Rencontres des Cinémas d'Europe

European Cinema in the Spotlight in Ardèche

The Rencontres des Cinémas d'Europe is a European cinema festival held annually in November in Aubenas, Ardèche. Created in 1999 by the Maison de l'Image, this cinephile festival offers nine days of immersion into the diversity of European cinema, from major film industries to more confidential filmographies.

More than 80 films from 20 countries

Each edition of the Rencontres screens over 80 films from around twenty European countries. The selection includes previews, documentaries, masterclasses, a cine-concert, virtual reality experiences, and a selection dedicated to 15-25 year olds. In 2025, the program featured 84 films, including 39 directed by women, 20 previews, and 12 documentaries.

Meetings with Filmmakers

One of the festival's major attractions is the meetings with directors who accompany their films. These passionate and engaging exchanges allow the audience to interact directly with the creators, understand their artistic approach, and discover the behind-the-scenes of European film production. The festival's warm and friendly atmosphere fosters these moments of sharing.

11 Screening Venues

Screenings take place in 11 venues: the cinema Le Navire in Aubenas, the cultural center Le Bournot, as well as cinemas in Thueyts, Lussas, and Vals-les-Bains. This geographical spread allows the festival to extend beyond Aubenas and bring European cinema to the Ardèche region.

La Maison de l'Image, a Pillar of Cinema in Ardèche

The Maison de l'Image d'Aubenas, founded in 1986, is an association dedicated to promoting the art of cinema through the organization of festivals, meetings, workshops, exhibitions, and training. The Rencontres des Cinémas d'Europe is its flagship event, but the association works year-round to promote and mediate cinema in Ardèche. It is a key player in the cultural life of southern Ardèche.

A Non-Competitive Event

The Rencontres des Cinémas d'Europe is distinguished by its non-competitive nature. No jury, no awards: the festival's sole ambition is to introduce the public to recent, little-known, and under-publicized films, made and produced in various European countries. This philosophy places the spectator at the center of the event, free to build their own cinematic journey over the nine days of the festival.