×

Guadeloupe🇬🇵 | festivalsFEMI Film FestivalFrancophone cinema, director Q&As, short films, masterclasses | things to do and best time to go

Explore Guadeloupe CarnivalExplore Fête de la Musique

Backpacking in FEMI Film
👍 Recommendedfestival ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

FEMI Film Festival suits film-curious travelers who like a cinema seat as much as a beach towel, especially anyone interested in Caribbean and Afro-descendant storytelling. If you want parties, camping or a big outdoor crowd, you may find it less rewarding, since it is a screening-and-conversation event. It takes place in venues across Guadeloupe, such as the Ciné-Théâtre in Le Lamentin. Expect short films, features and documentaries, many in French or Creole, with a mostly local, creative and student audience and a relaxed, chatty mood. Screenings are modest in size, so the festival is a good reason to visit and a poor reason to fly across an ocean alone. Three slips catch people out. Venues and schedules shift, so check the official program a few days before and arrive early for popular screenings. Taxis are scarce late at night, so book your ride home in advance. Subtitles are not guaranteed, so choose films with English or visual-led storytelling. A first day could start with a late-morning coffee near the harbor, then an afternoon screening and a long dinner debrief.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Guadeloupe Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 festival in GuadeloupeWhy FEMI Film should be on your travel list

FEMI Film Festival gives you a way into Guadeloupe that beach hopping never will. Because it is built around Guadeloupean and wider Caribbean filmmakers, you sit in the same room as the people who made the work, and question-and-answer sessions often spill into the lobby. That is the fastest way to get invited to a dinner, a gallery opening or a tip about a beach with no tour buses. The community is small and temporary, so you will recognize the same faces by day two.

It also fits a longer island route neatly. Base yourself around Pointe-à-Pitre, then use free mornings for the markets, rum distilleries and the beaches of Grande-Terre. Compared with big European film festivals, it is far less expensive and far less crowded, with easy access to filmmakers and no scramble for tickets. You leave … read more 👉
FEMI Film Festival gives you a way into Guadeloupe that beach hopping never will. Because it is built around Guadeloupean and wider Caribbean filmmakers, you sit in the same room as the people who made the work, and question-and-answer sessions often spill into the lobby. That is the fastest way to get invited to a dinner, a gallery opening or a tip about a beach with no tour buses. The community is small and temporary, so you will recognize the same faces by day two.

It also fits a longer island route neatly. Base yourself around Pointe-à-Pitre, then use free mornings for the markets, rum distilleries and the beaches of Grande-Terre. Compared with big European film festivals, it is far less expensive and far less crowded, with easy access to filmmakers and no scramble for tickets. You leave with a stack of recommendations and a clearer sense of how Guadeloupeans see themselves.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. The competition screenings: the heart of FEMI Film Festival is its program of Caribbean short films, features and documentaries. Stories about identity, migration, history and island life come from directors who often sit a few rows away.
  2. Filmmaker Q&A sessions: after many screenings, directors and producers take questions from the room. Conversations flow between French and Creole, and they are where you learn why a film was made the way it was.
  3. Workshops and masterclasses: the festival pairs screenings with talks aimed at young and emerging Caribbean filmmakers. Even as a visitor, you can pick up how local productions get financed and shot on small budgets.
  4. Pointe-à-Pitre as a festival setting: the city works as a base for the event, with its harbor, covered market and the Mémorial ACTe nearby.
… read more 👉
  1. The competition screenings: the heart of FEMI Film Festival is its program of Caribbean short films, features and documentaries. Stories about identity, migration, history and island life come from directors who often sit a few rows away.
  2. Filmmaker Q&A sessions: after many screenings, directors and producers take questions from the room. Conversations flow between French and Creole, and they are where you learn why a film was made the way it was.
  3. Workshops and masterclasses: the festival pairs screenings with talks aimed at young and emerging Caribbean filmmakers. Even as a visitor, you can pick up how local productions get financed and shot on small budgets.
  4. Pointe-à-Pitre as a festival setting: the city works as a base for the event, with its harbor, covered market and the Mémorial ACTe nearby. Walking between a screening and a museum or a snack stand makes the days feel connected.
  5. Evening gatherings and local food: after the last screening, audiences move to nearby restaurants and bars. Try accras (salt cod fritters) and a ti-punch while people argue happily about the day’s films.
If you only have time for one thing on a first visit, go to a competition screening followed by its Q&A, because FEMI Film Festival makes most sense when the film and its maker are in the same room.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around FEMI Film Festival

PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP)

PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP)

