Since 2011, the Quebec City Film Festival (FCVQ) has brought together film enthusiasts in the capital every September. Feature films, short films, documentaries, premieres, outdoor screenings, and meetings with filmmakers: for five days, cinema from here and elsewhere takes center stage in downtown Quebec City. It is also an important platform for showcasing and visibility for Quebec's film artisans, and a great outing for the entire region's population.

FCVQ 2026: Dates for the 15th Edition

The 15th edition of the Quebec City Film Festival took place from September 9 to 13, 2026, offering five days of cinema from Wednesday to Sunday, September 13. For its 15th anniversary, the Quebec City Film Festival chose a strong theme: youth, identity, and the future, with a focus on housing.

Looking ahead, the FCVQ typically returns each year in mid-September, but the dates for the next edition were not yet announced at the time of writing. Check the official website for up-to-date details.

A Program of Films from Here and Abroad

The 2026 program offered a wide selection of works, with a beautiful diversity of perspectives on the world:

  • Opening film: Un renversement, by Amélie Hardy, presented on September 9;
  • Closing film: La meilleure façon, c'est par accident, by Noémie D. Leclerc;
  • Nine feature films in competition, including A Family (Mees Peijnenburg), Juste une illusion (Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano), Y'a pas juste la mer (Antony Boudreau Savoie), Les filles du ciel (Bérangère McNeese), Nitassinan (Joséphine Bacon and Kim O'Bomsawin), and the documentary Écrire la vie – Annie Ernaux racontée par des lycéennes et des lycéens (Claire Simon);
  • 84 short films, spread over several evenings and programs;
  • “A Roof for Everyone”, a segment of three documentaries on the housing crisis: Homles, Petit Rempart, and Everybody to Kenmure Street;
  • a retrospective of 23 works that have marked the festival's history.

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) also marked its presence at the Quebec City Film Festival, presenting several productions, including two short films by Quebec City filmmakers in competition, Ultra Strong by Catherine Lepage and Paradaïz by Matea Radic, as well as the feature film Plus rien n'est égal par ailleurs by Martin Bureau, out of competition.

The Heart of the FCVQ and Free Activities

No ticket is needed to experience the festival. The Heart of the FCVQ Desjardins, set up at Place D'Youville, hosted daily free outdoor screenings on the Hydro-Québec screen, as well as several activities open to all:

  • improvised dubbing with Krouik;
  • live animation creation;
  • a cinema quiz;
  • morning discussions;
  • the “Le feu aux poudres” evenings, from September 9 to 12.

It's the ideal way to discover the event with family or friends before being tempted by an evening in a theater. The location is right downtown, just steps from Old Quebec.

Festival Venues in Downtown

The festival unfolds in several venues in Quebec City. Depending on the editions, you can find:

  • the Cinéma Beaumont, for films in competition and the official selection;
  • Le Diamant, Robert Lepage's venue at Place D'Youville;
  • Méduse;
  • the Palais Montcalm;
  • the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, partner of the 2025 edition.

Many of these venues are downtown: a great opportunity to combine cinema, dining, and a stroll in Quebec City.

A Film Festival Supporting Local Artisans

Founded in 2011 by Olivier Bilodeau, Marie-Christine Laflamme, and Christopher Lemonnier, the FCVQ aims to offer emerging local talents a platform for showcasing, support, and significant media visibility. For young filmmakers, it is a showcase that opens opportunities in the film industry. It has been directed since 2023 by Hugo Latulippe, and its programming has been curated since 2024 by Helen Faradji.

Over the years, the Quebec City Film Festival has built a reputation and renown through original ideas: a public jury of film enthusiasts (since 2013), screenings in mobile containers (Ciné Pop-up), and cine-concerts. It attracts nearly 25,000 festival-goers each year, making it a major cultural event in Quebec and a moment where film enthusiasts and artists come together.

Practical Information

  • 2026 Dates: September 9 to 13, 2026. 2027 dates to be confirmed.
  • Venues: Place D'Youville, Cinéma Beaumont, Le Diamant, Méduse, Palais Montcalm, and other downtown venues.
  • Prices: Heart of the FCVQ activities are free; each indoor screening requires a ticket. The festival offers several pricing options (general, inclusive, and “friends of the festival”), with amounts published on its website.
  • Tickets: available on Lepointdevente.com.
  • Information and programming: on the official FCVQ website.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Quebec City Film Festival

When will the Quebec City Film Festival take place in 2026?

The 2026 edition was held from September 9 to 13, 2026. The festival returns every year in September; the 2027 dates are yet to be announced.

Is the FCVQ free?

Partially. Outdoor screenings and activities at Place D'Youville are free, while indoor screenings require a ticket.

What films are presented at the festival?

Feature fiction films and documentaries in competition, dozens of short films, premieres, and works from several countries. Each evening highlights the 7th art in all its forms.

What are the major upcoming events in Quebec?

Among the region's must-sees, note the Festival d'été de Québec in July, St-Roch XP at the end of August, and the Festival celtique de Québec, returning in September 2027.

Also Discover

Do you love cultural festivals? Also check out the Festival Quartiers Danses, the contemporary dance event in Montreal.

👉 See the full FCVQ profile on Évasion Québec.