Festival du court métrage Road Movie (1)

Festival start: 17 September 2027      Festival end: 19 September 2027

Road Movie Festival™ is a new international short film festival organized by the Auto Rétro Cinéma association in La Teste-de-Buch (Arcachon Bay, France). Its first edition will take place September 17-19, 2027.

The festival explores the road movie in its broadest sense: not simply a film set in a car, but any story where movement — physical or inner — drives the narrative. Adventure, self-discovery, crossing a landscape: the journey becomes the true dramatic engine of the film, regardless of the means of travel, or even its absence.

The official selection features 15 to 20 short films competing for the Grand Prix and official awards. The festival also offers out-of-competition sections (Animation Focus, Documentary Focus, Carte Blanche) as well as a Young Audience program for ages 6 and up.

The festival is supported by the City of La Teste-de-Buch, an official partner of this first edition.
The 2027 jury, currently being finalized, already includes Jean-Claude Lagniez (stuntman, 1997 Le Mans 24 Hours-winning driver), Laurent Chiomento (production manager), Elodie Percheron (casting director), and Tom Boudet (actor). Its chair will be announced in May 2027.

Cash Prizes: 6,500€

Road Movie Festival Grand Prix: €3,000 – awarded to the best film across all categories

Jury Prize: €1,500 – special jury mention

Best Directing Award: €1,000 – rewards the film's direction

Best Sound/Score Award: €500 – rewards the musical composition or sound design

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Award: €500 – for a film produced or directed in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

City of La Teste-de-Buch Special Award: subject to confirmation

ROAD MOVIE FESTIVAL

ARTICLE 1 – FESTIVAL PRESENTATION

The Road Movie Festival is an international short film festival dedicated to celebrating the road movie genre and films exploring themes of travel, the road, and movement.

Organizer: Auto Rétro Cinéma association
Dates: 17-18-19 September 2027
Location: La Teste-de-Buch, Arcachon Bay


ARTICLE 2 – OBJECTIVES

The festival aims to:
• Promote contemporary short-form filmmaking
• Showcase works exploring themes of travel and mobility
• Foster exchanges between filmmakers, professionals, and the public
• Discover and reward new talent
• Create a cultural event with regional impact


ARTICLE 3 – SECTIONS AND COMPETITIONS

3.1 Official Selection – In Competition
Films competing for the Grand Prix and official awards.
15 to 20 short films.

Eligibility:
• Runtime: between 5 and 35 minutes (end credits included)
• Format: all formats accepted (fiction, animation, experimental)
• language: all countries, all languages (French subtitles mandatory for foreign-language films)
• Status: completed films, not commercially released in France

3.2 Special Selections – Out of Competition
• Animation Focus: animated short films (all techniques)
• Documentary Focus: creative documentaries
• Carte Blanche: invited works, retrospectives, tributes

3.3 Young Audience Selection
Programming for families and young audiences (ages 6 and up).


ARTICLE 4 – THEMATIC CRITERIA

Submitted films must explore at least one of the following themes:

• Travel and the road (by land, sea, or air)
• The car or vehicle as a character or narrative space
• Movement in all its forms (train, motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc.)
• Flight, wandering, quest
• Encounters linked to travel
• Transformation through movement
• The relationship to territory and landscape


ARTICLE 5 – SUBMISSION CONDITIONS

5.1 Entry procedures

Submission platform:

• Festhome

Required materials:

• Complete technical fact sheet for the film
• Short synopsis (max. 100 words) and long synopsis (max. 300 words)
• Director's biography (max. 150 words)
• HD film stills (minimum 5)
• Film poster (if available)
• Trailer or teaser (if available)
• Secure private viewing link (Vimeo, private YouTube, etc.)
• Screening copy (DCP or digital file, depending on accepted formats)
Accepted technical formats:
• DCP (Digital Cinema Package) – recommended
• Video files: ProRes 422 HQ, high-quality H.264
• Minimum resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD)
• subtitles: separate SRT file for non-French-language films

5.2 Entry fees

• French films: €50
• International films: €80

Entry fees are non-refundable, regardless of the selection committee's decision.

5.3 Timeline
• Submissions open: September 2026
• Submissions close: June 2027
• Official selection announced: July 2027


ARTICLE 6 – SELECTION PROCESS

6.1 Selection committee
A committee of 4 to 5 film professionals reviews all submitted films and establishes the official selection.

Indicative composition:
• Cinema owner
• Director
• Film critic
• Distributor or producer
• Festival organization representative

6.2 Selection criteria
Films are assessed on:
• Artistic and technical quality
• Originality of subject matter and form
• Relevance to the festival's themes
• Coherence of the overall program

6.3 Notifications
All directors who submitted films will receive a response by email.

The selection committee is not required to justify its choices. Its decisions are final and not subject to appeal.