5.0(1) 10m
From €63
per personViator
Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre Arrival Transfer

Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre Arrival Transfer

0.0(0) 20m
From €39
per personViator
PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port

PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port

0.0(0) 10m
From €63
per personViator
Pointe-a-Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe-a-Pitre Round-Trip Transfer

Pointe-a-Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe-a-Pitre Round-Trip Transfer

0.0(0) 40m
From €78
per personViator
Private Transfer Airport Port Hotels in Guadeloupe

Private Transfer Airport Port Hotels in Guadeloupe

0.0(0)
From €80
per personViator
Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Port to Pointe-à-Pitre

Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Port to Pointe-à-Pitre

0.0(0) 10m
From €63
per personViator
Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer

Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer

0.0(0) 2h
From €118
per personViator
Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer

Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer

0.0(0) 1h
From €59
per personViator
Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre to Pointe-à-Pitre Port

Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre to Pointe-à-Pitre Port

0.0(0) 10m
From €63
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of FEMI Film Festival?

FEMI Film Festival (Festival régional et international du cinéma de Guadeloupe) is held in Guadeloupe each year, between February and April in recent editions, runs about a week, and spreads its screenings across the archipelago, from Le Lamentin and Basse-Terre to Saint-François.
  • Best day: The opening weekend has the most energy, with directors present and packed rooms. Midweek screenings are easier to get into and often have a quieter, more talkative audience.
  • Weather: Expect 22 to 29°C (72 to 84°F), trade-wind breezes and short, sharp showers. Bring a light rain jacket, a sweater for chilly cinemas and sunscreen.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed four to six weeks ahead, since this falls in high season and rooms near Pointe-à-Pitre cost 20 to 40 percent more. Screening tickets are cheap and mostly sold
… read more 👉
FEMI Film Festival (Festival régional et international du cinéma de Guadeloupe) is held in Guadeloupe each year, between February and April in recent editions, runs about a week, and spreads its screenings across the archipelago, from Le Lamentin and Basse-Terre to Saint-François.
  • Best day: The opening weekend has the most energy, with directors present and packed rooms. Midweek screenings are easier to get into and often have a quieter, more talkative audience.
  • Weather: Expect 22 to 29°C (72 to 84°F), trade-wind breezes and short, sharp showers. Bring a light rain jacket, a sweater for chilly cinemas and sunscreen.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed four to six weeks ahead, since this falls in high season and rooms near Pointe-à-Pitre cost 20 to 40 percent more. Screening tickets are cheap and mostly sold close to showtime.
  • Timing: Roads around Pointe-à-Pitre jam from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Arrive the day before and leave outside those windows.
Check the program a week before, as venues and times shift.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutGuadeloupe Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Guadeloupe
The digital guide (206 pages) contains:
✅ 51 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 2, 3 & 5-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Pointe-à-Pitre and the neighboring coast of Gosier are the most practical places to stay, since the festival's screenings sit close to both and buses and shared taxis converge there.
Central Pointe-à-Pitre puts you within walking distance of most venues, the market and the main bus station. It is busy by day and quiet after dark, so take a taxi at night rather than wandering the empty streets. It suits those who want to catch every screening without worrying about transport.
Gosier, about 10 to 15 minutes by road to the east, is the social choice. Its beach strip has the most restaurants, bars and … read more 👉
Pointe-à-Pitre and the neighboring coast of Gosier are the most practical places to stay, since the festival's screenings sit close to both and buses and shared taxis converge there.
Central Pointe-à-Pitre puts you within walking distance of most venues, the market and the main bus station. It is busy by day and quiet after dark, so take a taxi at night rather than wandering the empty streets. It suits those who want to catch every screening without worrying about transport.
Gosier, about 10 to 15 minutes by road to the east, is the social choice. Its beach strip has the most restaurants, bars and budget guesthouses, and you will meet other solo travelers there in the evenings. It is safe and easy to move around, and buses run to Pointe-à-Pitre during the day.
Sainte-Anne is a calmer alternative, about 25 to 35 minutes away. It has a lovely beach, cheaper rooms and a relaxed feel, but you will want a rental car or a ride after the evening shows.
Book early, as rooms in all three areas tighten up during festival week. Sharing an apartment with other travelers can cut costs considerably.
Best hostels in Guadeloupe


