At the end of an incredible week, as much for its exceptional attendance figures (over 173,000 admissions across the 14 cinemas that hosted this major event) as for the quality of the Market's professional meetings and events, the curtain fell on the 47th edition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival on February 8.
And it has to be said that, despite drastic budget cuts since 2022, the organizers have once again risen to the challenge of showcasing the many colors of a genre whose sole ambition is to reveal the talents of tomorrow.
In all the event's competitive sections (52 French titles selected in National Competition, 13 in International Competition, 8 in Lab Competition), 20 French short films won awards, including the Grand Prix for Genealogy of Violence by Mohamed Bourouissa, produced by Division and Mohamed Bourouissa Studio.
French shorts films awarded at Clermont 2025
- Grand Prix National Competition: Genealogy of Violence by Mohamed Bourouissa
- Special Jury Prize National Competition: Oh Maybe Not Tonight by Kim Fino
- Audience Award National Competition: Two People Exchanging Saliva by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata
- Audience Award International Competition: Upshot by Maha Haj
- Audience Award Lab Competition: Ni Dieu ni père by Paul Kermarec
- SACD Award for Best First Fiction: The Man of Shit by Sorel França
- SACD Award for Best French-language Animation Film: Burattino e la balena (Il) by Roberto Catani
- SACD Award for Best Original Music: Fredrika Stahl for Ashen Sun by Camille Monnier
- Canal+ Award: Two People Exchanging Saliva by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata
- Best Actor Award National Competition: Philippe Rebbot for Death of an Actor by Ambroise Rateau
- National Competition Student Award: The Devil and the Bicycle by Sharon Hakim
- Lab Competition Student Award: Wamè by Joseph Gaï Ramaka
- Fernand Raynaud Laughter Prize: Death of an Actor by Ambroise Rateau
- CNC Talent du court-métrage web: Anechoic by Enzo Croisier
- Bourse CNC Talent: Glorious Basterds by Camille Giry and Justine Lossa
- Special FX Award: Genealogy of Violence by Mohamed Bourouissa
- Special Mention of the National jury: Apocalypse by Benoit Méry
- Special Mention of the International jury: My Brother, My Brother by Abdelrahman Dnewar, Saad Dnewar
- Special Mention of the Lab jury: Memories of an Unborn Sun by Marcel Mrejen
- Special Mention of the National student jury: 43° in the Shade by Pauline Bailay
- Special Mention Canal+ Kids: The Drifting Guitar by Sophie Roze
- Special Mention of the Queer métrage jury: Big Boys Don't Cry by Arnaud Delmarle
To these awards must be added the France Télévisions Prize, traditionally awarded on the occasion of the Clermont-Ferrand Festival. Led by its president Louise Courvoisier (director of Holy Cow and a member of the 10 to Watch d'Unifrance - 2025) the jury for the 15th edition awarded its Grand Prix to The Boy With White Skin by Simon Panay (produced by Bandini Films), while Marylou Cabanel and Rodrigue Toledo reach received an acting prize for their performances in Clamor by Salomé Da Souza (produced by Alta Rocca Films).
As for the Procirep Award for Best Producer, this year it went to Don Quichotte Films, which has been offered a carte blanche program in 2026.
Although French XR did not feature in the 2025 awards, it is worth noting that it was well represented in the selection (three works in Competition and four programmed in Panorama). And for the first time, it made its debut at the Market with a stand entirely dedicated to immersive formats.
The Film Market
It welcomed professionals from all over the world (some 4,000 participants). Of particular note this year was the presence of a large African delegation on the Creation Africa stand: 60 professionals from 18 countries benefited from a tailor-made structuring program (pitch sessions, round tables, screenings, networking....).
Unifrance highlights at the Film Market
The 40th edition of this key networking event took place from February 3 to February 6. Unifrance hosted 11 international sales companies and organizations at its stand: L'Agence du court métrage, Autour de Minuit, Fløw, La Kourmétragerie, La Luna Distribution, Manifest, Miyu, Next Film Distribution, oriGine films, Salaud Morisset, and Shortcuts.
Tuesday, February 4 and Wednesday, February 4
- Networking meetings around films in Competition (in partnership with Sodec, Swiss Films, and Wallonie-Bruxelles Images): 130 participants from 30 countries attended.
- Unifrance round table “Promoting short films on networks and in video games.”
Participants: Clara Marquardt (Les Valseurs), Nina Rebel-Faure (Autour de Minuit), Loïc Le Corre, and Jules Marco (Unifrance). Moderator: Axel Scoffier, General Secretary of Unifrance.
- Round table “Supporting cinema in Africa and building sustainable partnerships."
Participants: Institut français, MEAE, CNC, MansA, Unifrance. Moderator: Séraphine Angoula, Regional Audiovisual Attachée
- Unifrance round table “Promoting and exporting short films internationally: the role of Unifrance and distributors.”
Participants: Nathalie Lebel (L'Agence du court métrage), Léa Alia Triboulet (Salaud Morisset). Moderator: Laurence Reymond, Tiziana D'Egidio (Unifrance)
- Unifrance round table “The distribution and circulation of French short films in Africa.”
In association with the MEAE and Institut Français
Participants: Maguette Betty Danfakha (Dakar Court Festival), Andrea Amber Voges (Durban Film Festival), Anaïs Colpin (Manifest), Claire Diao (Sudu Connexion). Moderator: Nicolas Robida, Cultural and Audiovisual Attaché in Algiers
See you in 2026 for the 48th edition of the festival: from January 30 to February 7!
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