CinéBaltique 2026: Baltic Cinema Takes Center Stage in Paris

The CinéBaltic Festival is making its comeback in Paris from February 5 to 8, 2026, at the Arlequin Cinema. Dedicated to Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian cinema, the event showcases a curated selection of rare, evocative, and socially conscious films, spanning fiction, animation, and restored classics. A must-attend event for cinephiles eager to explore the vibrant world of Baltic cinema!

From February 5 to 8, 2026, Cinema L'Arlequin will host the second edition of the CinéBaltic Festival, dedicated to Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian cinema. Created to showcase the artistic richness of these three countries to French audiences, the festival highlights films that are poignant and deeply rooted in themes of identity, generational change, and social issues.

In 2026, the festival will showcase a diverse lineup combining fiction films, animations, and classic works, featuring six feature films and three short film collections, with numerous special guests in attendance. The selected films explore universal themes such as coming of age, loneliness, and personal rebuilding.

Rolling Papers by Meel Paliale (Closing film, Estonia)
Children’s Games by Leida Laius (Estonia)
Flesh, Blood, Even a Heart by Alise Zarina (Latvia)
Away by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia)
The Visitor by Vytautas Katkus (Lithuania)
Renovation by Gabrielė Urbonaitė (Opening film, Lithuania)

It's worth noting that no awards are given out at the festival: CinéBaltique 2026 remains a non-competitive event, focused on screening, discovery, and fostering cultural connections, even though some films have earned recognition at major international festivals like the Cannes Film Festival.

Meanwhile, three short film programs showcase over a dozen and a half movies, blending social dramas with poetic animations, organized by country. And that’s not all, because CinéBaltique 2026 also offers:

A tribute to Estonian filmmaker Leida Laius, featuring screenings of Children's Games and the documentary Childhood
Opportunities for meetings and masterclasses with the participating directors
The France-Baltic Countries Film Encounters to promote collaboration between professionals from both regions, showcasing 12 projects

To explore the full schedule day by day, head over to the official website of the CinéBaltique Film Festival!