Univerciné Britannique

Univerciné W.I.S.E.: British Cinema in Nantes

Every December, the Katorza cinema in Nantes hosts the Univerciné Britannique festival, now known as Univerciné W.I.S.E. (Welsh, Irish, Scottish, English). This film festival celebrates cinematic productions from the four nations of the British Isles: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

A Unique University Partnership

The festival was born from the collaboration between the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Cultures at the University of Nantes and the Katorza cinema. This alliance between the academic world and an art-house cinema gives Univerciné a unique identity, blending cinematic excellence with cultural openness. The festival jury is composed of students from the University of Nantes, selected for their interest in cinema and trained in film criticism during the semester. They watch all the films in competition and award the Univerciné Jury Prize.

A Program Focused on Discovery

The selection favors films that are new to France, offering Nantes audiences the chance to discover works rarely distributed through conventional channels. Fiction, documentaries, and short films make up a rich and varied program, accompanied by meetings with filmmakers, masterclasses, and debates. Invited directors and actors interact directly with the audience, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere conducive to intercultural exchange.

From British to W.I.S.E.

Initially named Univerciné Britannique, the festival has broadened its identity to become Univerciné W.I.S.E., an acronym for Welsh, Irish, Scottish, English. This name change reflects the desire to highlight the diversity of cinematographies from the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom and Ireland, by valuing Welsh, Irish, and Scottish productions on par with English cinema.

The Univerciné Series: A Unique Case in France

The festival is part of the Univerciné series, which brings together four European film festivals throughout the academic year: the German festival (November), the W.I.S.E. festival (December), the Eastern European festival (February), and the Italian festival (March). This cinematic season is unique in the French cultural landscape, offering Nantes audiences an exceptional panorama of contemporary European cinema.

Educational Actions and Cultural Mediation

Univerciné places great importance on cultural mediation and film education. The Nantado program offers middle school students (grades 6-5) an introduction to cinema in its original version with subtitles, opening them up to sometimes lesser-known cinematographies. School screenings are also organized for high school students, with screenings followed by discussions led by specialized facilitators.