According to actu.fr, the Mamers en Mars European film festival, organized each year in the town of Mamers, faces a serious threat. The removal of the subsidy from the Pays de la Loire region of 18,500 euros, which represented more than 30% of the total budget, weakens its existence.
This budget cut is part of a regional plan to reduce cultural, sporting and associative funding, with reductions reaching up to 90% from 2025. In this tense context, the event may not see its next edition take place.
A local cultural and economic impact
The festival is a major cultural event for Sarthe, attracting a large audience each year and contributing to the local economy. Nearly 47,000 euros of the total budget of 60,000 euros are spent with traders, restaurateurs and service providers in the department. Beyond its economic contribution, the event plays an educational and training role, allowing many volunteers to acquire skills and move towards cultural careers.
Faced with these challenges, the organizing association is exploring solutions such as recognition of public utility to attract new financial support and hopes to guarantee the holding of the 2025 edition while anticipating the challenges for the following years.
