Relive the films, series, talents and stories that have marked the Nikon Film Festival.
For its sixteenth edition, the Nikon Film Festival explored “Beauty” — its standards, its artifice, and what it reveals about the way we see others. Filmmaker Nathan Ambrosioni chaired an edition marked by the continued development of the mini-series competition alongside the Festival’s long-established short film format, as well as a new participation record. L’Éclat by Tansi Makele and Prunelle by Camille Charavet received the Jury Grand Prix in their respective competitions. After taking part in several editions of the Festival with her short films, Enya Baroux went on to direct the series Fleur bleue, followed by her first feature film, On ira. In 2026, she returned to the Festival as a member of the jury, alongside two other former participants, Paola Locatelli and Salif Cissé. Joining Nathan Ambrosioni on the jury that year were Paola Locatelli, Salif Cissé, Émilie Tronche, Enya Baroux, Harry Tordjman, Juliette Ménager, Pascale Faure, Mélodie Prêel and Alexandre Dino.
To mark its fifteenth anniversary, the Nikon Film Festival invited filmmakers to imagine “A Superpower.” Moving beyond traditional notions of heroism, the films turned vulnerabilities, differences and human qualities into extraordinary powers. Chaired by Noémie Merlant, the jury awarded its Grand Prix to Maxime Lorgerie’s Monsieur Pioche. Joining Noémie Merlant on the jury that year were Kyan Khojandi, Anaïde Rozam, Julien de Saint-Jean, Laetitia Dosch, Karidja Touré, Julien Carpentier, Pascale Faure, Jacques Ballard and Alexandre Dino.
Inner fire, desire, destruction or rebirth: the fourteenth edition invited filmmakers to embrace a theme as visually powerful as it was symbolic. More than 2,700 films were submitted to the jury chaired by Quentin Dupieux, setting a new participation record. The Grand Prix was awarded to Charlie Moreno’s Le Plein, which was also recognised for its sound design. Joining Quentin Dupieux on the jury that year were Raphaël Quenard, Juliette Armanet, Nora Hamzawi, Vanessa Guide, Zita Hanrot, Seb, Marine Albert, Élodie Tahtane, Pascale Faure and Alexandre Dino.
Luck, superstition, a turning point in life or simply a number: 13 offered filmmakers particularly fertile ground for creativity. Chaired by Alexandre Astier, the jury notably recognised Tears Come From Above by Margaux Fazio and Manon Stutz. This experimental work, created using artificial intelligence tools, received both the Jury Grand Prix and the International Award. Joining Alexandre Astier on the jury that year were Pio Marmaï, Caroline Anglade, Mariama Gueye, Luciole, François Descraques, Maud Chalard, Romain Quirot, Guillemette Odicino, David Bertrand, Jean-Marie Dreujou, Pascale Faure and Alexandre Dino.
The twelfth edition opened the door to the imagination with the theme “A Dream.” Fantasies, ambitions, memories and nightmares gave filmmakers the opportunity to navigate between realism and fantasy. Chaired by Gilles Lellouche, the jury recognised films that reflected an increasingly bold approach to both storytelling and visual expression. Once again, the Festival set a new participation record, with more than 1,600 short films in competition that year. Joining Gilles Lellouche on the jury were Audrey Diwan, Aïssa Maïga, Lyna Khoudri, Augustin Trapenard, Pierre Lescure, Judith Chalier, Pascale Faure, Julien Neutres, Clara Runaway and Alexandre Dino.
Childhood games, role-playing, manipulation or competition: the eleventh edition turned the theme “A Game” into a multitude of stories. Chaired by Éric Judor and held entirely online due to the global health crisis, the Festival further expanded its international reach with the introduction of the International Award. Julien Carpentier received the Best Director Award. He later went on to direct his first feature film, La Vie de ma mère, starring Agnès Jaoui, William Lebghil and Salif Cissé, released in 2024, followed by the series Dear You, released in 2025. Joining Éric Judor on the jury that year were Alice Belaïdi, Louise Bourgoin, Reda Kateb, Jonathan Cohen, Maïmouna Doucouré, Nathalie Chéron, Thierry Chèze, Pascale Faure, Julien Neutres, Guillemette Odicino and Alexandre Dino.
For its tenth edition, the Nikon Film Festival gave a voice to “A Generation,” exploring what brings together, divides and defines those who grow up in the same era. Once again chaired by Cédric Klapisch, the jury announced the winners online after the awards ceremony at Le Grand Rex was cancelled due to the lockdown. An anniversary edition that, through circumstances no one could have anticipated, became a historic one. Joining Cédric Klapisch on the jury that year were Thierry Chèze, Jonathan Cohen, Ana Girardot, Eye Haïdara, Julien Neutres, Guillemette Odicino, Rod Paradot, Pascale Faure and Alexandre Dino.
For the first time, the Festival moved away from the “I Am” theme format, embracing a new theme: “Sharing.” Under the presidency of Marjane Satrapi, filmmakers explored ideas of transmission, solidarity and collective experience, as well as the divisions they could reveal. This edition also marked the beginning of the CNC’s support for the Festival’s emerging talent. After receiving an acting award in 2018, Marc Riso returned the following year as co-director of Partage., which went on to win the Jury Grand Prix. Joining Marjane Satrapi on the jury that year were Pio Marmaï, François Civil, Alice Isaaz, Louane, Pascale Faure, Guillemette Odicino, Élisha Karmitz, Thierry Chèze and Alexandre Dino.
