Festival Tous Courts 2026 – Aix-en-Provence, France

What to expect in 2026

Festival Tous Courts is the international short film festival of Aix-en-Provence, organized by the Rencontres Cinématographiques d’Aix-en-Provence. The festival is dedicated to short-form cinema and presents an international programme bringing together fiction, animation, creative documentary and experimental filmmaking. Its competitive programme is complemented by special screenings, public meetings, masterclasses, educational activities and professional events.

The 2026 edition is officially identified by the festival as its 44th edition. Its principal competitions are the International Short Film Competition and the International Experimental Short Film Competition. The official regulations state that the international competition is open to fiction, animation and creative documentary, while the experimental competition is reserved for experimental films. Both competitions have a maximum running time of 30 minutes.

Festival Tous Courts also has a strong international and professional character. The festival presents contemporary short films from different countries and provides opportunities for filmmakers, producers, distributors and other film professionals to meet. Its professional activities include the International Short Film Market, meetings and industry-focused events.

For general audiences, the festival offers a way to discover short films that may otherwise have limited theatrical exposure. The programme combines competition screenings with films and events presented outside the main competitions, creating a broader cultural programme around the short-film format.

Festival dates

Festival Tous Courts 2026 will take place from December 1 to December 5, 2026, in Aix-en-Provence, France. The official 2026 regulations confirm that the International Short Film Competition and International Experimental Short Film Competition will be presented in Aix-en-Provence as part of the 44th edition of Festival Tous Courts.

The festival is organized by Rencontres Cinématographiques d’Aix-en-Provence, whose official headquarters are at 1 Place John Rewald, 13100 Aix-en-Provence. The organization lists +33 4 42 27 08 64 as its telephone number.

The final day-by-day public programme, including individual screening times and special-event scheduling, should be checked through the official festival programme when released.

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Venues & festival locations

Festival Tous Courts is based in Aix-en-Provence and traditionally uses several cinema and cultural venues across the city. Previous official festival information identifies Cinéma Le Mazarin and Cinéma Le Cézanne among the principal screening venues for the international competition. The festival has also used La Manufacture and other cultural locations for meetings, educational activities and special programming.

Previous official visitor information identifies Onepoint Aix as a festival reception, information and meeting location. The venue is located at 175 Place Niollon. La Manufacture, another established festival location, is located at 10 Rue des Allumettes and includes an amphitheatre used for public meetings and masterclasses.

The official 2026 regulations confirm Aix-en-Provence as the location of the two principal competitions but do not yet provide a complete venue-by-venue public schedule. Visitors should therefore use the final 2026 programme to confirm where each screening or event will take place.

Full programme

The complete 2026 festival programme has not yet been published in full on the official website. What is officially confirmed is the structure of the principal competitive sections, consisting of the International Short Film Competition and the International Experimental Short Film Competition.

The International Short Film Competition accepts fiction, animation and creative documentaries. Films must comply with the festival’s eligibility rules, including the maximum running time requirement. The Experimental Competition is specifically dedicated to experimental short films and provides a separate space for filmmakers using unconventional cinematic forms and techniques.

Festival Tous Courts also traditionally includes programming outside competition. The festival describes its wider programme as including Carte Blanche selections, ceremonies, special screenings, public meetings, masterclasses and educational activities. These sections allow the festival to extend beyond the competition programme and create additional opportunities for audiences to engage with filmmakers and contemporary cinema.

Featured films & premieres

Individual 2026 film titles have not yet been officially published in a complete programme on the festival website. For this reason, specific films should not be presented as confirmed 2026 selections until the festival announces them officially.

The official regulations provide a clear picture of the type of work being sought. The International Short Film Competition accepts fiction, animation and creative documentaries, while the Experimental Competition is limited to experimental films. Eligible films must comply with the festival’s production and duration requirements.

Festival Tous Courts has an international selection philosophy, with previous editions presenting films from a wide range of countries and cinematic traditions. The competition therefore provides a broad view of contemporary short filmmaking, from narrative and documentary approaches to animation and experimental cinema.

Any 2026 premieres, French premieres, European premieres or other premiere statuses should be confirmed from the official film catalogue rather than assumed from the fact that a film is included in the festival.

Directors, actors & guests

The festival’s programme regularly brings filmmakers and cinema professionals into contact with audiences. Directors and other members of film teams can participate in discussions and professional activities connected with selected films, while the festival’s public programme also includes masterclasses and round-table discussions.

