Arras Film Festival
Arras, France
Festival at a Glance
Festival Website
Contact Email
The official contact is available via the website’s contact form or general inquiries; for submissions and specific questions, refer to the “Participer au festival” section (no direct email publicly listed in main pages, but professional contacts can be reached through the site).
Event Dates
November 6 – November 15, 2026
Submission Fee
Free
Festival Type
European film festival devoted to European cinema, highlighting new films, premieres (French and international), retrospectives, and audience engagement with a focus on unreleased or lesser-known works from across Europe.
Suitable For
European feature films (including competition sections for first/second features, documentaries, shorts), international premieres, co-productions, and films suitable for French/European distribution; emphasis on diversity from various European countries.
Estimated Participants
Over 50,000–55,000 attendees (based on recent editions, e.g., record-breaking ticket sales in 2025), including public audiences, film professionals, guests, and industry participants.
Location
Arras, 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 Arras Film Festival (Festival du film d’Arras) is a dynamic annual event dedicated to celebrating European cinema, held in the historic city of Arras in northern France. Established in 2000 by Plan-Séquence, it has grown into one of Europe’s key platforms for discovering and promoting French and European films, with a strong emphasis on young and emerging filmmakers as well as diverse narratives from across the continent.
As an international event focused primarily on European cinema, the festival offers a genuine journey through the cinema of yesterday and today. It showcases exclusive premieres of highly anticipated auteur works, hidden gems, films previously unreleased in France, international premieres, retrospectives, tributes, focus programs on specific countries or themes, and a program for children and families, serving as a vibrant showcase for innovative projects from both renowned directors and new talents.
Who Is Arras film festival Best For?
The Arras Film Festival (Festival du Film d’Arras) stands out as a key reference for discovering European cinema, blending accessible public engagement with a strong focus on emerging talents, emotional storytelling, and cross-cultural exchanges within Europe. Held annually in the historic city of Arras in northern France, it caters to a wide spectrum of participants from passionate cinephiles and curious newcomers to industry professionals and European filmmakers but shines brightest for young and emerging filmmakers, dedicated European cinema enthusiasts, and the general public seeking an approachable, emotionally immersive festival experience without the exclusivity of larger events like Cannes.
✅ Good Fit If
Your film is an independent or auteur-driven European feature, short, documentary, or animation with artistic merit, innovative storytelling, or themes like social issues, migration, family dynamics, disability, or personal freedoms.
You are aiming for a French premiere (required for competition, and preferred for other sections), and your film has not screened at major French festivals or been commercially released in France.
Your project has strong narrative, social, or investigative relevance, and is a European-produced (or co-produced) feature (at least 60 minutes), short, documentary, or animation.
You seek significant industry exposure in Europe, audience engagement, distribution deals, and awards prestige (e.g., Golden Atlas, Critics’ Prize).
❌ Not a Good Fit If
Your film is fiction primarily commercial, genre-driven without independent appeal (while blockbusters can premiere, competition favors indies).
The film is already widely released or broadcast in France or has screened at major European festivals.
You are looking for easy acceptance (only 8-10 films selected for competition annually).
Who Might Not Be a Good Fit?
Low-budget projects without strong narrative or artistic identity.
Films already available online, on TV, or theatrically released in France/Europe.
Commercial studio-driven projects without a non-U.S. productions (must be European-made or co-produced).
key festival Facts
Founded:
2000
Location:
Arras, France
Festival Type:
International / Feature Films / European Cinema / Public Open
Frequency:
Annual (November)
Submission Platform:
Via the festival’s participation page or contact through the official site (e.g., [email protected] or specific section emails as listed); online form or email with details for eligible films.
Premiere Status:
French premiere required (especially for competition); not commercially released in France, not screened at major French festivals, and preferably unreleased or lesser-known in France (focus on films previously unreleased in France, with some international premieres).
Film Submission Details
Based on previous editions (e.g., for the 2025 edition held November 7–16, 2025, submissions were open with a deadline around August 10, 2025; selection typically closes end of August or mid-September), they typically open several months in advance often in spring/summer of the festival year with deadlines in late summer (July/August) for the November festival. There is no registration fee. Submissions are free, and there is no entry fee.
