Gérardmer Festival 2026: The 33rd Edition Puts Indonesia in the Spotlight

The International Fantastic Film Festival, the leading cinema event in the Grand Est region, returns to Gérardmer from January 27 to February 1, 2026. The festival will pay tribute to British filmmaker Neil Marshall while shining a spotlight on Indonesian cinema with a dedicated focus on screenwriter and director Joko Anwar.

Each year, with the support of the CNC (National Centre for Cinema and the Animated Image), the Gérardmer Festival navigates the world of fantasy and horror cinema by selecting around forty films, the vast majority of which are previews or unreleased works. For its 33rd edition scheduled from January 27 to February 1, 2026, the event will present a program centered around the theme “Unmasked.”

The festival has also unveiled its first highlights. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the film The Descent, the Gérardmer Festival will welcome Neil Marshall, a prominent figure in British fantasy and horror, as part of the tribute “Descent into the Heart of Darkness with Neil Marshall…” The filmmaker will present his work restored in 4K by Pathé and discuss his career, influences, and the genesis of The Descent during a masterclass at the city’s Maison de la Culture et des Loisirs.

Furthermore, following a focus on Vietnamese cinema last year, the Gérardmer Festival will honor Indonesian cinema this year. As part of the program “Fear Made in Indonesia,” supported by the French Embassy in Indonesia – Institut français d’Indonésie, the festival will host screenwriter and director Joko Anwar. He will present several iconic works from his filmography, which includes Satan’s Slaves, Impetigore, and Modus Anomali.

A Foundation Geared Towards Businesses and Individuals

Gérardmer Culture Initiatives runs a patron club aimed at regional and national businesses, also open to individuals, with the following fields of action:

• Enabling the festival to exist, develop, and continue to innovate,
• Developing activities, meetings, and educational initiatives during the event,
• Supporting other cultural projects carried out throughout the year in the region.

Members of this club also participate in other events throughout the year that help showcase the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Gérardmer region.

The Gérardmer Festival: The Premier Cinema Event in the Grand Est Region

The Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival is managed by an association comprising 60 members and mobilizing 600 volunteers on the ground! It also features:

• Around forty films screened annually, the majority of which are previews or unreleased works, resulting in approximately 100 screenings and 40,000 admissions.
• A feature film jury and a short film jury composed of French and international personalities from cinema, television, arts, and media.
• About twenty nationalities represented each year among attending teams and selected films.
• Not only cinema but also numerous free activities: exhibitions, concerts, a literary salon, makeup workshops, youth activities… for families to enjoy together.
• Nearly 600 accredited professionals (artists, journalists, industry professionals, etc.).
• An event that generates employment and economic benefits (according to various INSEE studies, the festival ranks among the events in the Grand Est region with the most significant impact on the tourism economy).