Lumières d'Afrique

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.