Rencontres Cinéma de Gindou

A unique rural cinema festival

The Rencontres Cinéma de Gindou were born in 1985 on the initiative of Pierre Mage and a group of film-loving friends, in the small village of Gindou, a commune of about 300 inhabitants located in the Lot, between Cahors and Gourdon. What began as a friendly and passionate adventure has become over the decades one of the most unique film festivals in France, recognized as a national cultural reference point.

A demanding and generous program

Each year in August, for eight days, the festival offers around 70 to 80 films from around the world, organized into three main selections:

• Guest of Honor: a complete retrospective of the work of a major filmmaker or actor/actress, in their presence, with a dozen screenings and privileged exchanges with the public. Recent guests include: Mathieu Amalric (2024) and Yolande Moreau (2025).
• Cinematic Wanderings: a selection of about fifty recent films from around the world – shorts and features, fiction and documentaries – often unseen, rarely distributed, or in preview.
• Heritage Films: a program of classics in collaboration with the Cinémathèque de Toulouse and the CNC.

Two emblematic venues

The "Cinéma de Verdure" (Cinema of Greenery)

Evening screenings take place outdoors in the "Cinéma de Verdure", a natural amphitheater with 658 seats nestled in the vegetation. Screenings begin at 9:30 PM and are free, contributing to the festival's accessibility and conviviality.

L'Arsénic

Inaugurated in February 2018, this 240-seat cinema and performance hall hosts daytime screenings. Built by the local authority, it allows for screenings in optimal technical conditions, regardless of the weather.

Much more than a film festival

The Rencontres Cinéma de Gindou are distinguished by their warm atmosphere and multiple opportunities for interaction. Each day, the public can participate in debates and discussions with directors and guests after the screenings. The "tchatches" are in-depth conversations with the guest of honor about their entire artistic career.

The daily aperitif-concerts around 7 PM offer a friendly musical moment before the evening screenings. The festival traditionally concludes with the "great night", a marathon screening evening that continues until dawn.

The Gindou Cinéma Association

The festival is driven by the association Gindou Cinéma, founded in 1989, which employs seven permanent staff members. Beyond the festival, the association carries out film education activities ("École et Cinéma" and "Collège au Cinéma" programs), organizes screenwriting residencies (La Ruche), offers a film commission service for shoots in the Lot, and programs traveling cinema in the surrounding towns. Presided over by André Bargues, the association is a key player in cultural development in rural areas.