Namur’s FIFF: when the Meuse river starts putting on a show

Every autumn, the light in Namur shifts. Mists from the Meuse linger a little longer over the Sambre, café terraces become draped in cozy throws, and, within the darkened halls of Le Delta and Le Caméo, a different kind of magic unfolds: the magic of French-language cinema. From September 30 to October 4, 2026, the Walloon capital transforms—for five days—into a miniature, waterside version of the Croisette.

The Namur International French-Language Film Festival—known to everyone simply as the FIFF—is now in its 41st edition. The organizers describe it as “shorter, yet just as powerful”: five days instead of eight, but featuring a lineup that brings together films from every corner of the Francophone world, prestigious guests, and an audience that, year after year, fills the theaters with touching enthusiasm.

For those staying at the Bungalows du Bonsoy, it’s a wonderful opportunity: a cinematic getaway—a break in the city of the Citadel—followed by a return to the quiet of the woods. Here is how you can plan a cultural interlude, just over an hour’s drive from Blaimont.

A festival that speaks our language

The FIFF is no ordinary festival. There are no oversized red carpets or security barriers here; instead, it reflects the human scale of Namur, the enthusiastic appetite of its audience, and a genuine curiosity for all cinema in the French language—from Brussels to Dakar, from Montreal to Beirut.

This year, the week’s program features five separate competitions. In total, there are 83 screenings, 47 of which are open to the public. The films are being shown at Le Delta (a provincial cultural center), the Caméo cinema, and a marquee set up on the Place d’Armes, giving the city the feel of a lively, film-centered fair.

Opening and closing the festival

• Opening, Wednesday, September 30: Ni vue, ni connue, directed by Marc Fitoussi and starring Isabelle Huppert and Sandrine Kiberlain.
• Closing, Saturday, October 3: Demain, je tombe amoureux, directed by Martin Provost and starring Fabrice Luchini and Emmanuelle Devos.

Between these two key events, the program offers a wealth of encounters, workshops, concerts, and professional exchanges. Sandrine Kiberlain is expected on opening night; Géraldine Nakache will present her film and engage in a Q&A with the audience on October 3rd; and actress and director Nicole Garcia—this year’s guest of honor—will be celebrated with a retrospective of her work, including a special event on October 1st at 6:00 PM.

“Some cities have a cinema. For five days, Namur becomes a cinema.”

How to navigate the festival: tickets, passes, and practical tips

The pricing is simple and affordable. A single screening costs €8 in advance, while an unlimited pass is available for €60 for those planning to attend multiple sessions. If you watch two or three films a day, the pass quickly proves to be a great deal.

1. Select your screenings in advance via the festival’s official website—tickets for films featuring special guests tend to sell out quickly.
2. Allow time between screenings: Namur is a walkable city, and the route between the Delta venue and the city center is a pleasant stroll.
3. Arrive in Namur by early afternoon: this gives you plenty of time to park and wander around before your first screening.

Namur: before, during, and after the film

A single trip to the cinema isn’t enough to fill an entire day. Fortunately, Namur knows exactly how to add depth to your excursions. The Citadel, perched above the confluence of the rivers, can be reached on foot or by cable car; its lookout point offers one of the most stunning views of the Meuse. We’ve already covered this in our article dedicated to the Citadel and the old town of Namur.

Museum Sunday

More good news: on Sunday, October 4th—the first Sunday of the month—nearly 190 museums across French-speaking Belgium and the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis will open their doors for free. If the festival has whetted your appetite for culture, you can keep the experience going without spending a single cent on admission tickets.

A touch of nature between films

The city has another string to its bow: once again this year, it hosted the Namur Nature Festival (Festival Nature Namur) at Le Delta. And if you’re already missing the festive spirit, just recall the Fêtes de Wallonie—a time when Namur truly never slept.

Why cinema is such a perfect fit for the Meuse Valley

There is something instinctively cinematic about the Meuse landscape: the cliffs that carve out the horizon, the river winding along like a tracking shot, and the morning mists that lend scenes the atmosphere of a film noir. It’s easy to see why Francophone filmmakers feel at home here, and why audiences come seeking not just films, but a particular way of looking at the world.

The FIFF (Namur International French-Language Film Festival) extends this sensibility. It isn’t aimed solely at industry professionals; it’s for those who simply enjoy stepping into a cinema without knowing exactly what they’ll find—only to emerge with an emotion, a question, or a smile. It is a school of curiosity, where the welcome is as warm as in a family living room.

Tips for festival-goers

• Take a chance on a film you’re unfamiliar with: the best surprises at a festival are often found in screenings that have gone unnoticed by others.
• Prioritize encounters: discussions with the filmmakers—such as the one planned with Nicole Garcia—add a layer of depth to the films that a simple screening cannot provide.
• Plan your return: evening screenings often end late; staying in a bungalow saves you from having to rush to catch the last train.
• Bring a sweater: cinema halls can sometimes be chilly, and the marquee on the Place d’Armes is subject to the whims of October weather.

The road: the opening long take

Traveling from Blaimont to Namur is an experience in itself. You leave the estate, winding through the woods until you reach the Meuse River; following it northward, you pass through Dinant—with its dramatic cliffs, collegiate church, and slate-roofed houses—before the Citadel of Namur finally appears in the distance. In the soft light of late September or early October, the journey is such a pleasure that you might almost hesitate to arrive.

Once you’ve reached your destination, leave your car in a city-center parking lot and continue on foot. The streets of Namur—stretching between the Place d’Armes and the banks of the Sambre—are best explored at a leisurely pace. Every café offers the perfect invitation to linger into the evening, perhaps over a conversation about the film you’ve just watched.

Suggested Itinerary: A Cinephile’s Day Out

• Morning: A relaxed breakfast at Bonsoy, followed by the drive to Namur along the Meuse—a journey that is already part of the adventure.
• Midday: Lunch in the city center, near the marquee at the Place d’Armes.
• Afternoon: A screening at the Caméo or Le Delta, followed by a walk up to the Citadel to take in the panoramic view.
• Evening: A 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM screening—with the chance to meet a film’s crew if the opportunity arises—before the drive back to Blaimont, your mind still filled with the images you’ve seen.

To extend your cultural experience, why not revisit our Heritage Days or explore the unique world of Monsieur Sax’s house in Dinant—a place that, in its own way, feels just as cinematic.

The cinema, then silence

There are evenings when you leave a film with your mind full of stories, and a desire to let them ripen far away from the noise. For this, nothing beats the Serenity—our bungalow nestled in the heart of nature, where the only screen you’ll see is the canopy of stars.

The weekend is approaching, and spots are filling up fast: book your stay at Bungalows du Bonsoy now and treat yourself to an autumn that balances the excitement of the cinema with the tranquil calm of the Ardennes.

Sources

• La DH – A 41^st FIFF in Namur: “shorter, yet just as powerful”
• La Radio du Cinéma – FIFF Namur 2026: dates, films, and practical information
• FIFF – official website
• Explore Meuse – calendar (Free museum admission on the first Sunday of the month)