The Champs-Élysées Film Festival is the major event for French and American independent cinema. Usually in June, this anniversary edition takes place exceptionally from 14 to 21 September. On the program: a unique selection of films in competition (feature and short films), retrospectives and meetings. In total, more than 65 sessions will take place in the halls of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. 

Defending independent cinema

Created in 2012 by producer, distributor and exhibitor Sophie Dulac, the Festival's objective is to support independent auteur cinema. Every year since its creation, it brings together more than 25,000 spectators and professionals. Through a daring program, the French public was able to discover the "real" American independent cinema, that of a narrative and visual experimentation. But this Festival is also an opportunity to alert the public to the fragility of independent cinema in the United States, and to remind all film lovers that the quest for free cinema requires unreserved support.

A special edition

This year, the President and Founder promises an extraordinary Festival: "After the period we have just lived and an entirely digital 2020 edition, it is time to once again put independent cinema in the spotlight, to make it accessible to all, and to recreate emotion, the discovery and sharing that have been part of the Festival's DNA for 10 years". Two guests of honor are expected : American director, producer, screenwriter, actress and editor Susan Seidelman for the new Riot Girls section. As well as director, actor and producer Jim Cummings (revealed by the festival in 2016) for the retrospective "Ten Years of Independence". Both are very committed to the future of independent cinema.

Films in competition

In competition this year, eight French independent feature films and eight American feature films. The French selection (five fiction feature films and three documentaries) leads us to look at the other differently, and to love him always more. Because it is love that is about in this competition. Filial love, friendship, passion, great love, the collective, being together, benevolence, a place for all. A panorama of views on our society, independence celebrated with gentleness and benevolence.As for the American selection, it explores the dreams and nightmares of an America in the midst of an identity crisis. Dream of freedom, immortality, emancipation, or protection. The eleven French short films offer a panorama of young French creation. Led by seven directors, the selection offers as many documentaries as fiction and remarkable experimental excursions. On the side of the United States, thirteen short films where the directors invite us to question the symbolism of the home, a more or less warm space where we spent our confinements dreaming of somewhere else.

Feature films to discover

French feature films:

Entre les vagues by Anaïs Volpé (presented at the Directors' Fortnight – Cannes 2021). The World After Us by Louda Ben Salah-Cazanas (discovered during the Berlinale 2021 – Panorama section). Mi iubita, mon amour by Noémie Merlant (presented in a special screening at Cannes 2021). Trop d'amour by Frankie Wallach (discovered at FIFIB 2020). L'Été nucléaire, Gaël Lépingle's third feature film. Au cœur du bois, documentary by Claus Drexel. The Positive Energy of the Gods, creative documentary by Laetitia Møller. Nous by Alice Diop (Best Documentary Film Award and Grand Prize of the Encounters competition at the Berlinale 2021).

American feature films:

The Sleeping Negro by Skinner Myers. Topside by Celine Held and Logan George. Strawberry Mansion by Albert Birney and Kentucker Audley. Cusp by Isabel Bethencourt and Parker Hill. Materna by David Gutnik. Queen of Glory by Nana Mensah. Dash Shaw Cryptozoo . All Light, Everywhere by Theo Anthony.

Retrospective "Ten years of independence"

To celebrate this anniversary, the 2021 program will look back at the works that have marked the different editions. A selection of nine short films and six feature films, from previous American competitions, will be offered to the public. Among them, works by Jim Cummings, Danny Maden, Patrick Bresnan, Alex Johnson, Joséphine Decker, Vincent Grashaw… The platforms UniversCiné and Tënk, partners of the Festival, will make available on VOD a large number of films from recent editions. The guest of this retrospective is director Jim Cummings, discovered in 2016 with his short film Thunder Road. "We wanted to invite the public to meet this American independent phenomenon of another genre, who fascinates by his mastery of cinema as a narrative object and his mastery of communication as a real differentiation issue in a saturated market," says Chantal Lian, Head of Programming.

Riot Girls, the female cinema of the 80s

The 2021 edition marks the creation of a new section within the programming: Riot Girls. The objective: to create a meeting space around the rage for life, rebellion and freedom. Five French and American feature films will be presented, which honor the underground scene of the 1980s, filmed by women. To embody this section, the Festival invites Susan Seidelman. It will present the beautiful Smithereens, the first independent American film selected in official competition at Cannes (1982). A vibrant portrait of a woman, emblematic of New York cinema of the 1980s.

New collaborations

This year, two new collaborations will enrich the festival's programming: the ACID (Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion) will program three feature films from its 2021 selection, presented at the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Down with the King by Diego Ongaro (France/USA); I comete by Pascal Tagnati (France); Soy libre by Laure Portier (France). The production company Yukunkun and the CNSAD (Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique) will present the project La Collection, Jeunesses d'aujourd'hui. Produced between two lockdowns, this collection testifies to the urgency of representing youth. Mathilde Chavanne, Clémence Poésy, Aurélie Reinhorn, Florent Gouëlou and Pierre Giafferi have directed five particularly singular and free films, which will have their world premiere at the festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj1jxbyZ5fg&ab_channel=Champs-%C3%89lys%C3%A9esFilmFestival Discover the Festival Pass on champselyseesfilmfestival.com and seetickets.com. 49 euros, 35 euros for children under 26 (Unlimited screenings and meetings in all sections, Access to films and opening and closing ceremonies – excluding evenings; Reduced rate on the Rooftop Nights of the festival where the DJ Sets will take place (20€ instead of 35€); Access to the Festival Lounge; A film on VOD offered on the UniversCiné corner dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Champs-Élysées Film Festival). Experience the Festival at the screening: single price of 7 € per session. Cinema tickets on sale in participating cinemas on the Champs-Élysées. Unlimited UGC card and Gaumont Pathé Pass accepted. All the programming is to be discovered here (More than 70 films at Balzac, Lincoln, Gaumont Champs-Élysées and PublicisCinémas). Do you like horror movies? Then read this article quickly!