Photo : © 2008 Studio Ghibli
Metamorphosis: Youth Cinema Festival at the Branly Museum
Journey into a world where reality shifts and creatures evolve through a spellbinding collection of films hosted at the museum. From mythical sea spirits to ancient legends of transformation, this selection captures the magic of change that connects cultures across the globe. It is the perfect opportunity for young audiences to witness the art of becoming something entirely new.
Musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac (Paris 7th)
About
The Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac presents the Métamorphose film festival, a special event for young audiences running from October 17 to October 25, 2026. Through a carefully curated selection of international cinema, the festival explores the fascinating concept of transformation in all its forms. From mythical creatures in Mesoamerican legends to Japanese yôkai and contemporary tales of identity, seventeen screenings invite viewers to reflect on change and growth. The entire festival is free of charge, welcoming families to discover these magical stories within the museum's setting in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Words from the programmer
All over the world, cinema draws inspiration from tales and imaginary stories to give birth to hybrid creatures that modify their appearance depending on the situation. Whether it's a Mesoamerican deity (a lizard becoming Quetzalcoatl in Louise and the Legend of the Feathered Serpent) or Japanese mermaids (ningyo, the "fish-humans" from Ponyo and Lu Over the Wall): they are certainly fantastic beings!
From the Far East to the West, characters master the art of masks and their transformations (The King of Masks, The Mask). Behind false faces and deceptive appearances hide funny characters: let's not be afraid of them, these changing spirits (in Japan yōkai or obake) are also allies for getting through trials and growing up faster (The Boy and the Heron).
On screen, beliefs from all eras generate impressive metamorphoses (The Serpent Prince in ancient Mesopotamia). Today, words and the simple gaze of others are enough to anticipate a possible transformation (I Am Not a Witch, where 9-year-old Shula, in a Zambian village, must decide if she is a witch or a goat).
Regardless of the continent where we live, don't we all share this dream of changing size (Alice), transforming our body and becoming someone else (Fanta, the Guinean contortionist from Fantastique, or a little Inuit, The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear)? And what if a rainbow that turns into a boy (Arco) had the power to change our present so that our future becomes more livable?
For 17 screenings for all ages, cinema will be the magical art where everything can evolve at any moment into an even more unimaginable form!
Damien Truchot, programmer
Our take on this event
From Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, the Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac hosts the Métamorphose film festival. Programmer Damien Truchot has gathered a collection of films that delve into the art of metamorphosis, showing how characters from various cultures and eras navigate the experience of changing their appearance or identity. Through works such as The Boy and the Heron, Ponyo, and various international titles, the festival highlights stories where change becomes a tool for overcoming obstacles and understanding the world.
Screenings are scheduled daily, from Monday to Sunday, between 15:00 and 19:00. The festival is designed to captivate a young audience with diverse narratives ranging from ancient Mesopotamian myths to modern-day stories from Zambia and Guinea. Each of the 17 screenings serves as an invitation to consider how transformation influences our present and shapes a more habitable future. Admission is entirely free for all attendees, making this an accessible cultural experience located in the heart of Paris's 7th arrondissement. Visitors are encouraged to review the full screening schedule to plan their visit to the museum.
