Festival du Cinéma de Brive
3 Boulevard Général Koenig, 19100 Brive-la-Gaillarde
Festival at a Glance
Submission Platform
Event Dates
April 20 to 25, 2026
Contact Email
Submission Fee
€5
Festival Type
International Medium-Length Film Festival
Suitable For
Emerging and international filmmakers specializing in medium-length films (30–60 minutes), including fiction, creative documentaries, animation, and experimental works; ideal for professionals and public seeking a focused meeting place for this underrepresented format, with emphasis on European and global medium-length cinema exposure, networking, and audience discovery
Estimated Participants
Filmmakers, producers, distributors, industry professionals, and general public/film enthusiasts attending screenings and events
Location
Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
Festival Location
Acceptance Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Very Competitive
Festival Guide
OverView
Film Submission Details
Participators
Technical Specs
Requirements
Genres
Travel Perks
Past Winners
Success Story
Festival Overview
The Festival du Cinéma de Brive (Rencontres internationales du moyen métrage de Brive) is the world’s first and leading international medium-length film festival, held annually in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France (23rd edition: April 20–25, 2026). It attracts over 150 professionals and a dedicated public audience, screening around 50–60 films selected from hundreds of submissions across global countries. Founded in 2004 by Katell Quillévéré and Sébastien Bailly through the Société des réalisatrices et réalisateurs de films (SRF), it became European in 2010 and international in 2018, featuring a competitive section for fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental works (30–60 minutes), alongside industry meetings, talent revelations, and educational programs. Recognized by the CNC as a primary importance event, it serves as the global hub for promoting the underrepresented medium-length format, supporting emerging filmmakers, and facilitating networking and distribution in the film ecosystem.
Who Is Festival du Cinéma de Brive short film festival Best For?
The Festival du Cinéma de Brive is best for emerging and international medium-length filmmakers (30-60 minutes), including young directors, film school graduates, and experimental creators seeking focused exposure, networking opportunities, and career advancement through competitions, roundtables, and interactions with over 150 professionals and 6,000+ public attendees.
✅ Good Fit If
- Your film is a medium-length work (30–60 minutes) in any genre: fiction, creative documentary, animation, experimental or hybrid
- You are an emerging, young, or international filmmaker specializing in or exploring the medium-length format
- You aim for an international or European premiere (though not strictly required)
- Your work is innovative, personal, artistic, or narrative-driven in a format often overlooked by other festivals
- You seek focused industry exposure, networking with professionals, distribution opportunities, and visibility in a dedicated medium-length ecosystem
❌ Not a Good Fit If
- Your film is a short (under 30 minutes) or a feature-length project (over 60 minutes)
- You are only interested in shorts, features, series, or mainstream commercial cinema
- Your film has already been widely released or broadcast in France and you require strict premiere status
- You are looking for a massive public festival with huge crowds or red-carpet glamour
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit?
- Short filmmakers (under 30 min)
- Feature-length filmmakers
- Commercial studio-driven projects without artistic ambition
- Filmmakers uninterested in the medium-length format or European/niche festival networking
key festival Facts
Founded:
2004
Location:
Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
Festival Type:
International Medium-Length Film Festival
Frequency:
Annual (April)
Submission Platform:
Premiere Status:
No premiere required
Film Submission Details
Platform fees charged by FilmFreeway (mandatory, paid by the submitter; no additional festival fee mentioned). Submission deadlines for 2026 were typically late 2025/early 2026 (exact dates announced when the call opened; usually fall/winter prior to April festival). Films must be medium-length (30–60 minutes), in fiction, creative documentary, animation, or experimental genres; no strict premiere requirement (previously screened films eligible). For the 2027 edition (expected April 2027), the call usually opens in late 2026 with submission deadlines around December 2026–February 2027 – check https://filmfreeway.com/BriveFilmFestival or festivalcinemabrive.fr from fall 2026 for updated info.
Submission Notes:
Festival du Cinéma de Brive (Rencontres internationales du moyen métrage de Brive) – no separate pitching or project deadlines (only completed medium-length films are accepted; no dedicated pitching sessions like FIPADOC Pro). Submission deadlines for the 2027 edition (expected April 2027): call usually opens in late 2026 / early 2027, with deadlines typically December 2026 – February 2027 (exact dates announced when the call opens on FilmFreeway). All information based on historical patterns; for the most accurate 2027 deadlines and rules, check the official FilmFreeway page or festivalcinemabrive.fr from fall 2026 onward.
Films between 30 and 60 minutes; fiction, non-commissioned documentaries, experimental, animation; completed after specified dates (for 2024: after Nov 1, 2022 for French, May 1, 2022 for international)
Genres & Program Sections
Fiction, non-commissioned documentaries, experimental, animation (medium-length: 30-60 minutes)
Career Impact & Success Stories
The Festival du Cinéma de Brive, as the world’s pioneering and leading international festival dedicated exclusively to medium-length films (30–60 minutes), serves as a unique and powerful launchpad for emerging and established filmmakers working in this underrepresented format. By providing focused industry exposure, professional roundtables, networking with distributors and producers, and visibility to a dedicated audience and over 150 accredited professionals, it helps bridge the gap between shorts and features often leading to further festival selections, funding, co-productions, and career progression toward feature-length projects
Awards & Recognition :
- Katell Quillévéré (co-founder) → Her early medium-length work gained recognition here, paving the way for acclaimed features like Suzanne and Réparer les vivants.
- Sébastien Bailly (co-founder) → Festival involvement boosted his profile as a director and advocate for medium-length cinema, leading to wider industry influence.
- Many selected filmmakers have used Brive as a stepping stone to major festivals (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Locarno, San Sebastián, Clermont-Ferrand) and secured distribution deals or CNC funding for feature debuts.
- The festival has revealed talents who later transitioned successfully to features, with medium-length films often acting as proof-of-concept or calling cards for producers and financiers.
Travel Perks :
The festival offers housing and meals for selected directors around the official screening date for 3 days (2 nights); travel costs are covered up to a maximum of €110 (round trip) for filmmakers of selected films, with any excess paid by the guest. Only the filmmaker is supported; crew members receive free festival passes but cover their own transportation, housing, and meals. Official invitation letters are available upon request to support visa applications.
Festival Contact & Information
Official Website
https://festivalcinemabrive.fr/en/Submission Platform
https://www.filmfestplatform.com/en/festival/652Social Media