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The Clermont-Ferrand short film festival from Gannat

Published 26 January 2022

The 49th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival will take place from 29 January to 6 February 2027. From Gannat, central Clermont is half an hour away by TER train or around forty minutes by car: you can watch screening after screening during the day and come back to sleep in peace and quiet. Here is how to plan your visit.

The festival in a few words

Founded in Clermont-Ferrand, the festival is one of the world's leading events devoted to short films. For nine days, the international, national and Labo competitions share the city's cinemas, alongside themed programmes, screenings for young audiences and meetings with film crews. The Short Film Market, reserved for professionals, runs from 1 to 4 February 2027.

Screenings usually last between an hour and an hour and a half and include several films. The full programme, venues and ticketing are published by the organisers on the official festival website a few weeks before the opening. Evening and weekend screenings fill up quickly: book as soon as tickets go on sale.

Getting there from Gannat by TER train

This is the most practical option during the festival, when parking in the city centre is difficult.

• Journey: direct TER trains link Gannat to Clermont-Ferrand in around thirty minutes, via Riom. Some journeys involve a change and are much longer: check the details before you set off.
• On arrival: from Clermont station, the cinemas in the centre can be reached on foot or with the T2C bus and tram network.
• Return: check the time of the last train before choosing a late screening. If it runs later, the car is the better option that evening.

Timetables, the station and other connections are covered in our article Getting to Gannat by train or car.

Getting there by car

Via the A71, allow around forty minutes depending on traffic. During the festival, use a park-and-ride on the outskirts or a covered car park in the centre, and allow extra time at rush hour. In February, keep an eye on the weather too: the roads are generally clear, but snow or ice is always possible in Auvergne.

Why stay in Gannat during the festival

During these nine days, accommodation in Clermont is in very high demand. Gannat offers a simple alternative:

• a quiet town in the evening, to unwind after several screenings;
• properties a few minutes' walk from the station, handy if you travel back and forth by train;
• apartments and houses with kitchens, practical for groups of students, film lovers or film crews travelling together.

If you are staying several days, make the most of a free morning to discover Gannat or the Val de Sioule: our article Gannat, a town to discover offers a few ideas.

Our properties in Gannat for the festival

The Grande Maison Gannat, avenue de la Gare, is a stone's throw from the trains to Clermont and can be rented in full for ten people or by apartment. L'Annexe, Grande Rue, offers air-conditioned studios and apartments in the town centre, and can also host a group of ten. All properties can be booked from one night, cleaning and linen included. For a team or group, you can request a quote from our group stays page.