ARTICLE 7 – OBLIGATIONS OF SELECTED FILMS

7.1 Attendance
Directors of films selected for competition are strongly encouraged to attend the festival in order to:
• Introduce their film
• Take part in Q&A sessions
• Meet the public and industry professionals
• Attend the awards ceremony
Subject to available budget, the festival covers for the director:
• Accommodation during the festival (2 nights)
• Free access to all screenings
• Invitations to official events (receptions, evening events)

7.2 Exclusivity
Selected films commit to:

• Not being publicly screened in France between the selection announcement and the end of the festival
• Announcing their selection on their social media and promotional materials
• Using the "Road Movie Festival Official Selection" label on all advertising and press materials relating to the film, before the end of the festival

7.3 Screening materials
Selected directors must provide:
• DCP or HD MP4-type screening file
• Burned-in French subtitles or a separate SRT file (for non-French-language films)
• Mandatory technical check prior to screening
The festival reserves the right to withdraw from the program any film that does not meet the required technical standards.


ARTICLE 8 – RIGHTS AND AUTHORIZATIONS

8.1 Screening rights
By submitting a film, the director or producer guarantees that they:

• Hold all rights necessary for the public screening of the film
• Have obtained all required clearances (music, archive footage, etc.)
• The film does not infringe any copyright, image rights, or other intellectual property rights
The festival disclaims all liability in the event of a rights dispute.

8.2 Broadcast authorization
By taking part in the festival, directors grant, free of charge and without time limit:

• The public screening of the film during the festival
• The use of excerpts (maximum 3 minutes) for festival promotion (trailers, news features, social media)
• The reproduction of film stills and images in the festival's communication materials
• The preservation of the film in the festival's archives

This authorization does not grant the festival any commercial exploitation rights.

8.3 Post-festival distribution
Award-winning films authorize the festival to organize non-commercial screenings as part of:

• Regional touring screenings within the year following the festival
• Partner cultural events
• School or university screenings
The director is informed in advance and retains all commercial exploitation rights.


ARTICLE 9 – JURY AND awards

9.1 Jury composition
The official jury is composed of 7 members, all recognized film and arts professionals:

• 1 chair
• 6 members (director, cinematographer, editor, composer, programmer, critic, stunt performer, actor, etc.)

The jury's decisions are sovereign. Deliberations are confidential and decisions are final.

9.2 awards

Road Movie Festival Grand Prix: €3,000 – awarded to the best film across all categories

Jury Prize: €1,500 – special jury mention

Best Directing Award: €1,000 – rewards the film's direction

Best Sound/Score Award: €500 – rewards the musical composition or sound design

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Award: €500 – for a film produced or directed in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

City of La Teste-de-Buch Special Award: subject to confirmation

9.4 Award rules
• A film may receive more than one award (except the Grand Prix, which is incompatible with the Jury Prize)
• The jury may decide not to award a prize if no film is deemed worthy
• The jury may grant special mentions (without cash award)
• Decisions are announced at the closing ceremony

9.5 Award presentation
Official ceremony: Sunday evening (final day of the festival).

Prize money payment terms:
• Bank transfer within 30 days following the festival
• Paid to the director or production company (as per contract)
• Subject to providing bank details (RIB)


ARTICLE 10 – DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION

10.1 Communication materials
The festival publishes:
• An official catalogue (print and digital) presenting all films
• A program distributed to the public
• Digital materials (website, social media)
Directors provide the promotional materials (photos, texts, etc.) for these publications.

10.2 Media coverage
The festival invites:
• Specialized film press (national and regional)
• Local general-interest media
• Automotive and cultural media
Directors may be asked to give interviews before, during, and after the festival.


ARTICLE 11 – ACCREDITATION

11.1 Types of accreditation
Accreditation is paid:
• Industry professionals and press: €30
Industry professionals: distributors, producers, programmers, critics
• Free access to all screenings
• Access to industry events
• Press kit
Press: journalists, photographers, videographers
• Free access to all screenings
• Access to the press area
• Press kit

11.2 Applying for accreditation
online form available on the festival website.
deadline: 15 days before the festival opens.


ARTICLE 12 – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

12.1 Amendments to these rules
The festival reserves the right to amend these rules. Any amendment will be published on the official website.

12.2 Cancellation
In the event of force majeure (pandemic, disaster, etc.), the festival reserves the right to:
• Cancel the edition
• Postpone the dates
• Offer a hybrid or online format
Entry fees will not be refunded, but selected films will retain their selected status for the following edition.

12.3 Liability
The festival cannot be held liable for:
• Loss, theft, or damage to film screening copies
• Expenses incurred by directors (travel, accommodation) in the event of cancellation
• Disputes concerning film rights

12.4 Insurance
Directors are strongly advised to take out insurance covering:
• The screening copy
• Their travel and stay
• Their civil liability

12.5 Data protection
Personal data collected during submissions is used solely for the purposes of the festival and in accordance with the GDPR. Directors may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their data.

12.6 Acceptance of these rules
Submitting a film to the festival constitutes unreserved acceptance of these rules.


ARTICLE 13 – CONTACT
Auto Rétro Cinéma
Road Movie Festival
5 Rue Fernand Léger, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch, France

General inquiries: contact@roadmoviefestival.fr
Submissions: selection@roadmoviefestival.fr
Press: presse@roadmoviefestival.fr
Accreditation: accreditation@roadmoviefestival.fr
Website: www.roadmoviefestival.fr


ARTICLE 14 – DISPUTES
Any dispute relating to the interpretation or application of these rules falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the French courts.