The International Political Film Festival will celebrate its ninth anniversary. One thing is certain, the mayor of Carcassonne, Christophe Barthès (RN), will not be with the organizers to blow out the candles. On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the festival administrators unanimously decided to withdraw all requests for support, subsidies, and room rental from the municipality, recently taken over by the far-right party.
“It is an act of independence from the far right, and freedom for us,” assures Henzo Lefèvre, the general delegate of the festival.
“This festival participates in the fight against all forms of discrimination,” he continues. “It defends values of tolerance, we make room for nuance, for perspectives from around the world. The values carried by the National Rally, here and elsewhere, are not ours. We do not share them in this event.”
The festival is therefore giving up the 10,000 euros in subsidies, which represents 5% of its budget, as well as the two rooms provided by the city up to now.
Created in 2018, this festival has become a heavyweight in the cultural scene of Carcassonne. With headliners like Jacques Audiard, Costa Gavras, or Julie Gayet. And public success with over 22,000 spectators last year. This choice of independence is perceived as a political gesture by Christophe Barthès, the new mayor (RN) of Carcassonne. “It shows the tolerance of these people,” he jokes.
“They could have come to talk to the mayor already, we could have discussed the future of this festival together. Too bad. They want to leave, they leave. We will save money for this year.”
And the mayor concludes: “It is a political festival. Maybe we can set up a non-political film festival. We will do something else, we will think about it.”
Henzo Lefèvre is reassuring for his audience: the ninth edition will indeed take place in 2027. The logistical question now arises, with two rooms and 1100 fewer seats in Carcassonne. “We are faced with a reality which is: to leave or to stay, following the choice of independence. We work on everything possible with a priority given to staying.”
Written with Chloé Fabre and Frédéric Guibal.
