One week after the closure of the 42nd edition of the Traversées film festival, the organization reflects positively on an increase in attendance from April 3 to 11.
For weeks and even months, posters for the 42nd edition of the Traversées film festival could be seen around the town of Lunel. A week after the closing on Saturday, April 11, it is time for the “Pêcheurs d’images,” the organizing association, to assess the outcome.
“We have a 6% increase in attendance compared to last year for the entire festival,” explained Tristan Nédélec, the coordinator in charge of programming and guests. “It’s less than what we had hoped for, but it’s still very positive.” This year, the festival recorded 5,600 entries compared to 5,250 in 2025.
The success of the focus on Spanish cinema was particularly highlighted. “The six films attracted their audience, as did the screenings with guests where we never had less than 60 people per room excluding school groups. That was our goal.” The screening of the documentary “L’Affaire Abdallah” in the presence of director Pierre Carles was especially well-received with 90 individual viewers.
As with every edition, the free screenings remain the most popular. The opening and closing nights attracted a large audience, reinforcing the organization’s decision, made in 2023, to make short film screenings free. “The participatory aspect of these evenings is also highly appreciated,” added Tristan Nédélec. “Audiences like to vote and reward productions they enjoyed.”
Looking ahead to the next edition, the coordinator has clear objectives in mind for the 43rd edition of the festival. “We are satisfied, even though we can always dream for more. In 2027, we would like to expand further and reach a more geographically distant audience, such as viewers from Vergèze or Montpellier. To do this, we must enhance our communication and increase our visibility across the region.”
He also plans to create a “Audience Choice Award for Feature Films.” “We could have audiences vote on a selection of five films in preview. This would be an opportunity to showcase emerging productions and raise our profile.” He also envisions a partnership with cinema students from the University of Montpellier, and aligning dates with Itinérances, the cinema festival in the Ardèche region, with the goal of “collaborating on guest appearances.”
The future looks promising for the upcoming Traversées. “Pêcheurs d’images” now has to envision our next adventures in the Mediterranean.
