Ethnologist and filmmaker Jean Rouch, who died in 2004, is one of the theorists and founders of visual anthropology: a follower of direct cinema, he is most widely known for his ethnographical films on African peoples such as the Dogon.

In March 1982 he created the very first Bilan du Film Ethnographique at the Musée de l’Homme, Paris, a film festival entirely dedicated to anthropological film, between culture and science.

The festival has screened over 1,300 films from all over the world since then, reflecting the social and cultural evolution of human society, and the richness of its diversity.

This year, the festival – known as the Festival International Jean Rouch since 2008 – highlights its 30th anniversary by organizing one-off events in different venues in Paris, in other parts of France, and abroad.

The program takes place in different times and places mainly in and around Paris:

– 5 master classes on the evolution of ethnological documentary film; November 5 and 6 opening the festival, at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF)

– the international competition with 30 films worldwide to eventually share 5 awards, including the Nanook – Jean Rouch Grand Prize; November 7 to 12 at Maison des Cultures du Monde

– the Rencontres Narratives Singulières (“Peculiar Narrative Encounters”), composed of 20 films selected for the new forms of narration they provide; November 14 and 15 at Issy-les Moulineaux

– a “30 years, 30 films” retrospective, an all-time favorites screening of 30 films among the 222 awarded along the past 30 years; November 17 to 24 at Maison des Cultures du Monde

– CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) special sessions: 10 films followed by discussion with the authors and directors; November 21 to 23 at the CNRS headquarters

– the closing ceremony, on November 25 at the SCAM (“Civil Society of Multimedia Authors”)

– screenings of the awarded films on November 25 and 26 at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle.

An off-site version of the festival will also take place in Toulouse (October 27 to December 4), Montpellier (January 6 to 8, 2012), as well as in Niamey, Niger (December 10 to 15).

Highlights of these three weeks of celebration, recommendations among the hundred films scheduled on the occasion… the program is so rich we can only encourage you visit the festival website for more information and guiding for accurate choices!

Contact: 01 47 04 38 20