War on screen

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Based in the heart of Champagne at La Comète, National Theater of Châlons-en-Champagne, War On Screen is a unique event in the global cultural landscape. Guided by its motto, “Make films, not war!“, the festival explores how cinema depicts, questions, and shapes our understanding of conflict in all its forms.

Festival Origins

Founded in 2013 by the team at La Comète under the leadership of general and artistic director Philippe Bachman, the festival was born on the eve of the First World War centenary commemorations.

Rooted in a region deeply marked by history, the event grew out of a desire to create a space for reflection while boosting the local cultural scene. From the very beginning, the project refused to limit itself to historical commemoration, embracing all representations of conflict—whether declared wars, contemporary geopolitical tensions, societal issues, environmental crises, or real and fictional stories.

A Comprehensive and Diverse Program

Every autumn, War On Screen offers an immersive journey through cinema across a wide range of genres and formats.

The official selection brings together international fiction films, hard-hitting documentaries built from intimate archives, and a short film competition that serves as a launchpad for new creation.

Cinematic heritage plays a vital role through thematic retrospectives and screenings of masterworks, restored or shown on 35mm film.

The event extends beyond Châlons-en-Champagne, taking place across several partner venues in neighboring towns such as Mourmelon-le-Grand and Suippes.

Masterclasses, Guests of Honor, and Panels

The identity of War On Screen is built on mediation, dialogue, and direct engagement with audiences.

Every screening is designed as a space for exchange, followed by debates featuring creative teams, directors, editors, historians, and prominent war correspondents.

Masterclasses are a cornerstone of the festival, offering leading figures in world cinema a platform to share their creative methods, their approach to staging reality, and the ethics of filming in conflict zones.

Over the years, prestigious figures have taken part as speakers, jury members, or guests of honor, including Bertrand Tavernier, Jean-Jacques Annaud, Albert Dupontel, Roland Joffé, Bertrand Blier, István Szabó, Mike Leigh, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Tarik Saleh, Laure Calamy, Niels Schneider, Hiam Abbass, Anne Alvaro, Patrick Chauvel, and Rémy Ourdan.

Juries and Awards

Artistic excellence and fresh perspectives are celebrated through an official competition featuring several awards.

  • The International Jury, composed of renowned film professionals (directors, actors, producers, composers), awards the War On Screen Grand Prix as well as prizes for the feature and short film competitions.
  • The Press Jury brings together critics and journalists from leading media outlets to honor a film’s artistic or journalistic impact.
  • The Student Jury and High School Jury present their own official awards.
  • The Audience Award allows festivalgoers to vote directly after screenings in competition.

An Incubator for Talent

Beyond its film lineup, the festival hosts WoS Fabrique, an international writing and development lab for emerging European filmmakers.

In partnership with major European film schools (such as La Fémis in France, Filmuniversität Babelsberg in Germany, and the Lodz Film School in Poland), this program brings together director-producer duos mentored by industry professionals.

Over several intensive sessions, residents develop their short film projects centered on conflict-related themes before pitching them to industry experts present at the festival.

Key Figures

The success and reach of War On Screen rely on human and economic momentum that has grown steadily since its inception. Each edition welcomes over 20,000 festivalgoers attending screenings and events.

During its first edition in 2013, the festival recorded just over 5,000 entries and featured 100 films representing 25 countries. In 2024, it reached a new milestone with 20,226 entries, 93 films screened, and 43 countries represented.

Every year, the festival welcomes over a hundred international guests, including filmmakers, film crews, jurors, and specialists.

The event relies on the dedication of over fifty volunteers who support the permanent staff at the box office, in public reception, across the festival village, and with guest logistics.

On the financial side, War On Screen benefits from a strong network of institutional, media, and private partners. The festival receives financial support from the City of Châlons-en-Champagne, the Châlons-en-Champagne Conurbation Community, the Marne Department, the Grand Est Region, and the CNC, alongside cultural sponsorship.

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