Encounters

On the first weekend of the festival, all screenings of competitive programs will be followed by Q&As with the filmmakers present.

• France 1: Saturday 5 – 1pm | France 2: Sunday 5 – 8:30pm | France 3: Sunday 7 – 3:30pm
• Quebec 1: Saturday 5 – 3:30pm | Quebec 2: Sunday 6 – 1pm | Quebec 3: Sunday 6 – 6pm.

The Labos team is offering meet-and-greet sessions and mini-workshops for beginners to help them quickly master certain filming and post-production tools.
The workshops will take place immediately following the 9:30 a.m. production meeting.

• Sound Recording Workshop, led by Vincent Robidou.
• Actors’ Meet-and-Greet, led by Justine Venet.
• Camera workshop, led by Miguel de Brito and Charlotte Alma-Michel.
• My First Kino, led by Christian Laurence.
• Editing workshop, led by the Lab team.
• Sound mixing workshop, led by Jean-Louis Hennequin.

Renowned sound engineer Dominique Blanc-Francard delved into his treasure trove of memories and drew upon all the moments he experienced within the soundproof walls of the recording studios where he has worked for over sixty years to co-author this book with Olivier Schmitt.

In it, he recounts, among other things, the three years he spent at the legendary Studios d’Hérouville, where he rubbed shoulders with Pink Floyd, T. Rex, Cat Stevens, and the Grateful Dead, as well as his work with artists as diverse as Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, Alain Bashung, Françoise Hardy, Julien Clerc, Jean-Louis Aubert, Benjamin Biolay, Camille, and Raphaël.

Beyond these encounters, this book looks back on sixty years of the technological adventure he had the opportunity to experience—the history of recording studios, microphones, tape recorders, and mixing consoles, as well as music technology and the digital revolution.
Dominique Blanc-Francard and Bénédicte Schmitt invite you to a book signing in town in the morning, followed by a meet-and-greet at the Village Off in the early afternoon.

Labomatic Trouville is partnering with 360prod to introduce everyone to immersive sound.

Labomatic Studios has been based in Trouville-sur-Mer since June 2024. These unique recording studios were founded in 1996 by Dominique Blanc-Francard and his two sons, Hubert Boombass and Mathieu Sinclair, and are co-managed by sound engineer Bénédicte Schmitt. Historically located in the cellars of the 8th arrondissement, Labomatic stands out for its quality and innovation, embodying a passion for sound that is passed down and shared: “serving music / through immersion.” The Maison du Son is entirely dedicated to music and creativity. Instruments and technology fill every floor. Record and mix in stereo and Dolby Atmos under the blue skies of Trouville.
https://labomaticstudios.com/

The 360prod association invites you to take a break for a 360° musical experience. Let yourself be transported by an immersive listening experience. 360 Prod supports artists and immersive projects—from the studio to live performances—using innovative technologies. It creates stories through sounds that come to life. Each sound travels freely through space and time, without boundaries. It’s the perfect way to rediscover music!
https://360prod.fr/

The workshop will be led by Forest Finbow, Director of Photography.
Everyone is welcome to join us for a discussion about the Sony CineAlta series of cameras and the brand-new FX5.

A graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Marie-Camille Orlando has developed a multifaceted body of work that constantly experiments with new media—photography, silkscreen printing, video, and rear projection—all of which serve as means to explore a “fourth dimension” and reveal the invisible.

It is precisely this quest for the invisible that led her to a career as a set photographer. The job requires a dual art of self-effacement: knowing how to remain discreet so as never to disrupt the technical crew and the actors, while capturing the invisible essence of a scene. This work also relies on close collaboration and preliminary discussions with producers and distributors, as well as daily synergy with directors and cinematographers, for whom she becomes the visual extension and proud ambassador of their vision.

This masterclass, presented in partnership with Sony, will offer a behind-the-scenes look at her work, the role of still images in a film’s memory, and the tools that allow her to capture these unique moments.

Moderator: Remi Grelow

Screening of three short films by Avril Besson:
Ikea Fever (2009)
Bernard & fils, suicideurs à domicile (2011)
Queen Size (2023)

Followed by a screening of Les matins merveilleux (2026), her first feature film.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director and producer Robin Robles of Topshot. 

