Paris Courts Devant

What Paris Courts Devant does

Paris Courts Devant is a French non-profit association (Association Courts Devant, loi 1901) founded in 2004 by Rémi Bernard and headquartered in Paris. It operates an annual short film festival (20th edition held January 9-16, 2026, at Cinéma 7 Batignolles) that serves as the primary demand-generation and visibility platform for emerging French filmmakers. Beyond the festival, the organization runs three distinct programs: KLACH! (formerly Ça Tourne en Île-de-France), a national inclusive filmmaking competition mandating at least one meaningful role for an actor with a disability, with teams producing short films within a one-month timeframe; Studio Courts Devant, a professional training arm delivering intensive screenwriting and filmmaking workshops (priced from €450) with financing pathways through AFDAS and France Travail; and ScénarioScopie, a commercial B2B service that adapts the organization's decade-old Scénarios Vivants methodology into paid live screenplay readings performed by professional actors for screenwriters and production companies.

The underlying 'technology' is operational rather than digital: a curated pipeline that takes a project from script development (ScénarioScopie, Studio workshops), through inclusive short film production (KLACH!), to festival exhibition, industry networking, and (for the KLACH! winner) national broadcast on France 2. Distribution relies on standard industry tools — DCP format for cinema projection, FilmFest Platform for online submissions, Vimeo and YouTube for content hosting, Discord for community coordination across 8 regional channels, HelloAsso for donations, and a Vimeo/Vimeo/YouTube/Apple Podcasts/Spotify stack for podcast distribution. No proprietary AI/ML systems, patents, or platform IP are disclosed.

Revenue is generated from five streams: festival ticket sales, fee-based training workshops, quotation-based ScénarioScopie services, €3 KLACH! film submission fees, and — most importantly — tax-deductible corporate and individual patronage (60% and 66% deductions respectively under the organization's d'utilité publique status) plus institutional public funding from CNC, DRAC Île-de-France, Région Île-de-France, and Ville de Paris. Customer segments span emerging filmmakers and screenwriters (primary), film producers and production companies (ScénarioScopie), corporate sponsors and cultural partners (patronage/CSR), and general cinema audiences. Recognition as an association of general interest is the central structural advantage, enabling both public funding access and preferential vocational-training financing.

Name

Paris Courts Devant

Legal name

Association Courts Devant

Website

https://courtsdevant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paris Courts Devant is a Paris-based non-profit association running an annual short film festival and four integrated programs: KLACH! (national inclusive filmmaking competition), Studio Courts Devant (screenwriting training), ScénarioScopie (B2B screenplay reading service), and Scénarios Vivants (live readings), serving emerging French filmmakers, screenwriters, and production companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Cinema Industry Support Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Short film festival
• Screenwriting training
• Inclusive filmmaking
• Screenplay reading services
• Emerging filmmakers support

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival ticket sales: Revenue from selling tickets and passes to festival screenings, events, premieres, and competition projections at Cinéma 7 Batignolles and Centre Paris Anim' Mado Robin.
2. Professional training (Studio Courts Devant): Fee-based intensive screenwriting and filmmaking workshops (5-day courses, week-long intensives) priced from €450 for personal financing, with full cost coverage available through AFDAS (French vocational training fund for intermittent workers) or France Travail (Pôle Emploi). Script Services manages registrations and financing for these courses.
3. ScénarioScopie screenplay reading services: Custom quotation-based service for live screenplay readings. Pricing varies by script length, number of actors, and in-situ work time. Multiple formula options (half-day 4h, full-day 8h) are available, all including prior script analysis and rehearsal time.
4. Sponsorships and patronage/mécénat: The association is recognized as being of general interest (d'utilité publique), enabling tax-deductible donations and sponsorships from private companies and individuals. Corporate patronage allows 60% tax deduction; individual donors receive 66% deduction. Partnerships range from artistic patronage to team-building events for CSR purposes.
5. Competition entry fees: KLACH! competition charges a €3 film submission fee (via FilmFest platform). Film submissions to Paris Courts Devant competitions may also carry a €2 deposit fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Association Courts Devant is a French non-profit that operates an annual short film festival in Paris (now in its 20th edition) alongside four programmatic pillars: KLACH! — a national inclusive short filmmaking competition requiring disabled actors; Studio Courts Devant — fee-based screenwriting training workshops; ScénarioScopie — commercial live screenplay reading services for writers and producers; and Scénarios Vivants — public live screenplay reading events. Together these offerings form an integrated pipeline supporting emerging and underrepresented filmmakers from script development through festival exhibition.

