“The first year, we welcomed 270 spectators. Now we are around 600,” announces Mickael Achard, organizer of the event with Manon Dalet. This year’s program includes films exploring LGBTQI+ themes, screened in seven municipalities in Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, an exhibition, and exchange sessions. Short films are in the spotlight here. On Friday, April 24, the Albret cinema in Vieux-Boucau will show ten queer short films, mostly European, spanning various cinematic categories such as documentaries, animated films, and fiction. “The audience can vote for their favorite short film, and a prize of €400 will be awarded to the winning director,” says Mickael Achard. The festival continues the next day with the animated film “Lesbian Space Princess,” which raises questions about gender equality. The screening will be at the Cinéma Le Grand Club in Mont-de-Marsan at 7 pm, followed by an exchange session at the Jungle Café. On Tuesday, April 28, at the Grand Club cinema in Dax, the film “Julian,” inspired by a book by Fleur Pierets, an LGBT+ artist and activist, will be shown. The film depicts the story of Fleur and Julian, two women who fall deeply in love and decide to marry in every country where their union can be legally recognized. The screening is organized in partnership with the League of Human Rights and Fiertés Landes, an LGBTQIA+ association that will host the Pride March in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax on Saturday, May 16, 2026. On Wednesday, April 29, the festival moves to Chalosse territories with the film “Skiff” at the Entracte cinema in Mugron. “The film explores the identity quest of a teenager regarding gender and sexuality,” notes Mickael Achard. An exhibition will also be held on Thursday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 6, in Pau and Bayonne. It will feature the screening of the documentary “Pédale rurale” by the Béarn director Antoine Vazquez at the Atalante cinema, followed by the film “J’en suis, j’y reste” by Marine Place at the Méliès cinema. “The film delves into the life of a center in Lille that hosts LGBT+ migrants. Recently, Senegal adopted a law more strictly punishing homosexuality,” recalls Mickael Achard. The festival will conclude in Landes with two films (“Maspalomas” and “Deux”) showcased at the Grand Ecran cinema in Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. The association Nos Couleurs, fighting against discriminations and advocating for the rights of LGBTI individuals, has created the exhibition “Le Cinéma, witness of LGBT+ people” which traces the evolution of cinema’s portrayal of LGBT+ themes. As part of the festival, it will be displayed in Vieux-Boucau, Mont-de-Marsan, Mugron, Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, and Pau. Complete program on Focales.net.”
