🎬 Lesbian film festival · Paris, France
Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival
Cineffable runs the Festival International du Film Lesbien et Féministe de Paris — the Paris International Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival — held over the Toussaint holiday each autumn since 1989. It is the world’s longest-running women-only lesbian film festival: several days of features, documentaries and shorts by and about women, alongside an art exhibition, talks and a festival social space, all run by volunteers on a non-profit basis.
When is Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival?
29 October–1 November 2026 (the 38th edition). It’s held around the Toussaint (All Saints’) holiday, late October into early November each year.
Confirm dates & tickets on the official Association Cineffable siteAbout Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival
A women-only festival of lesbian and feminist cinema — a carefully chosen programme of films directed by women, screened for a lesbian audience, plus an art exhibition, debates and an evening bar and meeting space. It is self-managed and volunteer-run, and its women-only admission policy is a defining (and often-asked-about) part of what it is.
It is a Paris institution, though the host venue changes from year to year (recent editions have been in the east of the city), so the festival itself — not a fixed address — is the anchor. The historic heart of gay Paris, Le Marais, sits nearby with its bars and cafés for before and after screenings.
Where to stay for Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival
Stay centrally or in Le Marais to be on the metro and close to the scene; the festival venue is always metro-connected, so central Paris keeps everything within an easy ride.
Compare hotels & stays in Paris
Book early — event stays sell out months ahead
Getting to Paris
Fly into Paris (CDG or ORY) and take the RER or a transfer into the city; the Paris metro reaches the festival venue easily. Paris is also a major rail hub, with fast trains from across France and neighbouring countries.
Things to do around Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival
- The lesbian & feminist film programme and the festival art exhibition
- Talks, debates and the women-only evening social space
- The bars and cafés of historic gay Paris in Le Marais
- Classic Paris between screenings — the Seine, the museums and the cafés
Know before you go
- This is a women-only festival — check the admission policy on the official site before planning your trip.
- The host venue changes year to year, so confirm the location as well as the dates on the official Cineffable site.
- France has had same-sex marriage since 2013; Paris is one of the world’s great LGBTQ+ cities.
Cineffable — Paris Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival FAQs
When is Cineffable 2026?
The 38th edition runs 29 October–1 November 2026, over the Toussaint holiday in Paris. The dates and venue shift year to year, so confirm both on the official Cineffable site.
What is Cineffable?
The Paris International Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival — a women-only festival of lesbian and feminist cinema, run by volunteers since 1989 and one of the longest-running events of its kind in the world.
Is Cineffable really women-only?
Yes — it is a women-only festival, screening films by and for women. Check the current admission policy on the official site before you plan to attend.
Where is Cineffable held?
At a venue in Paris that changes from year to year (recent editions have been in the east of the city). Confirm the location on the official site; central Paris and Le Marais keep it an easy metro ride away.
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Plan my trip — freeEvent dates and programmes change year to year — always confirm the latest details and buy tickets on the official Association Cineffable site before booking travel. Laws and attitudes vary; verify your government’s travel advice before you travel.