Pilat Cinema Solidarity Festival

The Pilat Cinema Solidarity Festival: When Cinema Brings Solidarity to Life

Since 2012, the Pilat Cinema Solidarity Festival was born from the desire of the Pilat Regional Natural Park to highlight those who, in the Pilat region and beyond, act differently through the Social and Solidarity Economy. A collective of local actors — cinemas, media libraries, associations — was formed to organize this unifying event each autumn, combining cinema, citizen debate, and human encounters.

A Travelling Festival Rooted in the Region

The festival unfolds throughout the Pilat Regional Natural Park and its surroundings, taking over cinemas and cultural venues in the region for nearly a month. Screenings take place in six partner venues: CinéPilat in Pélussin, CinéMolette in Saint-Julien-Molin-Molette, Cinéma le Foyer in Bourg-Argental, Cinéma le Chaplin in Rive-de-Gier, Cinéma VEO Grand Lumière in Saint-Chamond, and the cultural association La Belle Étoile des Haies. Three media libraries complement the initiative with selections of works related to the year's theme.

Cinema-Meetings at the Heart of the Project

The festival's principle is simple and effective: each screening is followed by a debate with witnesses, associative actors, activists, solidarity professionals, or filmmakers. These exchanges allow for further reflection sparked by the films and the discovery of concrete initiatives carried out in the Pilat region and elsewhere. The themes addressed throughout the editions reflect the diversity of solidarity issues: solidarity finance, short agricultural supply chains, workplace cooperation, welcoming migrants, access to healthy and environmentally friendly food, disability, ecological transition, and basic income.

An Open and Participatory Collective

The Pilat Cinema Solidarity collective brings together volunteers from partner cinemas, media libraries, the Pilat Solidarity Collective, and the association La Belle Étoile des Haies. This collective chooses the films and guests each year, operating in a participatory manner and open to anyone wishing to get involved. Coordination is managed by the Pilat Regional Natural Park, particularly by the manager for Local Economy and Cultural Action.

Moments of Conviviality

Beyond screenings and debates, the festival offers moments of conviviality that make it a true meeting point: a festive opening evening with a folk dance, traditional dance workshops, shared meals, solidarity snacks, and hot soups and drinks offered or at a pay-what-you-want price after the sessions. These informal times foster exchanges between spectators, speakers, and associative actors.