First international competition of medium films

The medium film, a free format

Medium-length films, 30 to 60 minutes long, were the primary medium for the beginnings of cinema and are a means of expression chosen by great filmmakers. Although short-length films have made a come-back for the last twenty years, thanks to the creation of festivals dedicated to this format, there is also a new enthusiasm for films lasting more than 30 minutes. This is due to the maturity of the short film sector and the desire of directors and producers to experiment with other possibilities both in filmmaking and in production. These films allow authors to develop their staging, to work more personally on the narration, to deepen their characters and to address new topics.

These works lacked a place that was fully dedicated to them and that would seal the encounter between professionals and spectators. To be that place is the objective of the Brive International Medium-Length Film Meetings

First festival dedicated to medium-length films

Created in 2004 by Katell Quillévéré and Sébastien Bailly through the Société des réalisatrices et réalisateurs de films (SRF), the Brive International Medium-Length Film Meetings is supported by important partners – the City of Brive-la-Gaillarde, the Corrèze Department, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Ministry of Culture (DRAC), the CNC – as well as many private companies.

This festival is a meeting place between the public and the professionals around a format still too little diffused. The very diverse programming reflects the vitality of this film format, we can find more than a hundred screenings, a competition of recent films, themes, tributes, school programs, round-tables and a cine-concert.

The festival is also a convivial moment for the public and professionals to interact: presentation of the films by their directors, producers, actors or technicians; casual meetings between the teams and the public around an aperitif, along with image education, debates and talks around discoveries of rare works.

The Brive Festival is the first festival entirely devoted to this format. The industry immediately recognized it as an important place of defence of creation and an unique gateway to the public. In 2022, more than 150 professionals came to Brive for what is recognized by the National Centre of Cinematography (CNC) as a festival of primary importance (ranking Category 1 in 2006).
Both national and regional presses followed the developments of the event since its very first edition. Finally, it’s the public that has made this festival a true place of exchanges with filmmakers. Attendance is increasing each year, in 2022 for the 19th edition there were over 6,000 admissions.