Dedicated to uncovering new talents in European cinema, the Premiers Plans festival is a competition for around a hundred debut films - all genres taken together - that lasts for a whole week in Angers. It takes place in January and enables young filmmakers to reveal their cinematographic works to a passionate, enthusiastic audience. With over 70,000 spectators each year, the Premiers Plans festival is now established as an iconic gathering for the silver screen in France.
The festival is supported and sponsored by cinema celebrities like Gérard Depardieu, Patrice Chéreau, Fanny Ardant and Jeanne Moreau. Since it was created in 1989, the competition has revealed many now famous directors like Arnaud Desplechin, François Ozon, Mathieu Amalric, and Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Alongside the competition there are retrospectives, script readings by professional actors, symposia and documentary screenings. Meetings between the public and directors are also organised.