(Note: The festival selects primarily long fiction features under 12 months old, mainly European-produced/co-produced, requiring French premiere status, unreleased commercially in France (no TV/streaming), and not screened at other major French festivals. Check the official site for the latest call when it opens, usually via the “Participer au festival” or “Submit a film” section.)
Submission Notes:
Platform: Submit via the festival’s online submission form on the “Soumettre un film / Submit a film” page (https://www.arrasfilmfestival.com/pages/le-festival/professionnels/candidat/soumettre-un-film-submit-a-film.html) or through direct contact as detailed on the site (check for updated forms for the 2026 edition).
Eligibility: Fiction feature films of at least 60 minutes; produced or co-produced mainly by a European company within the last 12 months; commercially unreleased in France (no theatrical, TV, or streaming release); not screened at other French film festivals (except by selection committee decision). French films must have a planned theatrical release.
French premiere required for competition (not shown at major European festivals); non-English films must be submitted with English subtitles; selected films delivered in original version with French subtitles (at applicant’s cost) and in DCP format.
Announcement: Selected films typically announced in September, with notifications by email.
From the official Submit a Film page (2025/2024 info, as currently published):
The festival selects feature fiction films produced in Europe within the last 12 months; French films must have a distributor and a theatrical release plan.
Competition is reserved for European fiction feature films that are new and have a French premiere.
The selection closes mid-September for general and end of August for competition (based on the current regulations page).
Premiere status, production year, film length, and filmmaker nationality requirements for the 2026 edition specifically
Genres & Program Sections
European cinema, event films, authors’ works, hidden treasures, great classics, program dedicated to children and families
Success Stories
The festival has launched careers and generated awards buzz for films like Murina, Blaga’s Lessons, and Hesitation Wound, many of which went on to premiere at Cannes, Venice, or win national awards.
Recent highlights include Eamonn Murphy’s Solitary winning the Atlas d’Or in 2025 and Zhanna Ozirna’s Honeymoon taking the Golden Atlas in 2024. It has honored icons like Agnieszka Holland and hosted stars like Léa Drucker, enhancing global visibility for European cinema.
Awards & Recognition :
Atlas d’Or (Golden Atlas Grand Prix du Jury): Awarded by the jury to the best feature film in the European Competition, recognizing outstanding artistic merit and innovation. Endowed with €12,000 (offered to the French distributor by the Communauté Urbaine d’Arras).
Atlas d’Argent (Silver Atlas – Prix de la Mise en Scène): Awarded by the jury for Best Director or exceptional direction, endowed with €5,000 (courtesy of the Région Hauts-de-France).
Prix du Public (Audience Award): Voted by festival attendees for the most popular film, endowed with €6,000 (offered to the French distributor by the Département du Pas-de-Calais).
Prix Regards Jeunes (Youth Jury Award): Awarded by a young audience jury, endowed with €2,000 (offered by BNP Paribas to the director).
Prix SFCC de la Presse (Critics’ Prize): Awarded by a jury of the Syndicat Français de la Critique de Cinéma (SFCC) for the best film from a critics’ perspective.
Mention Spéciale du Jury: Occasional special mention from the jury for notable achievements.
Other recognitions include tributes and retrospectives honoring European cinema icons, as well as development grants through Arras Days (e.g., main grant €7,500 for emerging projects). No cash prizes are emphasized for all categories; focus is on statuettes/trophies, prestige, distribution support in France, and industry visibility.
Travel Perks :
Flight/Hotel Coverage:The festival typically covers accommodation (and in some cases travel expenses) for selected filmmakers, directors, and key guests (e.g., those with films in competition, special sections, or as invited honorees/tributes). Coverage is usually provided for the duration of their participation (often several days during the 10-day event) and may be limited to a specific number of nights or representatives per film; it does not always cover all expenses or full travel for everyone.
Per Diems: A per diem is often provided to cover meals and incidental expenses for invited participants during their stay.
Official Invitation Letters: Official invitation letters are available upon request to assist filmmakers and international guests with visa applications and entry requirements.
(Note: These perks are primarily for selected/invited participants rather than all submitters; details can vary by year and are confirmed upon selection. Contact the festival directly via their professionals section or email for the most current information for upcoming editions.)