Precious gifts, unexpected surprises and poisoned presents provided the inspiration for the eighth edition, chaired by acclaimed actress and filmmaker Emmanuelle Bercot. New awards celebrating cinematography, sound and acting were added to the list of honours, reflecting the Festival’s commitment to recognising the full range of creative talent involved in bringing a film to life. After receiving the Canal+ Award the previous year, Noémie Merlant returned to the Festival just one year later, this time as a member of the jury. Joining Emmanuelle Bercot on the jury that year were Pierre Niney, Marie Gillain, Hugo Gélin, Noémie Merlant, Pascale Faure, Guillemette Odicino, Élisha Karmitz, Thierry Chèze and Alexandre Dino.
Encounters were at the heart of the seventh edition. Romantic, friendly, unexpected or life-changing, they became the starting point for hundreds of stories. Filmmaker Cédric Klapisch chaired a jury bringing together figures from the worlds of cinema, digital creation, film criticism and distribution. This edition also marked Noémie Merlant’s first steps behind the camera. She made her directorial debut with Je suis #unebiche, which received the Canal+ Award — a first step that paved the way for her future career as a filmmaker. Joining Cédric Klapisch on the jury that year were Lisa Azuelos, Kyan Khojandi, Pascale Faure, Guillemette Odicino, Éponine Momenceau, Élisha Karmitz, Stéphane Leblanc, Éric Wojcik and Alexandre Dino.
For its sixth edition, the Nikon Film Festival invited filmmakers to build their stories around a single gesture. Affection, solidarity, rebellion or separation: body language became a powerful narrative force. Chaired by actor Jacques Gamblin, the jury rewarded films in which the direction gave meaning to even the slightest movement. A few years later, Cyprien Iov revealed a rather unlikely secret: the mysterious smell of decay that had disrupted the jury’s deliberations — and even made its way into speeches during the awards ceremony — had, in fact, been coming from his own trousers. #Odourgate Joining Jacques Gamblin on the jury that year were Cyprien Iov, Élisha Karmitz, Cyril Barthet, Éric Guichard, Pascale Faure, Stéphane Leblanc, Guillemette Odicino, Éric Wojcik and Ludovic Dréan.
Choosing, hesitating or walking away: the fifth edition confronted its characters with decisions that could change the course of a story. Academy Award-winning director of The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius, chaired the jury for an edition that also marked the beginning of the Festival’s partnership with Canal+. The partnership gave award winners the opportunity to have their films broadcast on television, as well as support in developing a new, longer-form project. The Festival continued to grow, with nearly 1,100 short films in competition that year. Joining Michel Hazanavicius on the jury were Pascale Faure, Élisha Karmitz, Guillemette Odicino, Éric Wojcik and Ludovic Dréan.
The fourth edition invited filmmakers to turn memory into cinema. Intimate memories, traces of the past and reconstructed moments inspired the films presented to the jury chaired by Charles Berling. The Grand Prix, awarded to Je suis un vague souvenir, notably brought Romain Quirot to wider attention. He would go on to direct feature films before returning to the Festival in 2023 as a member of the jury. Quirot subsequently directed Le Dernier Voyage de l’énigmatique Paul W.R., first as a short film and later as a feature, followed more recently by Apaches. Joining Charles Berling on the jury that year were Pascale Faure, Élisha Karmitz, Guillemette Odicino, Éric Wojcik and Ludovic Dréan.
With “I Am a Fan,” the third edition explored passion, admiration and the sometimes all-consuming bonds between audiences and their idols. Actress Virginie Ledoyen chaired a jury that discovered films infused with humour, playful subversion and popular culture. The Festival’s growing success was confirmed, with more than 500 short films in competition that year. Joining Virginie Ledoyen on the jury were Pascale Faure, Élisha Karmitz, Guillemette Odicino, Éric Wojcik and Stéphanie Dugas.
For its second edition, the Nikon Film Festival looked to the future with the theme “I Am the Future.” Under the presidency of actress and producer Julie Gayet, filmmakers explored the hopes, concerns and transformations shaping the world to come. This edition reaffirmed the Festival’s core ambition: to discover and champion the filmmaking talent of tomorrow.
For its inaugural edition, the Nikon Film Festival invited filmmakers to share their vision of a hero in just 140 seconds. Chaired by director François Ozon, the jury discovered the first films of a festival that already placed emerging talent and ultra-short storytelling at the heart of its identity. The ten finalists of this very first edition were showcased during a special screening at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival — a prestigious way to take those first steps. Pierre-André Le Leuch’s Je suis ton héroïne won both the Jury Grand Prix and the Audience Award. A total of 300 short films were in competition that year.
Since 2010, the Nikon Film Festival has been revealing talent and supporting the new generation of filmmakers.
Built for videographers and filmmakers on the move, the new Nikon ZR is the lightest all-in-one cinema camera around.