Belleville Beats

Finnish Premiere 

Tuesday 8.9. at 9 p.m., Alō 

Documentary, 2026, France

Director: Hugo Sobelman
Duration: 1h 27 min
Themes: Paris, activism, youth, community
Language: French, English subtitles
Age rating: Allowed

Belleville, known as the Montmartre of the 21st century, is one of Paris's most multicultural neighborhoods, full of street art, artist studios, and immigrant communities. This bohemian district is a symbol of Paris's cultural and ideological change – as well as gentrification, which the Belleville Beats documentary explores.

The documentary, centered around the La Perm youth center, features more talking than many films combined, but for good reason: these young people have something to say. Not least about identity, racism, police violence, and the changing nature of their hometown. The youth center's mentors help them find jobs, study opportunities, and more broadly, their own place, while also sparring their reflections. The club provides an opportunity for debate and dreaming, but also for concrete action – the documentary progresses towards the Belleville en Vrai music festival, which the young people organize in a local park.

This inspiring portrayal of a metropolis and its youth premiered in the spring at the CPHDOX festival in Copenhagen. 

The film is part of the Karhupuisto Film Festival's France Day program.

Other credits:

Cinematography: Hadrien Vedel
Editing: Muriel Breton
Sound Editing: Claire Cahu
Producers: Carine Ruzniewski, Rebecca Houzel
Production companies: GoGoGo Films, Petit à Petit Production