Lumières d'Afrique
Festival of African Cinemas in Besançon
2026
About Lumières d'Afrique
Born in 1996 from the will of 18 associations and structures linked to the African continent established in Besançon, the Lumières d'Afrique festival is one of the main events dedicated to African cinemas in France. Organized every autumn, in November, by APACA (Association for the Promotion of African Arts and Cultures), it makes Besançon — the birthplace of the Lumière brothers — a showcase for African cinema. The program brings together fiction films, documentaries, short films, and animated films, around three official competitions, special screenings, meetings with directors, and "Afrimômes," a section dedicated to young audiences. Over the editions, the festival has presented several dozen films from about twenty countries, celebrating the diversity and cinematic richness of the continent.
Our team has not been able to confirm with an official source that this 2026 edition is taking place. The dates and program shown below may be outdated. We strongly recommend that you contact the organizer directly to verify before any travel or registration.
Lumières d'Afrique — edition 2026
The 26th edition of the Lumières d'Afrique festival is currently in preparation in Besançon, organized by the APACA association. The 2026 call for entries is open on the official website, though as of mid-August 2026, the dates and locations for screenings remain unconfirmed. The 25th edition in November 2025 was severely impacted by the absence of a partner cinema.
A 26th edition in the works, but an uncertain future
The APACA association has launched the call for films for the 2026 edition of the Lumières d'Afrique festival, as announced on the official website under the banner "2026 Edition, here we go!". As of mid-August 2026, neither the dates nor the screening venue have been announced.
The 25th edition in November 2025 faced significant challenges. The Mégarama Beaux-Arts, which had hosted the event in previous years, did not follow through on the partnership agreement expected since July 2025, and no other cinema in downtown Besançon agreed to host the festival. Consequently, 78 out of the 80 scheduled screenings had to be cancelled, with only two taking place at the Habitat Jeunes Les Oiseaux. The selected films were simply "labeled" as Lumières d'Afrique 2025, similar to the 2020 edition during the pandemic. At the time, organizers expressed concerns about the future of the festival, which is the oldest active African film festival in France.
Programme Lumières d'Afrique 2026
The program for the 2026 edition has not yet been released. By mid-August 2026, the APACA association had opened the call for film submissions for this 26th edition, but no dates or screening venues had been announced. The 25th edition, held in November 2025, was effectively cancelled due to the lack of a partner cinema in Besançon.
Prices Lumières d'Afrique 2026
Practical information — Lumières d'Afrique
Practical Information
Access
By car: Besançon is accessible via the A36 motorway. City center parking near the Kursaal.
By train: Besançon Viotte station, then a 15-minute walk to the Kursaal.
Prices
- Screenings: full price and reduced price (students, job seekers)
- Festival Pass: available for access to all screenings
- Afrimômes: special prices for young audiences
Screening Venues
- Kursaal (Place Granvelle)
- Other venues in Besançon
Contact
APACA - Association for the Promotion of African Arts and Cultures
Website: lumieresdafrique.com
Lumières d'Afrique: Besançon, a showcase for African cinema
Since its creation in 1996, the Lumières d'Afrique festival has made Besançon a privileged meeting place between African cinema and the French public. The choice of Besançon is no coincidence: the city is the birthplace of the Lumière brothers, inventors of the cinematograph, and of Victor Hugo, creating a strong symbolic link between cinematic heritage and cultural openness.
A festival born from civil society
The festival was born in 1996 from the initiative of 18 national associations and structures linked to the African continent established in Besançon. Supported by APACA (Association for the Promotion of African Arts and Cultures) and run by volunteers, it has established itself as an annual autumn event in Besançon.
Three competitions and five sections
The festival offers a program structured around three competitions divided into five sections:
- Feature fiction films: the heart of the official competition
- Short fiction films: a discovery space for short formats
- Documentaries: documented perspectives on African realities
- Les Écrans blancs (The White Screens): a space for activist associations in Besançon linked to the African continent
- Afrimômes: cinema, entertainment, and meetings for young audiences
A window on African diversity
Each edition presents films from numerous African countries, offering a panorama of the continent's cinematic production. Screenings are accompanied by meetings with directors, round tables, concerts, and exhibitions, creating a true space for intercultural dialogue.
An event rooted in the city
Screenings take place in several venues in Besançon, notably the Kursaal and various other halls in the city. The festival is part of an approach of cultural openness and promotion of North-South dialogue, contributing to making the richness and diversity of African cinematographies known to the French public.
Where does it take place — Lumières d'Afrique
Lumières d'Afrique in brief
Other festivals near Besançon
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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