The relationship between a filmmaker and their producer is one of the cornerstones of filmmaking. How does this collaboration take shape, from the initial idea to the film’s release?

Drawing on their experiences, two producers will discuss the issues of trust, dialogue, artistic guidance, and decision-making that shape a project. A masterclass to better understand the dynamics and challenges of a duo that is essential to filmmaking.

Speakers to be announced

Producing a short film involves different realities depending on the country.

Through the shared perspectives of professionals from France, Quebec, Togo, Norway, Rwanda, and Lebanon, this roundtable will explore the various production ecosystems, the challenges faced, support mechanisms, and opportunities for international cooperation. An invitation to compare practices and envision new bridges between regions.

Moderator:

Speakers:
Mille Dahl-Folden, Prosjektor Filmproduksjon (Norway)
Joël Tchédré, Les Films du Siècle (Togo)
Charlotte Beaudoin-Poisson, Ô Films (Quebec)
Nicolas Khabbaz, KAY Productions (Lebanon)
Trésor Senga, Mashariki Arts Academy (Rwanda)
Astrig Chandèze-Avakian, Pazma Films (France)

An event structured as a series of presentations by acquisition executives (from television networks, VOD platforms, and theatrical distributors), followed by question-and-answer sessions.

At a time when funding is tightening and the centralization of decision-making tends to limit the emergence of new actors and actresses, how can we bring new faces to the forefront? How can the audiovisual industry and public authorities better share this responsibility? What measures could encourage bolder choices?

This roundtable, organized by ARDA, follows up on the work initiated in the Senate last February to develop concrete proposals for a film industry that reflects the diversity of today’s talent.

Moderator: Perrine Quennesson

Speakers:
Okinawa Guérard – ARDA
Richard Patry – Fédération Nationale des Cinémas Français
Juliette Prissard – Eurocinema
Manuel Alduy – France Télévisions
Anaïs Bertrand – Insolence Productions
David Cormand – Member of the European Parliament (EELV)

Presentation of the key findings from Unifrance’s annual study on the export of French short films and an analysis of their circulation at international film festivals.
Followed by a discussion with Aurore Auguste and Anaïs Colpin.

Antonia Cangemi, a program officer at the CNC, will present the main support programs available for short films in France. The key points will be outlined, and there will be a question-and-answer session to discuss when and how to apply for this support.

Screening of two short films by Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr:
Pluie sur tôle volée (2019)
Pisser dehors (2017)

Followed by a screening of Phénix (2025), his second feature film.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director and actress Evelyne Brochu. 

Case Study on the production of the short film LES OISELLES, during an event organized by Normandie Images.

Screening of the film followed by a conversation with its director and producer, and an informal networking drink.

LES OISELLES • 2025 • 23 min
Directed by Thibaud Renzi, produced by Charlotte Le Moine – Les Films des Turbulentes
Synopsis: Sam sets out to make a documentary portrait of his aunt Danièle, a legendary figure within the family. Danièle is a lesbian. In the 1970s, she was a member of a revolutionary gay activist group. Through her story, Sam revisits an action she and her comrades carried out inside Évreux Cathedral in 1976.

The film was supported by and developed through the Normandy Region, in partnership with the CNC, and in association with Normandie Images.

What if visual effects were created right in front of the camera, without going through post-production?

Conceived by cinematographer and inventor Théo Fauger, the Stemirax is an innovative optical device that allows two images to be superimposed, split, and made to interact in real time thanks to an ingenious system of mirrors.

During this masterclass, discover the origins of this invention, how it works, and the new creative possibilities it opens up for filmmakers eager to explore new visual languages right on set.

The official closing night of the festival will begin with a live discussion of the Critics’ Award at the Salon des Gouverneurs.

Hosted by Claude Duty, this discussion between Carl Arnaud, Diane Lestage, and Camille Griner—members of the French Film Critics’ Union—promises to be lively and engaging.

Following the discussion, the jury will present the Critics’ Award, an honorary distinction awarded to a film from the French selection.