schools, it votes for its favorite film and awards the Icare des Mômes, a prize reflecting the spontaneous and enthusiastic view of the youngest attendees.
The audience is not left out, as they elect their favorite film each year with the Icare du Public, a highly coveted award by directors.
Screenings in an Exceptional Alpine Setting
The screenings take place in the projection hall of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, perched at 1,000 meters altitude on the Plateau des Petites Roches. The setting is striking: spectators discover images of flight and mountains while, through the windows, the magnificent panorama of the Grésivaudan valley and the Belledonne peaks unfolds. Daytime screenings are free, while evening sessions, true special cinematic events, are accessible with tickets.
A Bridge Between Cinema, Sport, and Adventure
Les Icares du Cinéma is more than just film screenings. The festival is a place for meetings between directors, pilots, adventurers, and enthusiasts. Directors come to present their works and interact with the audience after the screenings. Carte blanches are regularly offered to international partner festivals, such as the Cervino CineMountain Film Festival, thus expanding the program to include rare and previously unseen productions.
The awards ceremony, a highlight of the festival, brings together all participants to celebrate the best productions of the year in a warm and friendly atmosphere, true to the spirit of sharing and freedom that characterizes the Coupe Icare.
Icares du Cinéma — edition 2026
The 44th edition of Les Icares du Cinéma will be held from September 15 to 20, 2026, in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, as part of the 53rd Coupe Icare. The international aerial film festival will screen about thirty films and documentaries on free flight, mountains, and aerial sports, with productions from around the world. Free daytime screenings and special evening cinematic events.
44th Edition — September 15 to 20, 2026
Les Icares du Cinéma returns for its 44th edition from September 15 to 20, 2026, in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, within the exceptional setting of the 53rd Coupe Icare. The international aerial film festival will offer a week of big-screen screenings, bringing together the best cinematic productions dedicated to free flight, aerial sports, and mountains.
Call for Films
Directors from around the world are invited to submit their productions by June 15, 2026. The regulations and submission guidelines are available on the official website www.coupe-icare.org/cinema. Films must address the themes of air, wind, flight, or aerial sports: paragliding, hang gliding, freefall, base jumping, wingsuit, paramotoring, hot air ballooning, ultralight aviation, gliding, and aerobatics. Productions focused on mountains and high-altitude adventure are also accepted.
Provisional Program
As every year, the festival will offer a rich six-day program:
- Free Daytime Screenings: starting at 6:30 PM, discover films in official competition
- Ticketed Evening Screenings: at 9:00 PM, special programming and event screenings
- Awards Ceremony: on Friday evening, with a screening of the award-winning films
- Screening of Award-Winning Films: on Saturday, a special session to discover the honored works
Competition and Juries
About thirty films will be selected from the hundred-plus productions received from around the world. Three distinct juries—the Professional Jury, the Press Jury, and the Kids' Jury—will award the festival's prestigious prizes: Icare d'Or, Icare de la Presse, Icare des Mômes, and Icare du Public.
Information to Come
The full program, jury composition, and list of competing films will be announced in the summer of 2026 on the festival's official website. Ticket sales for evening screenings will open in late summer 2026.
Programme Icares du Cinéma 2026
Provisional 2026 Program
- Tuesday, September 15: Opening Screening — Free Screenings (6:30 PM) + Evening Cinema (9:00 PM)
- Wednesday, September 16: International Selection — Screenings (6:30 PM and 9:00 PM)
- Thursday, September 17: International Selection — Screenings (6:30 PM and 9:00 PM)
- Friday, September 18: Awards Ceremony (7:00 PM) + screening of award-winning films
- Saturday, September 19: Special screening of award-winning films
Provisional program subject to change. Consult the official website for definitive information.
Highlights Icares du Cinéma 2026
To Note for 2026
- Dates: Tuesday, September 15 to Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 44th edition of the international aerial film festival
- About thirty films in official competition from around the world
- Three juries: Professional, Press, and Kids
- Free daytime screenings, ticketed evening events
- Film submission deadline: June 15, 2026
- Full program announced in summer 2026
Prices Icares du Cinéma 2026
Practical information — Icares du Cinéma
Practical Information — Les Icares du Cinéma
Dates and Times
The festival takes place annually during the week of the Coupe Icare, generally the third week of September. Screenings are held from Tuesday to Saturday, with two daily slots:
- Afternoon Screenings (6:30 PM): free access
- Evening Screenings (9:00 PM): ticketed, with special programming
The Awards Ceremony takes place on Friday evening, followed by a screening of the award-winning films on Saturday.
Ticket Prices for Cinema Screenings
- Daytime Screenings: free
- Single Evening Screening (Tuesday to Thursday): €10
- Full Evening with 2 Screenings (Tuesday to Thursday): €15
- Awards Ceremony + Award-Winning Films (Friday): €15
- Screening of Award-Winning Films (Saturday): €15
- All-Inclusive Coupe Icare Pass (3 days + all cinema evenings): €60
Screening Venue
Screenings are held in the projection hall of Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, on the Plateau des Petites Roches, at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The venue is accessible from the various areas of the Coupe Icare.
Access to Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet
By Car: From Grenoble (40 km), take the A41 motorway towards Chambéry, exit at Le Touvet, then follow signs for Saint-Hilaire via the RD29. From Chambéry (50 km), take the A41 towards Grenoble, same exit. Warning: during the Coupe Icare, a one-way system is in place (uphill via RD29, downhill via RD30). Arrival recommended before 9:30 AM on weekends.
By Train: Brignoud TER station (15 km away). 40% discount for 2 or more travelers. Free for children under 12. Shuttles from the station to the site.
IcaExpress Shuttles: Grenoble — Lumbin shuttles on weekends (€2 round trip, free for children under 12).
IcarenBus Shuttles: Free shuttles from park-and-ride lots in the valley (Crolles, Lumbin, La Terrasse) to Saint-Hilaire. Departures every 15 minutes.
Saint-Hilaire Funicular: One of the steepest in Europe, it connects Lumbin to the plateau. Adult fare: €17.20 round trip; child: €9.70 round trip.
Parking
Free park-and-ride lots in the valley towns (Crolles, Lumbin, La Terrasse) with shuttles to Saint-Hilaire. Paid parking available directly on the Plateau des Petites Roches. Campervan sites in Montfort (Crolles) and near the Saint-Hilaire ski resort.
Accommodation
Hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, and campsites are available on the plateau and in the Grésivaudan valley. Booking several months in advance is highly recommended, as accommodations are fully booked during the Coupe Icare. Information available from the Chartreuse Tourist Office: www.chartreuse-tourisme.com
Practical Tips
- Prioritize public transport and shuttles to access the plateau.
- Bring warm clothing for evening screenings (1,000 m altitude, cool evenings).
- Consult the detailed screening schedule on the official website www.coupe-icare.org/cinema.
- The program may be modified due to weather conditions.
- A cashless payment system using wristbands is used on the Coupe Icare site.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Icares du Cinéma at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Icares du Cinéma
Salle de projection - Plateau des Petites Roches
102 Route des Trois Villages, 38660 Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet