About
Dora Maar Film Festival
ART & ARTISTS THROUGH CINEMA
Dedicated to the arts, artists and creativity in all its forms, the Provence Arts Film Festival is a vibrant and distinctive annual celebration of documentary cinema.
The Festival takes place in the beautiful Luberon village of Ménerbes, in the heart of Provence – a region whose landscapes and light have inspired generations of artists, writers, photographers and filmmakers.
Held in August 2025, the first edition was a resounding success. Over four days, audiences explored the artistic heritage of the region through a programme dedicated to photography and photographers. The Festival honoured the legacy of Dora Maar, the surrealist photographer who lived and worked in Ménerbes, along with other artists whose creativity helped shape the cultural life of Provence. Screenings, conversations, and open-air events brought together filmmakers, curators, art historians and critics for an unforgettable inaugural year.
The Provence Arts Film Festival invites local, national and international audiences to discover the artistic community of Ménerbes, to celebrate the cultural richness of Provence and to join a growing annual tradition devoted to the arts in all its genres.
Future editions will explore a different artistic discipline – music, visual arts, performing arts, literature, fashion, architecture, photography, dance, design, as well as the culinary arts and wine – affirming our commitment to supporting and sharing the creative spirit of Provence with audiences from around the world.
2026 edition
Building on the success of the inaugural Festival, the 2026 edition of the Provence Arts Film Festival will shine a spotlight on the world of music and musicians. Through a series of compelling documentaries, the Festival will explore the lives, inspirations and creative journeys of musical artists across genres and generations.
As in the first edition, the Festival will feature daytime talks, filmmaker conversations and open-air screenings, creating a shared space where audiences and guests can meet, exchange ideas and celebrate artistic expression. 2026 will see the addition of afternoon and late night showings.
Programme details coming soon.
Ménerbes
In the Heart of the Luberon
Listed among the most beautiful villages in France, Ménerbes lies in the heart of the Luberon Regional Natural Park in Provence. This picturesque hilltop village, inhabited since prehistoric times, offers breathtaking views over vineyards, olive groves and the surrounding mountains.
Known as Minerva during Roman times, after the Goddess of Arts and Wisdom, Ménerbes has long been a source of inspiration for artists. Renowned figures such as Dora Maar and Nicolas de Staël lived here while others, including Marc Chagall, Agnès Varda, and Louise Bourgeois, worked nearby.
Ménerbes combines a rich historical heritage, with its ancient stone houses and narrow cobbled streets, with a vibrant cultural life. Visitors can enjoy local markets, art galleries, cafés and traditional Provençal cuisine, while exploring the creativity and artistic spirit that continue to define the village today.
This enchanting setting makes Ménerbes the perfect home for the Provence Arts Film Festival, where cinema and the arts meld with the unique beauty of Provence.
About us
The Founders
LUCY DARWIN is an award-winning Producer and Director, who began her film career in 1984 in exhibition and distribution, and now specialises in arts documentaries. She has programmed the London screenings for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars) and participated in all the major – and some of the smallest – film festivals, from Cannes to Umbria. An occasional guest lecturer in European film schools, she holds degrees in Photography, Film & Television and Law.
Lucy is a member of the Tate Gallery Photography Acquisitions Committee.
Lucy has lived in Ménerbes since 2020 and her favourite place in Ménerbes is the terrace of the Café du Progrès.
Her favourite arts documentaries are: Faces Places (2017) by Agnès Varda & JR , My Architect (2003) by Nathaniel Kahn, Paula Rego, Secrets & Stories (2017) by Nick Willing and Peggy Guggenheim, Art Addict (2015) by Lisa Immordino Vreeland.
NATASHA BHATIA has a professional background in Investment Banking and Private Equity, having worked in both Paris and London.
More recently Natasha has pursued an independent path as an angel investor and serial entrepreneur. Combining her passion for tennis and business she has launched Green and Purple an electronic trading platform for Wimbledon debenture tickets. Natasha is a founding trustee of the Belu Foundation which sells Belu bottled water and donates 100% of its net profits. Over £6m has been donated to the charity, Wateraid, since 2011.
Natasha has lived in Ménerbes since 2008 and her favourite place is the secret Joe Downing garden opposite the Dora Maar House.
Her favourite arts documentaries are: Peggy Guggenheim Art Addict (2015) by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Bill Cunningham New York (2010) by Richard Press and Capturing Lee Miller (2020) by Teresa Griffiths
Team of the Dora Maar Film Festival 2026
Lucy Darwin – Director & Curator
Fiona Leishman – Deputy Director & Partnerships
Alexandre Alajbegović – Logistics
Elise Hamon Ruller – PR & Communications (France)
Katy Driscoll – PR & Communications (International)
Gemma Pecorini Goodall – Social Media
Website Designer & Graphic Design :
& D’EAU FRAÎCHE
Website Build & Background Design :
Toile de fond
Logo & Poster Design :
Frances Darwin