Created by the French Union of Film Critics in 1962, La Semaine de la Critique has remained steadfast in its commitment to discovering new talent by showcasing first and second feature films from directors from all over the world. Bernardo BERTOLUCCI, Ken LOACH, WONG Kar Waï, Jacques AUDIARD, Alejandro GONZALEZ IÑARRITU or Jeff NICHOLS have all made their professional debut at La Semaine.

In an effort to continually discover new filmmakers, La Semaine pays particular attention to short and medium length films, which are often the first step in a director's career. By presenting their first shorts, La Semaine de la Critique has discovered such illustrious filmmakers as François OZON, Gaspar NOÉ, Andrea ARNOLD and James FRANCO.