The new RN town hall of Carcassonne and the International Political Film Festival have reached a final separation. The association has withdrawn its request for funding from the municipality, citing “the incompatibility of the festival’s values” with the far-right party. The 9th edition’s location is still to be determined.
To clearly state its position, the International Political Film Festival (FIFP) withdrew its request for funding from the newly elected RN municipality of Carcassonne. This decision was made unanimously by the organizing association CinéBastide on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
This decision was motivated by “the incompatibility of the values of tolerance, freedom, and inclusion championed by the festival” with “the orientations of the National Rally,” and the refusal to contribute to “normalizing the far-right.”
Florent Ghisi, 2nd deputy to Mayor Christophe Barthés, praised this situation, claiming that the festival “possesses no neutrality.” Questions arise about the familiarity of the elected official, responsible for youth and communication, with the festival, which covers a broad range of topics such as agriculture, social justice, war, democratic crises, and feminist struggles – values that are difficult to reconcile with the far-right.
The festival intends to “not seek any support, direct or indirect, from the new municipal majority.” While the city’s annual subsidies amounted to only “10,000” euros, representing 5% of the event’s budget, finding screening venues in Carcassonne could prove to be a more challenging task.
Apart from the Dome and the Odéum, owned by the municipality and used for the festival’s programming, the Colisée, a CGR cinema, remains the only private venue in the city capable of hosting FIFP screenings. Accommodating 24,500 people, the attendance of the 2026 edition, is no small feat: “We are working on finding ways to adapt. Obviously, to remain aligned with our principle of independence, the festival will change its format,” explains Henzo Lefèvre, the general delegate.
While the edition is still scheduled to take place, the location of the International Political Film Festival remains uncertain. Will it remain in Carcassonne, or will it spread its culture to the outskirts of the city center?