Product overview

Paris Courts Devant operates as a multi-faceted film organization centered around its annual festival featuring competitive short film screenings and industry events. The portfolio includes KLACH! (formerly Ça Tourne en Île-de-France) — a national inclusive filmmaking competition requiring disability representation; Studio Courts Devant — professional screenwriting training programs; ScénarioScopie — commercial script reading services for writers and producers; and Scénarios Vivants — public script reading events. These offerings work together to support emerging filmmakers from initial concept development through to production and festival exposure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio Courts Devant: Professional training space offering workshops for emerging filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, and technicians in cinema and audiovisual sectors
• KLACH!
• Scénarios Vivants
• ScénarioScopie

Products and services

• Festival Paris Courts Devant Annual short film festival held in Paris at Cinéma 7 Batignolles, featuring competitive short film screenings, juries, industry events, creative labs, project markets, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for emerging filmmakers. Targets emerging screenwriters, directors, actors, technicians, and cinema-going audiences.
• KLACH! National inclusive filmmaking competition where teams create short films (max 7 minutes) in one month on an assigned theme, featuring at least one actor with a disability in a meaningful role. €3 entry fee per film via FilmFest platform. Winners eligible for Prix Perce-Neige Lino Ventura (€1,000) and France Télévisions broadcast purchase on France 2 Histoires Courtes. Open to amateur and professional filmmakers across France.
• Studio Courts Devant Professional training division offering intensive workshops in screenwriting — short film, series, and feature screenwriting. Programs include 5-day short film writing courses (from €450 personal financing, January 26–30, 2026, 40 hours, 8–12 participants, Paris intramuros), AI-assisted writing workshops, narrative tension masterclasses, and comedy writing. AFDAS and France Travail fully cover costs for eligible participants. Script Services manages registrations and financing.
• ScénarioScopie Live screenplay reading service where professional actors perform screenplay readings to help writers and producers identify structural issues, dialogue problems, and character coherence before production. Includes pre-reading script analysis, actor casting, rehearsal, live session, and post-reading feedback exchange. Quotation-based pricing (devis) tailored to script length, actor count, and in-situ work time. Half-day (4h, 2–3 actors) and full-day (8h, 4–6 actors) formulas available. Sold to screenwriters and production companies.
• Scénarios Vivants Live public script reading program developed since 2012, enabling writers to hear their screenplays performed by professional actors and receive audience feedback. Available for short films (courts métrages) and short series (séries courtes) during the festival. The program has facilitated the production of more than 30 short films since its creation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 short films produced through the Scénarios Vivants program since 2012
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Script ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2025Script Services is a script-doctoring and professional training agency co-founded by Antoine Cupial. It partners with Studio Courts Devant to deliver and administer intensive screenwriting workshops, manage AFDAS and France Travail financing, and handle participant registrations. It also provides professional script analysis services.
• Maison du FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025La Maison du Film is a Paris-based industry hub for filmmakers, providing resources, networking, and professional development. It partners with Paris Courts Devant for the 'Développement en cour(t)' project market and other talent development initiatives.
• AAFA (Actrices & Acteurs de France Associés)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025AAFA is a professional association representing actors in France. It partners with KLACH! through the 'Masterclass AAFA-Émergence' and hosts creative labs exploring topics such as consent in imagery and genre in filmmaking.
• FAMS (Fédération des Associations de Métiers du Scénario)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025FAMS is the federation of screenplay writers' associations in France. It collaborates with Paris Courts Devant on panel discussions such as 'Scénariste: Leçon d'autodéfense' and supports screenwriter professional development.
• Séquences7minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Séquences7 is a screenwriting and filmmaking support organization. It partners with Paris Courts Devant for the 'Histoires portées par des personnages féminins forts' pitch session at the project fair and an ecology-focused panel.
• La Maison des ScénaristesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025La Maison des Scénaristes is a residence and support structure for screenwriters. It partners with Paris Courts Devant for the 'Un pitch pour un long' session, where writers pitch feature film projects to industry professionals.
• Agence du Court MétrageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025The Agence du Court Métrage promotes and supports the short film sector in France. It partners with Paris Courts Devant as part of the broader short film ecosystem.
• ARDA (Agence des Représentants et Délégués d'Artistes)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025ARDA supports artist representatives and agents. It collaborates with Paris Courts Devant on the panel 'La clé des castings' exploring casting practices and opportunities for diverse talent.
• SRF (Société des Réalisateurs de Films)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025SRF (The Society of Film Directors) represents professional directors in France. It partners with Paris Courts Devant for the panel 'Les réalisatrices face au genre' examining women directors' engagement with film genre conventions.
• ASDA (Association des Scénaristes de Paris)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025ASDA is an association of Paris-based screenwriters. It partners with Paris Courts Devant for the creative lab 'Comment capter l'attention des pros?' focused on professional screenplay pitching.
• Collectif 50/50minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025The Collectif 50/50 promotes gender equality and LGBTQ+ representation in the film industry. Association Courts Devant is a member of the Collectif 50/50, aligning the festival's inclusion mission with broader industry gender equity efforts.
• EcoprodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Ecoprod is a collective promoting environmental sustainability in audiovisual production. Association Courts Devant is a member, reflecting the festival's commitment to eco-responsible filmmaking practices.
• Brief CinémaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Bref Cinéma is a French media outlet covering short films and cinema news. It partners with Paris Courts Devant as a media partner, providing editorial coverage of the festival and competition.
