Cinematographic Territories

From 5 July to 24 July 2025 at the Cinemas Uotpia of Avignon

The Territoires cinématographiques creates a dialogue between live theatre and cinema, in collaboration with the Utopia cinemas in Avignon. Each day, film screenings are followed by discussions where audiences have the chance to meet and engage with artists, choreographers, filmmakers, activists, critics, and journalists invited to the Festival d’Avignon. These moments represents an opportunity to expand our perspective on the themes explored on stage, to discover films from diverse cultures, and to connect with parallel events such as the Café des idées.

The screenings will be conducted by several key moments: the "Territoires de la langue" will highlight films from Arab culture, resonating with the invited language of the year. The "Ciné-meetings" will offer the opportunity to exchange with artists following the screenings. Marlene Monteiro Freitas, the 2025 associate artist, will offer an immersion into the cinema of Pedro Costa, while Milo Rau, Caroline Gillet, Nemo Flouret, and other voices of the Festival will also present their selection of films.

See the full program

From stage to screen: films that creates an echo with the Festival play's and carry their stories further.

• One’s Own Room Inside Kabul, by Caroline Gillet, Kubra Khademi, and Sumaia Sediqi, resonates with the Afghan Marathon, a selection of films that continue to weave stories of exile and resistance.

• With Laaroussa Quartet, Selma and Sofiane Ouissi share a choreodocumentary work, accompanied by two documentaries that give to the public a deeper look into their creative process.

• Derniers Feux by Nemo Flouret finds a cinematic echo in a short film of the same title - another doorway to enter into the artist’s world.

• Le Théâtre du Radeau preserves the memory and work of François Tanguy through a curated selection of films immersing the viewers in the company’s singular universe.

• Aurélie Charon presents her piece Radio Live at Théâtre Benoît-XII, along with the film La Bande de Français, which continues the thread of her creative journey. In parallel, Les Fantômes will also be screened, exploring similar themes and resonances.

• Through the screening of Father’s Day, Dida Nibagwire and Frédéric Fisbach extend the emotional and political echoes of Gahugu Gato.

Every morning at 11 a.m., a series of films from Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, and other countries in the Arab world questions resistance, social struggles, and cultural identities. Several key themes emerge:

The subject of childhood in the face of a troubled world, with Capharnaüm by Nadine Labaki. Portraits of strong and free women, with The Blue Caftan by Maryam Touzani, Four Daughters (Les Filles d’Olfa) by Kaouther Ben Hania, and The Perfect Candidate by Haifaa Al Mansour. Family memory, with Their Algeria and Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soualem.

Marlene Monteiro Freitas, artiste complice de l’édition, invite Pedro Costa, figure majeure du cinéma portugais, avec cinq films habités par la voix des oubliés.

• Casa de lava (Down to earth) (Portugal, drama, 1994, 1h 50, Original version with French subtitles) | 11am

• As filhas do fogo (The Daughters of Fire) (Portugal, short film, 2023, 9min, Original version with French subtitles) | 3pm

• Vitalina Varela (Portugal, drama, 2019, 2h04, Original version with French subtitles) | 4pm

• No quarto da Vanda (In Vanda's Room) In Vanda's Room (Portugal, documentary drama, 2000, 2h50, Original version with French subtitles) | 7pm

• Juventude em marcha (Colossal Youth) (Portugal, drama, 2006, 2h 36, Original version with French subtitles) | 10pm

  Screening The Daughters of Fire followed by a discussion with Pedro Costa.

Every morning at 10:30am, screenings are specially curated for young viewers. Created as an educational and artistic extension of the Festival, these sessions invite children to discover childhood stories and cultures through the lens of the Arabic language. They offer a sensitive and enriching journey into other worlds, where timeless classics like The Adventures of Prince Achmed and Azur & Asmar meet contemporary gems such as Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo, The Tree of Stories, and Girafada.