Best quality hotels in Guadeloupe

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

FEMI Film Festival costs roughly €85 to 110 a day for an independent traveler, with accommodation as the biggest expense and most other items kept low.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€4 to 8 per screeningSome events are free or discounted, and multi-screening passes can lower the cost for a full day.
Accommodation€45 to 65 per nightHigh season in late winter. Guesthouse rooms and shared apartments in Pointe-à-Pitre and Gosier sell out early.
Local transport€4 to 15 per dayBuses and shared taxis cost a few euros per trip, while a taxi at night costs €12 to 25 across town.
Food & drinks€20 to 30 per dayA bokit or market plate costs €5 to 9, a restaurant meal €15 to 25, and a ti-punch €4 to 7.
Miscellaneous€5 to 10 per dayWater, sunscreen, rain gear and small tips, since prices on
… read more 👉
FEMI Film Festival costs roughly €85 to 110 a day for an independent traveler, with accommodation as the biggest expense and most other items kept low.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival tickets€4 to 8 per screeningSome events are free or discounted, and multi-screening passes can lower the cost for a full day.
Accommodation€45 to 65 per nightHigh season in late winter. Guesthouse rooms and shared apartments in Pointe-à-Pitre and Gosier sell out early.
Local transport€4 to 15 per dayBuses and shared taxis cost a few euros per trip, while a taxi at night costs €12 to 25 across town.
Food & drinks€20 to 30 per dayA bokit or market plate costs €5 to 9, a restaurant meal €15 to 25, and a ti-punch €4 to 7.
Miscellaneous€5 to 10 per dayWater, sunscreen, rain gear and small tips, since prices on the island run higher than mainland France.
Total Daily Budget€85 to 110Based on one night of high-season accommodation and two screenings a day.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Eat like a local around the festival and you will taste Creole cooking at its most direct.
Around Pointe-à-Pitre, the food stalls and lolos near the market serve accras de morue (crisp salt cod fritters), boudin créole (spiced blood sausage) and grilled chicken with rice and red beans. A fast lunch between screenings often means a bokit, a fried pocket bread stuffed with chicken, fish or cheese, and it is as authentic as it is filling.
Try a ti-punch in the evening, made with white rhum agricole, lime and cane syrup. You build it yourself: pour the rum, squeeze the lime, add syrup to taste. Locals sip it slowly, so do not rush. For something lighter, order fresh juice of soursop, passion fruit or guava, or a cold Corsaire beer.
Quirks worth knowing: small stalls and market vendors usually prefer … read more 👉
Eat like a local around the festival and you will taste Creole cooking at its most direct.
Around Pointe-à-Pitre, the food stalls and lolos near the market serve accras de morue (crisp salt cod fritters), boudin créole (spiced blood sausage) and grilled chicken with rice and red beans. A fast lunch between screenings often means a bokit, a fried pocket bread stuffed with chicken, fish or cheese, and it is as authentic as it is filling.
Try a ti-punch in the evening, made with white rhum agricole, lime and cane syrup. You build it yourself: pour the rum, squeeze the lime, add syrup to taste. Locals sip it slowly, so do not rush. For something lighter, order fresh juice of soursop, passion fruit or guava, or a cold Corsaire beer.
Quirks worth knowing: small stalls and market vendors usually prefer cash in euros, so carry small bills and coins, while restaurants near cinemas accept cards. Portions are generous, and sharing a plate of colombo (Creole curry) is perfectly normal. Lunch stops in the afternoon at many places, so eat before 2 p.m. or settle for a snack. Greeting the vendor with a bonjour before ordering is expected and goes a long way.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

FEMI Film Festival takes place in Guadeloupe each year, typically between February and April. It lasts about a week, with screenings spread across Guadeloupe, from Le Lamentin to Basse-Terre and Saint-François. Exact dates move from edition to edition, so check the program a month ahead.
Attending FEMI Film Festival costs about €4 to 8 per screening, and some events are free. Add €45 to 65 a night for a bed in Pointe-à-Pitre or Gosier and €20 to 30 a day for food. A realistic total for one traveler is €85 to 110 per day.
For FEMI Film Festival, tickets for most screenings can be bought close to showtime at the venue, though popular evening shows and opening events can fill up. Booking ahead is wise for accommodation, ideally four to six weeks before, because rooms near Pointe-à-Pitre sell out in high season. Arrive 30 minutes early for headline films.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Guadeloupean festivals near FEMI Film

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Guadeloupe including FEMI Film and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all festivals

Or checkout all Guadeloupe has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Guadeloupe
Country photo of Guadeloupe
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on celebrating the FEMI Film

FEMI Film Festival works best over two to three days: enough to catch several screenings and a couple of discussions without film fatigue. I would add a few extra days around it for beaches and markets, and I would bring a light sweater, since cinemas run cold. Skip rental-car stress in town and walk between venues where you can.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Guadeloupe. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story