sexy international paris film festival
Paris, France
74
Tier BScreenings
Festival dossier
biarritz festival du film maudit
Biarritz, France · Est. 1949 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Tier ATrusted
Biarritz, France
87
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
- 77 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Biarritz
- Verified trusted status
Overview
The Festival du Film Maudit was a historic, one-off film festival held in Biarritz, France from July 29 to August 5, 1949, organized by the avant-garde cine-club Objectif 49 under the presidency of Jean Cocteau and André Bazin. It notably showcased 'cursed' films—works unjustly ignored by the public, banned by censorship, or feared to fail commercially—divided into categories of amateur/experimental shorts, 'maudit' films, and foreign unseen features, in direct opposition to the commercial festivals of Cannes and Venice. Though it ran only twice (ending in 1950), it is considered a founding myth of French cinephilia and a pivotal moment that helped launch the critical discourse leading to the Cahiers du cinéma and the French New Wave.
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+37 pts)
- 77 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Biarritz
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (3 vs 0)
Red Flags (-0 pts)
No red flags found
Festival Details
Founded
1949
Venue
Biarritz
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
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At a glance
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Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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