Films, theatre, music and the visual arts all have their festivals in France during the summer, as the French, joined by visitors from abroad, enjoy their leisure and their culture. RFI takes a look at some of what is on offer in 2009.

Summer Festivals - Paris Cinéma

President of the Paris Cinema Festival, Charlotte Rampling, at the competition award ceremony in Paris, 13 July 2009.(photo: Alexia Villard)

International award winners 2009

Six prizes were awarded at the Paris Cinéma International Festival on 13 July. Three of them went to full-length features. The Jury Award was won by a film from Georgia and Kazakhstan, called The Other Bank, and directed by George Ovashvili.

2009-07-14 17:53 TU

Summer Festivals in France

Les Rencontres d'Arles 2009 - Photography as fine art

Les Rencontres d'Arles international photography rendezvous lasts for a week, but goes on much longer. How's that? Well, a series of events are held in festive mode from 7 July to 12 July in the heart of this provençal town. Then 60 exhibitions continue to welcome professionals and the general public until 13 September 2009.

2009-07-13 16:27 TU

The Avignon Festival of performing arts

Le Cri, dance performance by choreographer, Nacera Belaza.(Photo: Agathe Poupeney)

Conflict in focus

The Avignon Festival is the biggest international performing arts festival in France and one of the biggest in Europe. Every year it showcases world or French premières, as well as stage productions which are touring from near and far. This year's general theme is 'conflict', its theatrical theme is 'the narrative'.

2009-07-10 14:14 TU

Festival Paris Cinéma

Eclectic film choice at Paris festival

From retrospectives to preview screenings, and its very own long and short film competitions, the Festival Paris Cinéma is in its seventh year with Turkey as the special guest country.

2009-07-14 15:41 TU

France – music festival

25th edition of les Francofolies celebrates French music

Bringing together three generations of French musicians, les Francofolies festival offers 130 concerts over five days in the western beach town of La Rochelle. It’s a celebration of the evolution of French music from Chanson Français to Rap.

2009-07-10 07:35 TU