From August 8 to 12, the International Festival of the Unusual Film of Rennes-le-Château and the Aude valley returns for an 11th edition under the sign of the mineral.
International Film Festival Unusual – 11th edition
Du 8 au 12 août 2025
Rennes-le-Château & Vallée de l’Aude (Occitanie)
For 5 days, at the heart of summer, this atypical cinematographic meeting continues its singular mission: to make cinema, nature and human dialogue.
He offers projections of long and short films, in and out of competition, masterclasses, a round table, workshops and unusual events … In the presence of many guests, in rooms and open sites steeped in history, in the Occitanie region, only 40 minutes from Carcassonne!
This atypical meeting explores the links between cinema, nature and humanity. Film projects in competition and out of competition, masterclasses, workshops, meetings, exhibitions, and a round table on the theme 2025: the mineral world. 
🌟 Lightweed guests
☆ Claire Nebout
President of the documentary and short film juries
Actress Claire Nebout has a prolific career, both in the cinema and on television and on the boards of theaters. She chairs the documentary and short film juries of the 11th International Festival of Unusual Film.
She also presents, in the opening evening of the festival, the documentary she made on the actress and sculptor Florence Thomassin, the Pandora box
☆ Smaïn
President of the 1st jury music of unusual film
Smaïn is a touching everything that draws his energy and vitality from the world around us. Humorist pioneer of the stand-up in France (Molière 1996), actor, singer, director, director…
He chairs the 1st jury of unusual film music and accompanied the young jury.
He also makes a masterclass and presents the short film of which he is the main interpreter, you will go to paradise.
☆ Philippe Duquesne
Pétanque sponsor of the unusual
Philippe Duquesne is one of the most popular and endearing actors in French cinema, whether on Petit (Deschiens …) or on the big screen (Welcome to the Ch’tits, nine months firm, alibi 2.com …)
It is the sponsor of the pétanque of the unusual 2025, and presents under the stars the comedy of Gérard Jugnot, of which he is one of the performers, the little Piaf.
☆ Raphaël Thiéry
Raphaël Thiéry is ‘The man of clay’ alongside Emmanuelle Devos, in the film which opens the 11th edition of the festival. Recently seen in the arrival of Cédric Klapisch’s future, he will soon be playing 2 films presented at the Cannes Festival: that my will be made of Julia Kowalski and the dance of the Valéry Carnoy foxes.
☆ Mathias Mlekuz
Mathias Mlekuz is theater, cinema and television actor. He is also a screenwriter and director. His first feature film, mine was released in February 2020.
He comes to present under the stars his second feature film at Bicyclette! Tripling awarded at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival
☆ Suzanne Aubert
A remarkable actress for her sensitive and committed game, Suzanne Aubert evolves between contemporary theater, author cinema and series (Le Sang de la Vigne (2011-2017). In parallel, Suzanne is professional market gardener, crop head and laying hens manager
She comes to present at the end of the festival the new film by Tony Gatlif, Angel, whose main characters she interprets.
In order to enhance the rich cultural heritage and the biodiversity of the upper Aude and Limouxin valley, the actors Fanny Bastien and Geoffroy Thiebaut created, in 2015, the International Festival of the Unusual Film of Rennes-le-Château.
Meet at the crossroads of cinema, nature and thought, the festival endeavors to explore the place and the deep link of the human to its environment, through singular events imagined in open-air sites and places steeped in history: projections (around thirty films in and out of competition, long and short fiction and documentaries), but also a script, masterclasses Signatures, exhibitions … and a thematic round table which enriches this reflection.
For 5 days, many renowned artists and personalities – directors, actors, producers, writers, visual artists, musicians, scientists, journalists …, come to meet festival -goers – film buffs, passionate and curious -, testifying to the vitality and originality of this atypical festival.
A highlight of the festival, a round table explores the deep link between man and elements. After the sky, the earth, the air and the renewable energies, the 2025 round table is attached to the mineral world. She will be moderate by Lilia Ayala, with the filmmaker Michael Lezé (Shikwakala), the doctor Bernard Vial, author of Quantum Metalloscope: organ of knowledge, of the doctor of Géologie Didier Nectoux, (co-) Author of the work Mineral Curiosities and Lise Fabbro, project manager in Tchendukua.
Round table 2025 – ‘The mineral world’
With Lilia Ayala, Michael Lezé, Bernard Vial, Didier Nectoux and Lise Fabbro
📍 Festival places
- Hautpoul Château Fort & Domaine de l’Abbé Saunière-Rennes-le-Château
- Château des Ducs de Joyeuse – Couiza
- Cinéma Le Familia – Quillan
- Abbaye Cathédrale Notre-Dame – Alet-les-bains
🎟️ Press kit:
👉 Télécharger le PDF
📷 Visuels :
👉 Download (until August 6)
Site officiel :
👉 festivalfilminsoliterenneslechateau.fr
