The Paris Film Festival is an annual international independent film festival based in Paris. Since 2011, we have focused on one simple principle: filmmakers matter, and movies matter.
The new generations of filmmakers deserve a space to show their work, meet audiences and industry professionals, and have a real opportunity to continue making movies. We know independent film festivals play an important role in making that possible, and we run the PFF as a launchpad to the next opportunities for our participants.
We serve filmmakers from around the world and program films across genres and formats. We do not compartmentalize filmmakers by career stage. Established talents and emerging filmmakers share the same screenings, panels, conversations, events and professional opportunities. Over the years, the festival has welcomed established artists including Sharon Stone, William Baldwin and director Alex Proyas, alongside filmmakers at the beginning of their careers, with shorts, features, documentaries and other art forms.
The Paris Film Festival also places a strong emphasis on education, mentorship and continued professional development. Over 16 years, our programs have included and continue to offer mentorship opportunities, masterclasses, workshops, podcasts, filmmaker conversations, a promotional support system, and industry events.
We work with established industry professionals who share their experience directly with emerging filmmakers, creating opportunities for learning, networking and professional development. We do this for the technical skills of our industry, including editing and scriptwriting through roundtables and workshops, as well as for the most sought after positions, including directing and cinematography. Our alumni network and returning judges also allow these relationships to continue beyond a single festival edition.
The Paris Film Festival is committed to putting films on the big screen and actively promoting the filmmakers behind them. Screenings are complemented by press opportunities, interviews, red carpet events, industry conversations and other activities designed to give selected filmmakers visibility and meaningful connections. Our goal is not simply to select a film, but to create an experience that can help a filmmaker take the next step in their career.
The festival is also distinguished by its bilingual approach. From the beginning, we have operated in both French and English, creating a space where French, American and international filmmakers can participate on equal terms. We have built a professional environment in Paris and an international network where filmmakers from different countries and at very different stages of their careers can meet, work together and learn from one another.
Our mission is ultimately to discover films and the talents who made them, and to give the next generation the opportunity and confidence to make their next movie.
Our programs make filmmaking accessible to every talent, regardless of background or geographic location.
Our mentorship programs serve participants equally across the US, South America, Europe and Asia.
Year round fee waivers support low income filmmakers and those from countries affected by war or mass migration.
Accessibility accommodations support autistic participants and filmmakers with mental and physical disabilities, including through partnerships with Easterseals.
Our bilingual French and English model creates consistency and equal footing.
