Here's the ultimate dream: settling in for a wonderful film screened as a world premiere, after spending the day on the slopes and just before treating yourself to a comforting fondue. And if you can experience this cinematic adventure alongside Pierre Deladonchamps or Golshifteh Farahani, that's even better! At Les Arcs precisely, snowy days blend seamlessly with evenings filled with cinema talk and where you enjoy a concert or DJ set that gets you grooving until the early morning hours.
They last just a few minutes or several hours, and were created by filmmakers from Germany, Sweden, Spain, France, and Bulgaria. Whatever their format or origin, these short and feature films represent the excellence of contemporary cinema on a European scale. These works and their filmmakers are about to
to be celebrated from December 12 to 19, 2026 as part of the 18th edition of the Les Arcs Film Festival, in an exceptional setting: at the foot of Mont-Blanc, surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
© Esteban GRANELLI
Nine feature films in contention for the Crystal Arrow
Nine feature films are vying for the prestigious Crystal Arrow: A day in the life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra by Jacqueline Lentzou, Black money for white nights by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, Brace your heart by Amanda Kernell, My notes on mars by Lili Horváth, Oasis by Jannis Lenz, Pursuit by Faraz Shariat, The idiot(s) by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, Viva by Aina Clotet, and Woman Unknown by May El-Toukhy.
© Esteban GRANELLI
A rich and thoughtfully curated program for everyone
So on the agenda, short and feature films competing for a prestigious prize, but also world premieres, numerous film discoveries, a spotlight on Spanish cinema, and a selection of films for young audiences.
In total, 15 short films are competing this year: Casting gitan by Alexis Pazoumian, Ceiling King by Mats Udd, Those Who Float on the River by Daniel Soares, Daughters of the late colonel by Elizabeth Hobbs, The Mermaids' Bath by Lola Degove, Left on the shelfby María Monreal, Little house by Nika Jurman, No One Said Anything by Tamara Todorović, Pithead by Pol De Plecker and Wannes Vanspauwen, Please by Anna Mantzaris, When the Sea Was Calm by Mamuka Tkeshelashvili, Sandy Fannies by Ingrid Runde Saxegaard, Spiritus Sanctus by Michał Toczek, Sundrud by Fan Sissoko and Trio by Morten Borgestad and Fridtjof Stensæth Josefsen.
Thirteen jury members and three honorary guests
For this 18th edition, a prestigious jury has been selected. The feature film jury will be presided over by Kleber Mendonça Filho, journalist, artistic director of the Janela Internacional de Cinema do Recife festival in Brazil, and also a film programmer. He will notably be accompanied by Pierre Deladonchamps, Golshifteh Farahani, Gilles Marchant, Pilar Palomero and Soko.
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The short film jury will be chaired by Louise Courvoisier, who notably directed Twenty Gods, which won the Youth Prize at Cannes in 2024. Alongside her will be Sébastien de Fonseca, Félix de Givry, Julien Frison, Malou Khebizi, Anaïde Rozam, and Lucie Zhang/strong>.
Daniel Auteuil, Léa Drucker and Oliver Laxe will be the guests of honor at this edition of the Arcs Film Festival. A retrospective of three films will be organized for each of them. Following one of the screenings, they will give an exceptional masterclass. For eight days, the Arcs will live to the rhythm of cinema. A moment not to be missed for all film lovers and curious souls!
The Arcs Film Festival
Les Arcs – Bourg-Saint-Maurice
December 12-19, 2026
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