A jury of students from the Alliance Française de Lyon at the Vaulx-en-Velin Short Film Festival
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Le Festival du Film Court de Vaulx-en-Velin a not-to-be-missed event for film fans. Organised in the town of Vaulx-en-Velin by the association ‘Un poing c’est court!’, the festival stands out for its varied programme, combining emerging talent and daring productions. One of the festival’s special features is the involvement of a jury of students from the Alliance Française de Lyon, who award the Prix de la Francophonie.
A look back at a day at the festival for the student jurors from the Alliance Française de Lyon
The festival: a meeting place
Festival presentation
The Vaulx-en-Velin Short Film Festival is much more than just a film event: it’s a cultural crossroads, a meeting place for filmmakers, actors, film fans and students. Every year, it attracts films from all over the world, exploring social, political and artistic themes that resonate with contemporary issues.
Student choice
For several years now, the Alliance Française de Lyon has been offering its students the opportunity to become a jury for this festival. Interested students can apply through the school. Once the jury has been selected, it receives training to understand its role and specificities. Joseph Reincke, Estelle Mendonca and Ekaterina Shipitsova will represent the Alliance Française de Lyon at this festival.
The morning: a time to meet
Welcome
The day starts early for the 3 student jurors: at 10am they are already on deck at Les Amphis cinema in Vaulx-en-Velin. Before diving into the screenings, the festival organisers take the time to welcome them, explain the day’s proceedings and remind them of the challenges of their mission: to judge the films in competition while highlighting the cultural and artistic diversity of the French-speaking world.
1st and 2nd screenings
The morning is devoted to the first screenings. The films, which cover a wide range of genres and styles, are screened for the jury members over two sessions of around an hour and a half each. Each short film is followed by a period of personal reflection during which the students take notes on what they have seen, noting their impressions of the narrative, artistic direction, acting and engagement with the chosen themes.
Afternoon: debates and deliberations
3rd and 4th sessions
The afternoon is devoted to screening the films remaining in the competition. The jury continues its viewing mission, deepening its reflections on the films and their impact. The jurors begin to see links between the different short films, compare artistic choices and reflect on how each work expresses values. They need to remain fully concentrated after 6 hours of screenings.
The deliberations
After watching more than 24 short films from France, Lebanon, Senegal, Quebec, Albania, Afghanistan, Syria, Belgium, Mali, Algeria, Nepal, etc. created around themes as different as they are impactful, it was time for our three students to deliberate. Each juror presents his or her favourite films, justifying their choices with precise, well-considered arguments. This is an important moment, because the students have to agree on a short film that has particularly touched them and that best embodies the values of the festival.
At the end of the evening, the students chose their favourite short film, which will be revealed on Saturday 25 at the festival’s closing ceremony. The Prix de la Francophonie, worth 500 euros, will then be awarded to the director of the short film that has convinced the Alliance Française de Lyon jury.
This day, marked by the diversity of films and points of view, is a formative and enriching experience for the students. It enables them to develop their critical faculties while discovering works that will undoubtedly be talked about for years to come.
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