• NVTL PodcastminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025NVTL is a French podcast platform covering film and audiovisual topics. It partners with Paris Courts Devant as a media partner, potentially producing podcast content around the festival and its themes.
• Université Lumière Lyon 2minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Université Lumière Lyon 2 is a major public university in Lyon. It partners with KLACH! 2026 by hosting a launch meeting at Amphithéâtre Laprade and through Martin Fournier's 'Ça tourne hors champ' inclusive screenwriting program (linked to KLACH! through the podcast on disability training).
• EICAR (École Internationale de Création Audiovisuelle et de Réalisation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025EICAR is a private film school in Paris. Aurélie Bernard, EICAR's Deputy Director and disability liaison, participated in the KLACH! 2026 podcast on disability training access in film schools.
• École PérimonyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025École Périmony is a Paris-based drama school focused on actor training. Its director, Marie-Astrid Péremony, participated in the KLACH! 2026 podcast on disability access to acting training.
• Gobelins ParisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Gobelins Paris is a prestigious animation and multimedia school. Its disability officer, Alexandra Baujaret, participated in the KLACH! 2026 podcast on disability training access in audiovisual education.
• CEEA (Conservatoire Européen d'Écritures Audiovisuelles)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025CEEA is a European conservatory for audiovisual screenwriting based in Paris. Its director, Béatrice Pacotte, participated in the KLACH! 2026 podcast on disability training in film education.
• Centre Paris Anim' Mado RobincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Centre Paris Anim' Mado Robin is a community cultural center in Paris (17th arrondissement). It hosts festival events, creative labs, and KLACH! panels as a key co-host and venue partner.
• Loft 148minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Loft 148 is a Paris event space used by the festival for certain events and panels. Listed as a festival venue partner for the 2026 edition.
• Café des Images (Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Normandy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Café des Images is a cinema and cultural venue in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Normandy. It hosts a KLACH! launch meeting for the Normandy region as part of the 2026 national expansion.
• France TélévisionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025France Télévisions is the French public broadcasting group. It partners with KLACH! by committing to purchase and broadcast the jury's winning film on France 2's 'Histoires Courtes' slot. France Télévisions has long supported Paris Courts Devant's Scénarios Vivants program.
• Handicap.livecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Handicap.live (founded by Gilles Barbier, creator of Handicap.fr) is a media platform dedicated to disability. It hosts KLACH! films online and promotes the competition, extending reach to the disability community and general audiences.
• Fonds FRIDAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Fonds FRIDA (Financement des Oeuvres et Artistes en situation de Handicap) finances films and supports artists with disabilities. Founded by Diane Maroger, it partners with KLACH! to advance disability representation in cinema and co-presented a podcast episode on disability training in film.
• Mairie du 17e arrondissement de ParisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Paris 17th arrondissement town hall is a local partner supporting festival events held in the Batignolles neighborhood, where Cinéma 7 Batignolles is located.
• NEEEDCOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NEEEDCO appears as a partner supporting the 2025 edition of the KLACH! competition, likely contributing to the competition's operations or promotion.
• ADAMIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ADAMI (Société Civile pour l'Administration des Droits des Artistes et Musiciens Interprètes) is a collective management society for performing artists in France. It partners with Paris Courts Devant as a supporter of the KLACH! competition, contributing to disability inclusion in the performing arts.
• AGEFIPHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AGEFIPH (Association pour la Gestion du Fonds pour l'Insertion Professionnelle des Personnes Handicapées) funds and supports the professional inclusion of disabled workers in France. AGEFIPH is a key partner in the KLACH! competition's mission to integrate disabled talent into filmmaking.
• AudiensminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Audiens is a social protection group for professionals in culture and communication. It partners with KLACH! to support the social and professional inclusion of disabled participants in the audiovisual sector.
• CAPSAAAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CAPSAAA (Cercle d'Action pour la Promotion de la Santé, l'Accessibilité et l'Adaptation pour Tous) is an association working on accessibility and health. It supports KLACH! as a partner in the disability inclusion mission.
• Mission Handicap du Spectacle Vivant et EnregistréminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Mission Handicap is a national initiative supporting disability inclusion in live and recorded performing arts. It partners with KLACH! to facilitate disabled talent participation in the filmmaking competition.
• CinexumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cinexum is a digital platform for cinema content. It partners with Paris Courts Devant as a technical and distribution partner, supporting the online availability of festival and competition films.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival: France's largest and most prestigious short film festival, held annually in Clermont-Ferrand. Directly comparable to Paris Courts Devant as a competitive short-film showcase with industry programming, training initiatives (e.g., the Short Film Market), and a multi-decade operating history, but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Festival Premiers Plans d'Angers: Annual French festival dedicated to first and second films, with strong European and emerging-talent positioning. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant in its focus on discovering new filmmakers and pairing competitive screenings with script-development workshops and industry events.
• Côté Court Festival de Pantin: Paris-region short film festival held annually in Pantin (Seine-Saint-Denis). Directly comparable in geographic proximity and target audience (Paris-based emerging filmmakers), with competitive screenings, filmmaker meetings, and industry programming.
• Brest European Short Film Festival: Major European short film festival held annually in Brest, France. Directly comparable as a multi-track competitive short-film event with industry markets, European networking, and a 30+ year history of supporting emerging talent across Europe.
• Festival Tous Courts d'Aix-en-Provence: French short film festival held annually in Aix-en-Provence with international competition and industry programming. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant as a regional competitive showcase focused on short-form cinema and emerging talent development.

