Polar Connection, the professional program of Quais du Polar
At the heart of the Quais du Polar festival, Polar Connection marks a key milestone on the agenda for crime fiction professionals A shared interest in the genre has brought all these French and international participants together for many editions. The event serves above all as a platform for exchange, reflection, and collaboration.
Located at the Palais de la Bourse, Polar Connection was designed as a comprehensive toolkit for French and international professionals in the book, audiovisual, digital, and cultural sectors—and beyond. Over the course of three intense days, participants will have the opportunity to explore the infinite potential of the crime fiction genre and related current topics in the creative industries through discussions, workshops, and inspiring encounters. The program also promotes B2B meetings and networking opportunities, particularly during social events such as cocktail receptions.
See you from April 3 to 5, 2026, for a new edition of Polar Connection!
Key features :
– Round tables, conferences, workshops: Expert speakers come together to discuss the major challenges facing their professions, offering an in-depth insight into the world of crime fiction.
– Formal and informal meetings: The Palais de la Bourse, with its Polar Connection Lounge on the first floor, is the ideal setting for B2B meetings and social gatherings, encouraging networking among professionals in the field.
– Source of Inspiration : Quais du Polar serves as a benchmark and source of inspiration thanks to its rich and diverse program. The independent booksellers running the festival’s Grande Librairie play a key role in recommending titles and helping visitors discover new authors.
The Polar Connection 2026 Program
Download the PDF program !
Program subject to change.
Friday, April 3
MORNING
9.30am – Opening Polar Connection
Welcome lounge and coffee
10am – 11am Salle Tony Garnier
Roundtable
Generative Artificial Intelligence, literary creation, and the book industry
Echoing the booklet « IA et création : enjeux et pratiques » initiated by members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Introduction: Maud Félix-Faure, City of Lyon
With
Valérie Habermacher, Librarian, Cannes Media Libraries, France
Perdita Krämer, coordinator, Crime Time festival in Bremen, Germany
Olivier Paquet, author, France
Samuel Sfez, President, Association des traducteurs littéraires de France (Association of Literary Translators of France) and member of the “En chair et en os” collective, France
Sára Vybíralová, international cooperation, Czech Literary Center, Czech Republic
Moderated by Vincent Raymond, journalist
with the complicity of Artisans de la fiction
Simultaneous translation French / English / German
10am – 11am Salle Ampère
Workshop
Documenting for fictional purposes: Collaborating with experts
Documentary research prior to a writing project: challenges, resources, etc.
With
Eléonore Durand, Ministry of the Interior’s Cinema Mission
Christel Gonnard, screenwriter, co-director of the Cité Européenne des Scénaristes
Franck Martins, police commander, audiovisual consultant
Christel Sire-Coupet, author, director of the Paris forensic science laboratory
Moderated by Léa-Jeanne Boehringer, screenwriter, producer
11.15am – 12pm Salle Tony Garnier
Workshop
International crime fiction festivals
Discussions on event formats, interdisciplinary approaches, and collaborations that promote the circulation of works and authors.
With :
Miguel Barrero Vázquez, Director, Semana Negra Gijón, Spain
Roland Gulliver, Director, MOTIVE Crime and Mystery Festival, Toronto, Canada
Jutta Günther, Journalist, contributor to the Crime Time Festival, Bremen, Germany
Perdita Krämer, Director, Crime Time Festival and Bremer Kriminal Theater, Bremen, Germany
Kang Saehim, Seoul Writer International Festival, LTI Korea, South Korea
Moderated by Albane Lafanechère, Quais du polar association
Simultaneous translation French / English / German
11.15am – 12pm Salle Ampère
Workshop
Crime fiction section: how to build relationships in bookstores or libraries?
Sharing experiences based on examples of events, facilitation and partnerships
With:
Marie Gaudefroy, Martelle bookstore, Amiens,
Xavier Hervot, Director, Media Library, Francheville
Annaïk Kerneuzet, Dialogues Martelle, Brest
Moderated by François Pirola, Quais du polar association
12.15pm – 1pm Chapelle de la Trinité
Polar en Séries – Scelf award ceremony
Presentation, in the form of pitches, of the selection and announcement of the 2026 winner
With: Lucile Besse, Robert Laffont ; Angélique Debellemanière, Mediatoon for Dupuis ; Nathalie Démoulin, Le Rouergue ; Camille Paulian, Trames for Le Quartanier ; Hélène Sauger, Denoël ; Carola Strang, Nathan.
In the presence of the members of the jury and Valérie Barthez, Director of the SCELF
Moderated by Isabelle Fauvel, audiovisual consultant, Silence&Conversation
With the support of the SACD
Simultaneous translation French / English
1pm – 2pm Chapelle de la Trinité
Cocktail lunch
AFTERNOON
2.30pm – 3pm SalleTony Garnier
Roundtable
Crime fiction on screen: Editorial trends and current developments in series
Between recurring series and miniseries, what are the trends in terms of storytelling, aesthetics, production, etc.? What developments are there in uses and production ecosystems?
