OFNI Festival

The OFNI Festival: The adventure of expanded cinema in Poitiers

Since 2003, the OFNI Festival (Objets Filmiques Non Identifiés) has established itself as a unique event in France, dedicated to unclassifiable forms of cinema and audiovisual creation. Supported by the association Nyktalop Mélodie, active since 2001 in alternative programming, this nomadic festival takes over a dozen cultural venues in Poitiers every November: the cinema Le Dietrich, TAP Cinéma, Lieu Multiple at Espace Mendès France, Maison des Étudiantes, Scène Maria Casarès, and Le Palais.

A program at the crossroads of disciplines

The OFNI Festival rejects boundaries between genres and disciplines. Its program mixes independent cinema, experimental documentaries, artist films, film-concerts, visual DJ sets, sound and visual performances, immersive installations, and practical workshops. Whether it's a choreographer's film, a scientist's essay, or an artist's work, each proposal is selected for its formal audacity and uniqueness. The festival hosts international artists and offers numerous encounters with directors and creators.

A nomadic festival rooted in its territory

One of the OFNI Festival's unique features is its itinerant nature within Poitiers itself. By spreading its screenings and performances across various partner venues—cinemas, contemporary art spaces, universities, media libraries—it weaves a dense cultural network and fosters dialogue with audiences. Supported by the City of Poitiers, the Department of Vienne, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, and the Ministry of Culture (DRAC), the festival benefits from solid institutional recognition while maintaining a resolutely independent and pioneering spirit.

Twenty years of visual and sound creation

Since its first edition in 2003, the OFNI Festival has presented over twenty editions, hosting hundreds of artists and filmmakers from around the world. The festival is a member of the ASTRE (visual arts) and HACNUM (hybrid arts and digital cultures) networks, demonstrating its integration into national networks of contemporary creation. With very accessible prices and numerous free events, OFNI remains true to its mission of sharing and transmission, making each edition an invitation to broaden our perspective on image and sound.