Founded in 1978 by the Bibliothèque publique d’information (BPI) at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Cinéma du Réel is one of the world’s most prestigious and long-standing international documentary film festivals. The festival showcases a wide array of documentary forms, from direct cinema and intimate portraits to video essays and geopolitical frescos. It aims to foster dialogues between historical achievements and contemporary experiments, exploring the thin line between reality and representation.

Over the decades, Cinéma du Réel has become an indispensable hub for documentary filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences globally. Through screenings, retrospectives, and discussions, the festival provides a crucial platform for discussing aesthetic developments, social themes, and political realities. Committed to critical reflection and discovery, it continues to uncover unique works, elevate emerging voices, and redefine the landscape of non-fiction cinema.