After two years of absence, the European Short Film Festival of Bordeaux is back at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux

March 18, 2022

The European Short Film Festival of Bordeaux is returning to its historic cinema after having had to give up two face-to-face editions. The reunion will take place in physical on March 24 and 25 but also in virtual at the beginning of April.

Having a quarter of a century isn’t nothing! The European Short Film Festival of Bordeaux celebrates its 25th birthday this year. Behind this event lies Exterior Night, the dynamic cinephile association of the Kedge Business School in Talence. Each year, since 1994, a small group of students, renewed at each edition, lingers in the preparation of the festival. This year they and they are 24 to concoct this 25th edition marked under the sign of the reunion.

Twenty short films

If the short film is more and more a place in the world of cinema and in particular thanks to slots reserved for television, ceremonies or even national operations, not everyone is a fan of the format yet. Yet in the world, and especially in Europe, small nuggets are to be discovered. ” We receive more than 2000 short films and we watch them all says Annabelle Sylvain, the president of Extérieur Nuit. This year, 21 productions will be visible on March 24 and 25 at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux.

After a great 2019 edition, the festival unfortunately could not be held in 2020, much to the regret of the young organizers. In 2021, the global pandemic linked to Covid-19 prevents the event from being held in the Gambetta cinema. However, it is difficult for the association to stand idly by, which, with courage and pugnacity, has set up a virtual event on the platform CineCapsule. As with each edition, a professional jury of actresses (Sarah Stern, Hugo Becker, Carl Malapa) was even invited to take part in this edition 23 bis whose godfather was none other than Pablo Pauly (“Patient“, “Murder Party“, “The French Dispatch“…) who had been delighted with his arrival in 2019. ” Everywhere in France, connections numbered in the hundreds says Annabelle Sylvain, who was already in the team to lend a hand.

Chalamet, Cissokho and Gavoille in Bordeaux

For this edition number 25, the reunion promises to be intense and may well to be held at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux. The twenty short films screened come from the four corners of the continent (Germany, Spain, Russia, Romania, Portugal, Switzerland…) but also and of course from France or even from the region. The France 3 New Aquitaine jurywill also be responsible for awarding a prize.

A new exceptional jury will be in charge of give their favorites in the animation and fiction categories. For this year, the cast of jurors is made up of Lamine Cissokho, who notably starred in “Titanium” (Palme d’Or in Cannes), Alix Gavoille (“The Little Flakes“and soon”Songs of Revenge” with Julie Gayet) and the New Yorker Pauline Chalametsister of Timothée and above all headliner of the HBO series “The Sex Lives of College Girls” in addition to being a regular in short films. ” They all accepted easily ” enthuses the president of the organizing structure.

Three personalities the public will be able to come and meet on Friday March 25 from 3:00 p.m. at the Mériadeck Library ahead of the opening of the second evening.

In addition to the professional jury prize and the France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine prize, thee student jury will have to pull out a film from the batch while spectators will also have their say with the public’s favourite.

Shorts to see also online

The kick-off of this 25th edition will be given from 8 p.m. this Thursday, March 24 in the Girondin cinema where festival-goers will be magnificently received throughout these two days. For this neat reception, Exterior Night has called on new to its local partners in particular to ensure a four-star cocktail every evening. Count from 8 to 12€ (16€ for the two-night pass). Tickets to book on this link.

Building on its virtual experience last year, the association has also chosen to turn to CinéCapsule because from March 28 to April 4, this twenty European achievements will be to (re) see online on the platform created two years ago to support festivals linked to the 7th art. Count 4€ to enjoy it. ” We are building on last year’s experience and we thought it would be a shame not to continue it and then that the distance allows us to reach an even wider audience. “. Meeting on here from March 28. Until then, it is possible to give a little financial boost to these enthusiasts via their Hello Asso kitty.

[Jérôme Martin-Castéra – photo : FECMB]