Peplum Film Festival

Ancient cinema in a Roman setting

The Peplum Film Festival offers a unique cinematic experience in France: the screening of Ancient films in the magnificent setting of the Arles Antique Theatre, a Roman monument from the 1st century inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Since the late 1980s, this festival has brought together peplum genre enthusiasts every August for six evenings of open-air screenings, in a place that echoes the stories projected on screen.

Peplum: a cinematic genre to rediscover

The peplum is a cinematic genre that stages Antiquity — Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or biblical — through epic frescoes, gladiator fights, palace intrigues, and mythological tales. From classics by Cecil B. DeMille and Joseph L. Mankiewicz to contemporary productions like Gladiator or Troy, the festival explores all facets of this fascinating genre.

Reenactments and animations

Each screening evening is preceded by animations that immerse spectators in the atmosphere of Antiquity. Historical reenactments with costumed troupes, musical performances, and demonstrations of ancient martial arts prepare the audience before the film screening. In the late afternoon, conferences led by specialists in Antiquity and cinema offer fascinating insights into the evening's themes.

A partnership with the Arelate Festival

The Peplum Film Festival takes place alongside the Arelate Festival - Roman Days, creating a unique synergy between historical reenactment and cinema. Both festivals share the ambition to bring Antiquity back to life in the monuments of Arles, each in its own way, offering visitors a full week of immersion in the ancient world.