Regional players

• Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival: Portugal's leading short film festival, held annually in Vila do Conde. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant in competitive short-film programming and emerging-talent focus, but operates in the Portuguese/Portuguese-speaking market rather than directly competing for the same filmmakers or audiences.
• Winterthur International Short Film Festival: Switzerland's leading short film festival held annually in Winterthur. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant as a competitive European short-film event with industry programming, but operates primarily in the Swiss-German-speaking market rather than competing directly in France.
• Tampere Film Festival: Finland's leading international short film festival and one of Europe's oldest, held annually in Tampere. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant in festival format (competitive short films, industry events, talent development) but operates in a different national market with its own national cinema ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée): French national cinema center under the Ministry of Culture. Comparable as a structural pillar of the French film ecosystem — CNC funds Paris Courts Devant and runs broader support mechanisms (aide aux festivals, fonds de soutien) that intersect directly with the festival's operating model, but operates as regulator/funder rather than festival operator.
• La Fémis (École Nationale Supérieure des Métiers de l'Image et du Son): France's premier public film school, training directors, screenwriters, and producers with selective admissions and CNC backing. Comparable to Paris Courts Devant as a talent-development institution in the French cinema ecosystem, but operates as a degree-granting school rather than a festival-and-competition platform.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/courtsdevant
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWGlpUxkrNcVTztPwEpBUtQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/courts.devant
• Instagraminstagram.com/pariscourtsdevant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paris-courts-devant

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Paris Courts Devant