Thirty-seventh installment of the General Statements highlights international disputes in Documentary Film realm
The 37th edition of the Lussas Documentary Festival, officially named États généraux du film documentaire, will take place from August 17 to August 23, 2025, in Lussas, Ardèche, France. This annual event is a key gathering for documentary cinema, featuring film screenings, professional seminars, meetings, and workshops for both public and professionals.
Over the six-day festival, around 130 films will be screened across multiple venues within Lussas, including five theaters and a video library, as well as outdoor screenings in nearby villages and projections in private homes. The festival is renowned for showcasing a broad range of francophone and European documentary productions, retrospectives, tributes, and special event films.
While the available official program details for 2025 do not explicitly list a thematic focus on Gaza or emancipation, there is an emphasis on varied social, political, and cultural documentary films, often reflecting contemporary issues. For instance, the festival will screen a documentary by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi about Gaza photographer Fatem Hassouna, who was killed in April. Additionally, three Palestinian films are scheduled for this year's event.
Other films at the festival explore emancipation in Algeria and West Germany during the 1970s. The festival also screens works supported by the Centre National des Arts Plastiques (CNAP), such as À l’heure la plus silencieuse and Libertalia, which touch on themes of territory, community inventiveness, and cultural rituals but do not concern Gaza or emancipation directly.
The festival encourages systematic exchanges between film crews and the public, making it a unique moment of meeting for both professionals and amateur spectators. Tickets for the festival can be purchased online and at the venue starting August 17, with box offices opening 45 minutes before each screening.
During the event, the population of Lussas increases by five times, with over 5,000 visitors attending. It is worth noting that the festival does not have a competition or a prize ceremony. Christophe Postic serves as the artistic director of the event.
For the most detailed and updated program, including thematic highlights and schedules, consult the official festival site or the ticketing platform as the event approaches. Attendees can look forward to a diverse and engaging lineup of documentaries that will provide insights into various aspects of contemporary life.