The professional side of the festival is designed to encourage contact between directors, producers, distributors and other industry participants. Previous official market information specifically identifies professional meetings involving filmmakers, producers, distributors and institutional partners.

The complete list of directors, actors, filmmakers and invited guests for the 2026 edition has not yet been officially announced. Visitors should rely on the festival’s final programme and official announcements for confirmed appearances.

Screening schedule

The detailed 2026 screening schedule has not yet been released. Festival Tous Courts traditionally organizes competition films into curated programmes rather than presenting every short film as an individual feature-length screening.

The established international competition format uses groups of several short films within individual programmes. Previous official programming shows that these curated programmes can contain fiction, animation and documentary works from different countries, giving audiences a varied selection during a single cinema session.

The experimental competition follows a similar programme-based approach, bringing several experimental works together within dedicated screening sessions. Previous official programme information shows that experimental selections can combine very different visual, documentary and artistic approaches.

When the 2026 timetable is released, visitors should check the programme number, cinema, screening time and any reservation requirements before attending.

Ticket types & accreditation

The 2026 public ticket prices have not been officially published in the available festival information. As a previous-edition reference, the official festival listed a standard competition screening at €7 and a reduced ticket at €5. Converted at an indicative exchange rate of €1 = $1.17, these amounts are approximately $8.19 and $5.85 respectively.

These figures are previous-edition reference prices rather than confirmed 2026 prices. The festival may change admission categories, prices or booking arrangements for the new edition.

Festival Tous Courts also operates a professional accreditation system. Previous official information distinguishes professional access from ordinary public ticketing and connects accreditation with professional participation, the film market and industry activities.

Industry & professional access

The International Short Film Market is an important professional component of Festival Tous Courts. It is designed for accredited professionals and provides access to a film catalogue, a meeting environment and organized professional activities.

The festival’s official market information describes three principal functions: a videotheque containing submitted films, a convivial meeting area where professionals can arrange appointments, and professional meetings involving filmmakers, producers, distributors, institutions and partners.

The market is particularly relevant to professionals interested in discovering short films for acquisition, distribution and exhibition. Previous official market statistics demonstrate the international scale of the catalogue, with thousands of submitted films representing numerous countries.

The 2026 professional programme and accreditation procedure should be checked through the festival’s official professional information once the new edition’s details are released.

Red carpet & special events

Festival Tous Courts is not limited to competition screenings. The festival’s official programme structure includes ceremonies, special screenings, Carte Blanche programmes, public meetings and masterclasses.

The festival’s ceremonies provide opportunities for filmmakers, guests, partners and audiences to come together around the competition programme. Previous official festival information also identifies a closing ceremony connected with the presentation of awards.

Special events can provide a different experience from the regular competition sessions, particularly for visitors interested in filmmaker discussions, thematic programmes or events outside the main competitive selections. Specific 2026 special-event details should be confirmed after the official programme is released.

Festival rules

The official 2026 regulations establish the eligibility requirements for the festival’s two principal competitions. A film can be submitted to only one competition, although the festival reserves the right to place a film in another competition if it considers that section more appropriate.

The International Short Film Competition accepts fiction, animation and creative documentaries, while the Experimental Competition is exclusively for experimental films. Films entered into either competition must have a maximum running time of 30 minutes and must satisfy the production-date requirement established in the official regulations.

The regulations exclude advertising and institutional films, reports and music videos from competition. Films that have previously been submitted to the festival are also excluded, including films submitted again in a new version.

These regulations concern filmmakers and film submissions rather than ordinary audience attendance. Visitors should consult the festival’s ticketing and visitor information for rules applying to public screenings.

How to get there

Aix-en-Provence is accessible by rail, road and air. Visitors arriving by high-speed train can use Aix-en-Provence TGV station, which is outside the historic centre, and then continue into the city by local transport or taxi.

The city also has a central SNCF railway station serving local and regional connections. Previous festival visitor information recommends the city-centre railway station for reaching the festival area, particularly because several festival locations are within the central part of Aix-en-Provence.

For international visitors, Marseille Provence Airport provides the principal nearby airport connection. Aix-en-Provence is connected with the airport and wider metropolitan area by road and public transport services.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is useful for moving between the city centre and festival locations. Previous official festival information provides public-transport guidance for reaching venues including Le Mazarin, Le Cézanne, La Manufacture and the École Supérieure d’Art.

