CinéCréatis 2026 Jury: discover the winners from the four campuses
After three years of learning, filming, experimentation and creativity, third-year CinéCréatis students brought their course to a close at the 2026 Jury event. Over two days, they presented their professional projects to a jury of film industry professionals before watching their films on the big screen, surrounded by their families, teachers and numerous guests. It was a highlight marking the end of their time at the school and the start of a new professional adventure.
Following the screenings, each campus presented several awards to recognise the artistic and technical quality of the works on display. Here’s a look back at the winners of the 2026 edition.
Bordeaux: a rich and varied list of winners
In Bordeaux, the films were judged by Julien Reynaud, director of photography, and Jérôme Dopffer, producer.
The Cinematography Award went to *Respire*, whilst *Introspection d’une serial killeuse* stood out by winning the Production Award before winning over the audience, who awarded it the Audience Award.
The Jury Prize went to *Lavomatik*, recognising the quality of the film as a whole.
Finally, the jury wished to recognise a particularly striking project by awarding its Special Mention to *La Retirada*.
Lyon: awards that highlight technical mastery
The Lyon jury comprised Christophe Stathopoulos (producer), Sandra Puchois (post-producer) and Emmanuel Théry (director of photography), three professionals who came to share their perspectives on the students’ films.
The award for Best Cinematography ( Composition) was presented to *Empreinte*, whilst *Le Mal des Ardents* (FFDE) distinguished itself twice by winning the award for Best Cinematography ( Lighting ) as well as the award for Best VFX Post-Production.
The audience, meanwhile, awarded the prize to *Metronomie*, whilst the Jury Prize went to *Ce que l’on cherche là-haut*, in recognition of the overall quality of this production.
Montpellier: recognition for all film professions
In Montpellier, the films were judged by a jury comprising Léonie Pokutta (producer), Ronan Dumesnil (VFX supervisor), Clélia Schaeffer (director of photography and documentary filmmaker), Lucien Burger (first assistant cameraman), Benjamin Silvera (first assistant director) and Simon Favier (director of photography).
This year, several technical awards recognised excellence across various specialisms. The award for Best Cinematography went to *Ilex*, whilst *Minuit* received the award for Best Production. In the post-production category, *Quand naissent les herbes fraîches* stood out.
The jury also wished to highlight several achievements with special mentions: *Point Rouge* for its set construction, *Gris* for its art direction, *C’est bon lorsqu’on rêve* in the documentary category, and *Crise* for its direction of actors.
Finally, Ti Prince emerged as the overall winner of this year’s festival, taking home both the Jury Prize and the Audience Award – a double honour that underscores both the recognition of industry professionals and the support of the audience.
Nantes: a double win for *Le St Jean*
In Nantes, the jury comprised Brice Legrand (director and screenwriter), Camille Pacaud (director of photography), Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff (production manager, director and distributor), Sandie Bompar (chief editor), Gaël Soucheleau (director of photography) and Benjamin Latté (editor and motion designer).
The Technical Award was presented to *Saumure*, in recognition of its mastery of cinematic craftsmanship.
The big winner at this year’s Nantes festival, however, was *Le St Jean*, which also achieved a remarkable double by winning both the Audience Award and the Jury Prize, confirming the impact of its world both on audiences and industry professionals.
Congratulations to the whole Class of 2026
Beyond the list of winners, this 2026 edition of the Cinécréatis Jury has once again demonstrated the high standards, creativity and commitment of the students across the four campuses. Behind every award-winning film lies the work of dozens of students who, over the course of three years, have learnt to collaborate, experiment and bring their artistic ambitions to life.
Our heartfelt congratulations go not only to the winners, but also to the entire Class of 2026, who are bringing their time at Cinécréatis to a close with ambitious and promising projects. We wish them every success as they embark on the next stage of their journey in the film and audiovisual industries.
