Cinéma du Réel


Cinéma du réel is an international documentary annual film festival held in Paris, France, since 1978. It is organised by the Bibliothèque publique d'information, and screenings take place at the Pompidou Centre in Paris as well as partner cinemas in the city. The 47th edition of the festival takes place in March 2025.

History

The festival was founded in 1977 by Jean-Michel Arnold and Jean Rouch and the first festival was held in 1978. It was originally called the “L’homme regarde l’homme”.
The 47th edition of the festival takes place in March 2025.

Description

The Cinéma du Réel is organised by the Bibliothèque publique d'information which is the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and screenings take place at the Bpi as well as other cinemas. The festival presents about 200 films per year in several sections by experienced documentary directors as well as emerging filmmakers.
The event has developed into one of the major documentary film festivals, where public attendees view hundreds of documentaries. It also includes workshops, seminars, and a retrospective program highlighting the best of documentary cinema history.

Prizes

the prizes awarded at the Cinéma du Réel are:

Feature films

  • Grand Prix Cinéma du réel / Cinéma du réel Grand Prize: funded by the BPI and ; awarded to a feature film in Competition.
  • Prix international Cinéma du réel / Cinéma du réel International Award: funded by the association Les Amis du Cinéma du réel ; awarded to an international feature film from the Competition
  • Prix Cnap du film français / Cnap Award for French films: funded by the Centre national des arts plastiques ; awarded to a French feature-length film, "to support and promote contemporary artistic production coming from a wide variety of fields and professional backgrounds"
  • Prix Sacem / Sacem Award: funded by La Sacem ; awarded to the composer of original music of a feature film

First and short films

These prizes are awarded by the short film and first films jury:
  • Prix du premier film Loridan-Ivens / First Film Loridan-Ivens Award: funded by Capi Films ; awarded to a first film with a 50+-minute runtime, featured in competition category. The Loridan-Ivens Award was initiated by Marceline Loridan-Ivens to support emerging committed filmmakers "casting a sharp eye on the state of the world". It is given in honour of filmmaker Joris Ivens, husband of Loridan-Ivens and an early supporter of the project.
  • Prix du court métrage / Short Film Award: funded by the BPI
  • Prix Tënk / Tënk Award: funded by Tënk ; awarded to a short film

Parisdoc Awards

  • Coup de cœur Orlando
  • Prix Préludes / Préludes Award
  • Prix Route One/DOC / Route One/DOC Award

Other prizes

  • Prix des jeunes – Ciné+ festival / Ciné+ Festival Young Jury Award: funded by Ciné+ Festival and awarded to a feature film; guarantees that the film is bought by the channel for €15,000 and broadcast on Ciné+ Festival
  • Prix des bibliothèques / Library Award: funded by the Direction générale des médias et des industries culturelles of the Ministry of Culture ; awarded to an international film 50+ minutes long; the film is purchased by the BPI for inclusion in its national catalogue, Les Yeux Doc.
  • Prix du patrimoine culturel immatériel / Intangible Cultural Heritage Award
  • Prix Clarens du Documentaire Humaniste / Clarens Award for Humanist Documentary Filmmaking
  • Prix des Détenus / Inmate Award; created in collaboration with the Fresnes Prison in 2013 and with the Bois D'Arcy Prison in 2017; awarded by a jury of incarcerated people to a short film featured either in competition or in the Première Fenêtre / First Window category
  • Prix du Public Première Fenêtre / "First Window" Audience Award

Past award winners

  • Grand Prix: Direct Action
  • International Award: Silence of Reason
  • Award for French films: Les Mots qu’elles eurent un jour '
  • First Film Award: The Roller, the Life, the Fight '
  • Short Film Award: The Periphery Of The Base '
  • Librairies Award: Resonance Spiral '
  • Inmates Award: Camarades '
:
  • Grand Prix: Coconut Head Generation, and ''Up the River with Acid
  • International Award: Being in a Place: A Portrait of Margaret Tait '
  • Youth Award: La Base '
  • Short Film Award: Last Things
  • Libraries Award: Adieu Sauvage ''
  • Inmates Award: Piblokto '

  • Grand Prix: Dry Ground Burning '
  • International Award: Mr. Landsbergis
  • Youth Award: Xaraasi Xanne,
  • Short Film Award: Urban Solutions '
  • Libraries Award: We, Students!
  • Inmates Award: ''Le Croissant de feu ''