Terres d'Ailleurs Festival

Terres d'Ailleurs Festival: Cinema as a Window to the World

Since 2005, the Terres d'Ailleurs festival has offered a film program focused on discovering world cultures every autumn. Born in the territory of the Sud Retz Atlantique community of communes, this festival is driven by the Terres d'Ailleurs au Cinéma association, created in 2016, in close collaboration with the cinemas CinéMachecoul and CinéLegé. The festival is part of the territorial cultural project and benefits from the support of the community of communes.

A Committed and World-Open Program

Each edition presents a selection of documentary and fiction films from five continents, chosen for their ability to transport viewers to other realities and cultures. Screenings are regularly followed by debates and film encounters with directors, documentarians, or specialized speakers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the themes addressed in the films.

The festival takes place over two to three weeks, generally between mid-November and early December, with screenings offered in the two partner cinemas in the region. The program combines works dealing with international solidarity, cultural diversity, social and environmental issues, offering a sensitive and informed perspective on contemporary world challenges.

A Major Educational Component

One of the specificities of the Terres d'Ailleurs festival is its significant school program. Each edition offers a program dedicated to classes, from kindergarten to high school, with up to ten films specifically selected for young audiences. Nearly 4,000 students from schools, middle schools, and rural family houses in the territory participate in school screenings each year. The community of communes fully covers the transportation of students between educational institutions and cinemas, demonstrating the festival's territorial anchoring and educational commitment.

Two Cinemas, One Territory

The festival unfolds in two complementary screening locations:

• CinéMachecoul — 23, rue des Capucins, 44270 Machecoul-Saint-Même
• CinéLegé — Centre culturel Saint-Michel, place du Général Charrette, 44650 Legé

This dual presence allows the festival to reach a wide audience across the entire Sud Retz Atlantique territory, in rural areas where cultural offerings can sometimes be limited. The festival thus contributes to democratizing access to cinema and culture for all residents of the territory.

A Festival Rooted in International Solidarity

The Terres d'Ailleurs festival is part of the International Solidarity Weeks and collaborates with partners such as the Maison des Citoyens du Monde (MCM44). This solidarity dimension is at the heart of the festival's identity, as it seeks to raise awareness about the diversity of lifestyles and the need to respect differences. Through cinema, Terres d'Ailleurs invites each spectator to broaden their view of the world and to commit to a more solidary way of living together.