Visitors arriving by car can use public car parks in Aix-en-Provence and the city’s park-and-ride facilities. Parking availability can be more limited around central cultural venues, so public transport or walking can be practical when screenings are concentrated in the city centre.

Because the final 2026 venue allocation has not been published, visitors should check the official festival access information before deciding where to park. This is particularly important if attending several programmes at different locations.

Accommodation areas

Aix-en-Provence has accommodation ranging from central hotels and guesthouses to apartments and properties outside the historic centre. The official tourism service provides accommodation information for visitors looking for places to stay in the city and surrounding area.

For festival visitors, the historic centre and areas close to central railway and cultural facilities can be convenient because many established festival venues are located within or close to the central area.

Visitors who prefer quieter surroundings or more accommodation choices can also consider neighbourhoods outside the historic core, provided they have convenient access to the city centre. Checking the location of the accommodation against the final 2026 festival venues is advisable before booking.

Food & dining

Aix-en-Provence has a substantial restaurant and café scene, with options ranging from Provençal and Mediterranean cooking to international cuisine, casual cafés and more formal restaurants. The city’s official tourism service maintains information about restaurants and dining options throughout Aix-en-Provence.

Local Provençal food culture includes regional products and specialities associated with southern France. Visitors can combine festival screenings with meals in the historic centre, where restaurants, cafés and food shops are concentrated.

For visitors attending several screenings in one day, cafés and restaurants near the central cinema and cultural venues can be particularly convenient. Restaurant opening times can vary, so checking individual establishments in advance is recommended.

Accessibility

The available official 2026 festival information does not yet provide a complete accessibility guide covering every screening and event venue. Since Festival Tous Courts uses multiple cinemas and cultural spaces, accessibility arrangements can vary between individual locations.

Visitors with specific mobility, hearing, visual or other accessibility requirements should contact the festival organization before attending. The festival’s official contact information identifies the Rencontres Cinématographiques d’Aix-en-Provence at 1 Place John Rewald, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, with telephone number +33 4 42 27 08 64.

Venue-specific accessibility information should be confirmed directly once the final programme and venue allocation are available.

Best screenings to attend

For visitors interested in the core competitive programme, the International Short Film Competition is an important part of the festival because it brings together fiction, animation and creative documentary from international filmmakers. Its format allows audiences to experience several different short films within a curated programme.

The International Experimental Competition is particularly relevant to audiences interested in experimental film language, visual exploration and alternative approaches to storytelling. It provides a dedicated competitive environment for experimental short films rather than combining them with the general international selection.

Special screenings, masterclasses, public discussions and ceremonies are also worth considering once the 2026 schedule is announced. These events provide opportunities to experience aspects of the festival beyond conventional competition screenings.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition featured an International Competition and an Experimental Competition alongside special programmes, professional activities, public meetings and educational initiatives. The official festival programme presented the International Competition through multiple curated programmes at its principal cinema venues.

The official awards included a Grand Prix, Jury Prize, Best Screenplay Prize and Prix de l’Audace in the International Competition. The Experimental Competition also presented a Grand Prix and Jury Prize, while additional awards were presented by youth juries, partners and audiences.

Among the recognized films were QAHER by Nada Khalifa, which received the International Competition Grand Prix, SOLO KIM by Diego Herrero and Javier Prieto de Paula, which received the Jury Prize, and BETWEEN THE LINES by Niklas Pollmann, which received the Best Screenplay Prize. The Experimental Competition Grand Prix went to RESISTANCE MEDITATION by Sara Wylie.

The professional market was another major component, providing accredited professionals with access to a large short-film catalogue, meeting opportunities and industry discussions involving filmmakers, producers, distributors and institutions.

Official tickets & accreditation

Official 2026 ticketing and accreditation information should be obtained directly from Festival Tous Courts. The festival’s previous public ticket structure included standard and reduced admission for competition screenings, while professional accreditation provided access to industry activities and the International Short Film Market.

For reference, the previous standard competition screening price converts to approximately $8.19 and the previous reduced admission to approximately $5.85 using an indicative €1 = $1.17 conversion. These are previous-edition reference figures and are not confirmed 2026 prices.

Professional visitors should follow the official accreditation procedure because access to the International Short Film Market is reserved for accredited professionals. The market includes film discovery, professional meetings and networking opportunities connected with short-film production, distribution and exhibition.