As we move toward our 17th edition, we wanted to look back at the past decade and take a moment to reflect on the milestones and achievements along the way.
The Paris Film Festival has always been, and remains, fully independent. What began as a weekend gathering for international filmmakers and artists to share films, ideas, and discussions gradually grew into a recognized part of Paris’s independent film and cultural scene.
Our journey has taken us from some of our earliest screenings literally taking place underground to, just a few years later, presenting films at the Grand Rex, one of Europe’s largest cinemas.
Let’s take a look in the rearview mirror and take it all in.
2017: Mélanie Doutey, two time César Award nominee, led our jury.
Program included 34 world premieres, 7 European premieres, and 15 French premieres; meetings with Ken Samuels (Double Team) and Guillaume Faure (Doctor Strange).
2018: Sharon Stone attended the festival in person. The festival took place at the Grand Rex, Europe’s largest movie theater, with a screening of Sgt. Stubby.
2019: The festival continued its international programming and industry activities.
2020: Celebrating our 10 year anniversary with William Baldwin, a Black Lives Matter debate, talent from Star Trek, Easterseals, and the premiere of Sweet Sunshine among 154 films. The same year, the festival launched its first podcast, Spotlight, which featured guests including Torrey DeVitto, Naomi Grossman and Kellan Lutz in its first season.
2021: The program included a Hulu’s Siren reunion with Eline Powell, Fola Evans Akingbola and Rena Owen, a masterclass with Matthias Schweighöfer, and participation from talents such as Weston Cage Coppola, Dedee Pfeiffer, Alex Proyas and Ola Rapace. The festival also screened the documentary Directed By, showing the making of the 72nd Academy Awards ceremony. The festival expanded its coverage in Spanish, and Israeli director Arti Savchenko received four nominations for Vlada Goes to London.
2022: Ama Pure dressed all talents in cashmere dresses for the red carpet.
2023: The PFF was presented on stage at the Film Forum conference in Santa Barbara and partnered with Arts Connection for an international workshop. The documentary Louïz, de l’Evolution à la Révolution, about a trans woman competing in the French pageant system, won Best Feature Documentary.
2024: International launch of the mentorship program, with the producer and director of Mel Gibson’s On the Lineserving as the first mentor.
2025: 15th anniversary celebration with a double program of events and screenings in Paris and Los Angeles, an international delegation from Asia, and strong alumni participation. Queen of Bones, starring Martin Freeman, won Best Feature Film.
2026: Return to the historic movie theater Le Champo, a rooftop event, and a program of talks and panels focusing on distribution and opportunities following the success of Obsession and Darkrooms.