Reims Polar 2026: Gus Van Sant, Claire Denis and 40 films to discover from March 31 to April 5

From March 31 to April 5, 2026, Reims Polar returns for an exceptional sixth edition. For six days, this international crime film festival brings together film buffs, professionals and fans of the noir genre for screenings, meetings and masterclasses. The city of Reims becomes the beating heart of French and international crime fiction.

A rich program of some forty films

This new edition of Reims Polar features some forty films, divided between competitions, retrospectives and previews. On Tuesday March 31, 2026, the festival opens with the first French screening of Gus Van Sant’s La Corde au cou. The film will then be released in cinemas on April 15.

American director Gus Van Sant is this year’s guest of honor. Consequently, a retrospective cycle is devoted to him, featuring four of his major works: Drugstore Cowboy, Prête à tout, Elephant and Paranoid Park. This retrospective allows audiences to rediscover the filmmaker’s singular universe.

“Reims Polar will offer screenings of films in competition, retrospectives, meetings, masterclasses, but above all six days of sharing and exchange around what makes film noir excellent.”

On Wednesday April 1, Claire Denis’ Le cri des gardes will be screened as a preview. The director will be present, accompanied by Isaac de Bankolé. This screening is one of the highlights of the festival program.

A Friday packed with discoveries and new products

Friday April 3 promises to be a particularly busy day. First, Thomas Ngijol’s Indomptables, winner of the Prix Claude Chabrol, will be screened. This will be followed by a screening of Claude Chabrol’s Le Boucher, a tribute to the French master of suspense.

David Mackenzie’s The Criminals will then be shown to French audiences for the first time. The director will be on hand to chat with the audience. In addition, two episodes of Julia Ford’s dark series Until I Kill You will be screened, marking a major innovation for this edition.

• Emmanuelle Devos will chair the jury for this sixth edition
• Ophélie Bau, Mathieu Demy, Delphine Gleize, Thierry Klifa, Grégory Montel and Alix Poisson complete the jury.
• Corsican thrillers will be in the spotlight on Saturday, April 4, with seven feature-length films and five shorts.
• Two episodes of Sébastien Marnier’s Paolo series will also be screened.
• Rachel Lang’s film Mata closes the festivities

Meetings and masterclasses with leading figures from the world of cinema

In addition to the screenings, the festival also features discussions with professionals from the seventh art. On Wednesday, April 1 at 2pm, Anne Berest, novelist, screenwriter and actress, will lead a “Screenwriter’s Lesson“. At 5pm, Gus Van Sant will give a “Leçon de cinéma”. Admission to these meetings is free, but reservations are required.

On Thursday April 2, a round-table discussion will focus on “Cybercrime vs Cybersecurity”. Matthieu Mercier, editor-in-chief of France 3 Champagne-Ardenne, will moderate this discussion with Simon Bouisson, Michel Sejean and Didier Rosselin. The event offers a contemporary look at digital issues in crime films.

On Friday April 3 at 4:30 pm, actor Damien Bonnard will take part in an “Acting Lesson”. Audiences will be able to go behind the scenes of acting in the thriller genre. These masterclasses enrich the festival experience.

Corsican thrillers in the spotlight

Saturday April 4 will be entirely dedicated to Corsican crime fiction. A round table moderated by Karim Ghiyati will bring together Julien Colonna, Stéphane Demoustier, Thierry de Peretti, Frédéric Farrucci and Julie Allione. The theme: “The Corsican detective novel: a territory between myth and reality”. This discussion will provide a better understanding of the specificities of this island cinema.

Sunday April 5 will be devoted to repeats of films from the competition and “Sang neuf” films. This day offers a last chance to see or re-see the works presented. Audiences can catch up on screenings missed during the week.

An experience enriched by a technical partnership

In parallel with the festival, a partnership with Sony offers a Cinéma à la Maison experience at FNAC Reims Centre. Visitors can test the latest-generation televisions and soundbars. A Sony animator will be on hand to demonstrate the Bravia 8 II and BAR 9 throughout the festival.

What’s more, a prize draw will be held to win Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM6 headset. This initiative enables festival-goers to extend their passion for cinema to the home. In this way, the Reims Polar experience extends beyond the cinema.

Reims Polar will be held at 72, place Drouet d’Erlon in Reims. The festival promises an intense week of dark, vibrant cinema. For cinephiles and the curious alike, this annual event represents an exceptional moment in the French cultural landscape.

• Reims detective novel