The International Womens Film Festival in Créteil in danger

The International Women’s Film Festival in Créteil is in danger. It was originally scheduled to take place from March 4th to March 12th. However, the removal of a 100,000 euro subsidy by the Val-de-Marne department at the end of the 2025 edition, after years of declining funding, has put its finances at risk.

“The circumstances are not easy to control. The department changed its direction. It was communist for 39 years. When it changed, it became more delicate,” said Jackie Buet, the historical director of FIFF.

However, she is not giving up. “We are looking for private partners, but in the complexity of the current political context, it’s a bit complicated,” she said. The goal is to hold the 48th edition in June or, at worst, in the fall.

A dozen jobs are at stake. So far, only about 20,000 euros have been raised out of the target of 100,000 euros through a subscription. Temporary workers and members of the collective of cinema festival freelancers, “Sous les écrans, la dèche”, are currently in limbo.

Established in 1979 in line with feminist mobilizations of the 1970s, FIFF has played a pioneering role in promoting films made by women. “They were absent from a festival like Cannes until Jane Campion’s Palme d’Or in 1993 for ‘The Piano’, which she shared with the very beautiful film by Chen Kaige, ‘Farewell My Concubine’. With Julia Ducournau and Justine Triet, there have only been three palmes attributed to women in 80 years. We are making progress but the danger of regression is always there.”

Context: The International Women’s Film Festival in Créteil is facing financial challenges after losing a crucial subsidy from the Val-de-Marne department.

Fact Check: The festival aims to raise 100,000 euros through a subscription to secure its future and support its staff.