When fifteen years ago, the crazy idea to organize a festival of cinema in this village which counted hardly more than hundred inhabitants was born in the brain of some unthinking utopians, I think she provoked some condescending smiles, indeed the village did not have auditorium, the village did not have money to support this initiative, the organizers did not really have qualifications in spite of their enthusiasmand their goodwill to complete succesfully such a project, as for the potential public, it was reduced to an appropriate part. However, the mayor of Lama,Mr Simon Baccelli, put his trust in this team and brought his deposit in the project. Europe, the Region, the Department and some friends businessmen had courage to support us financially in this adventure, because it was one. Since spring 1994, it was necessary to put on in work. What were the motivations of the founders of this demonstration? They liked their village, they liked the cinema. To create a festival of cinema in their village was for them a true happiness. They wanted to allow to the inhabitants of Lama and village neighbours to have access to the cinema, to a cinema which the commercial rooms do not program. The film festival of Lama was born on the August 1st, 1994, he was then called Film festival European of Lama. Over the years we were structured, new more experienced, more professional elements came to join the initial team. The festival now found the expression most adapted to its actual objectives. Certainly, new orientations and new tournaments are going to appear, but freshness, candidness and friendliness of the very first editions have to reside.

Mathieu CARTA, Président.