With
Claire Le Luhern, screenwriter
Véra Peltekian, consultant, script doctor
Sophie Revil, producer, Escazal, and president of the La Rochelle Fiction Festival
Fanny Robert, producer, Anthracite, and screenwriter
Moderated by Grégory Faes, Director of Auvergne Rhône Alpes Cinéma
2.15pm – 3pm Salle Ampère
Workshop
Mapping French-Language Crime Fiction Around the World:
A Collaborative Project and the Role of Authors in Bookstores
With:
Maryline Noël, Bookseller, Le Comptoir, Santiago, Chile
Olivier Truc, Author, Sweden, France
Hélène Wadowski, Trainer, Consultant, Administrator, AILF
With the support of the Association Internationale des Libraires Francophones (AILF)
Simultaneous translation French / English
3.45pm – 4.30pm Salle Tony Garnier
Case study
Novel, Documentary Investigation, Real Events: The Adaptation as Seen by Jean-Paul Salomé
With
Jean-Paul Salomé, director (L’affaire Bojarski, La Syndicaliste, La Daronne…)
Moderated by Vincent Raymond, journalist
With the support of SACD
3.15pm – 4.15pm Salle Ampère
Roundtable
The graphic world of crime fiction – Book covers and series design
What are the conventions of the crime novel? How can we update them and keep them in step with the genre’s current boom?
With
Silvia Alterio, artistic director, Actes Sud Littérature
Miles Hyman, illustrator and painter, creator of the Rivages Noir covers
Carine Verschaeve, publisher, Belfond
Loïc Desroches, bookseller, Le Failler Bookshop, Rennes
Moderated by Alice Monéger, publisher
Simultaneous translation French / English
4.30pm – 5.15pm Salle Tony Garnier
Focus
A four-handed crime novel between Reykjavik and Lyon
How can we create the conditions for inventive international collaborative writing?
With
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, author, Iceland
Natalie Beunat, publisher, Points France
Jérôme Loubry, author, France
Pétur Már Ólafsson, publisher, Bjartur & Veröld, Iceland
Jean-Christophe Salaün, literary translator
Moderated by Frédéric Crouzet, journalist
Simultaneous translation French / English
4.15pm – 5.15pm Salle Ampère
Roundtable
The sound universe of crime fiction: podcasts, audiobooks, playlists, etc.
From sound design to formats and business models: current issues
In collaboration with the Paris Podcast Festival (PPF)
With
Hyppolit Audouy, comédien voix-off et auteur de fictions sonores
Mehdi Bayad, auteur et créateur de fictions radio
Auriane Cabot, Head of Marketing and Digital at Audiolib
Constance Parpoil, Audiobook Consultant and Vice President of Paris PPF
Moderated by Candice Smadja, President of Paris Program – Play – Festival and Director of AOC Prod
Saturday, April 4
All events will take place in the Salon Polar Connection – Salle Jacquard at the Palais de la Bourse.
MORNING
9h45 – 10h30
Welcome breakfast
Spotlight of book influencers
With the support of IMPACT collection, Hugo Publisher
10.30am – 12.30pm
Presentation by 8 French publishers of their latest Polar publications
With
Collection Impact, Hugo Publisher, Clémentine Thiebault; Fleuve, Julie Cartier; Flammarion, Bertrand Pirel; Plon, Aurélien Masson; Calmann Lévy, Caroline Lépée; Collection Actes noirs, Actes Sud, David Gressot; Verso, Le Seuil, Glenn Tavennec; Editions Agullo, Sébastien Wespiser
12.30pm
Polar Connection Aperitif Cocktail
With the support of Agullo Publishing, on the occasion of their 10th anniversary
AFTERNOON
1.30pm – 2.15pm
Literary influencers’ Café: Meet Éditions du Gros Caillou
With the support of Éditions du Gros Caillou
2.30pm – 3.30pm
Pitchs for Polar / Thriller projects in development – Film & audiovisual
A selection of 5 projects in development, presented by their authors in response to a call for projects launched with the screenwriters’ association Le 7e Scénar.
3.45pm – 4.30pm
Masterclass – Writing for audiovisual series
The Corpse and the Serial: Opening Scenes in Seasons 5 to 8 of Engrenages.
With Vera Peltekian, consultant, script doctor
4.30pm – 6.00pm
Meeting with Literary Influencers / Authors / Lisez!
Tailor-made meetings for literary influencers with authors
Olivier Bal, Nicolas Beuglet, Julien Chavanes, S.A. Cosby, Sonja Delzongle, Nicolas Druart, Maria Grund, D.B. John, Koe’, Shari Lapena, Joseph Macé-Scarron, Aslak Nore, Clarence Pitz, Catherine Ryan Howard, Anouk Shutterberg, Yello.
With Lisez !
6pm
Apéritif Polar Connection
With the support of Lisez !
Sunday, April 5
Last year, the two new events created for Sunday won over professionals! They are back with a new proposal for 2026.
11am – 12pm
Polar Connection Rendez-vous
With Actes Sud Diffusion and the publishing houses Actes Sud, Rouergue et Rivages
To celebrate their anniversaries, Actes Sud, Rivages, and Rouergue publishers invite you to celebrate these events together in the presence of Tristan Saule (Rivages), Olivier Ciechelski (Rouergue), Karin Smirnoff (Actes Sud), and their editors!
12pm
Polar Connection Aperitif Cocktail
At the invitation of Actes Sud Diffusion
2pm – 3.30pm
Creative writing workshop for professionals
With Artisans de la fiction
Storytelling: telling a story to sell stories
From novels to movies, podcasts to series, and even short videos on social media, stories are everywhere. But how can you stand out? How can you tell the story behind the stories you sell?
Extras !
Meet the experts from Interpol
As a prelude to Quais du polar, Thursday, April 2, a special event, registration required
Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at Interpol headquarters in Lyon
Advance registration required – limited number of places available – details to follow for accredited members
Highlights of Polar Connection
International
Every year, Polar Connection welcomes professionals from different countries. Authors, as well as various figures from the literary world (publishers, translators, etc.) will be welcomed during the different stages of the program, thereby promoting new collaborations and international dialogue around the genre.
Polar on screen
The subject of crime fiction on screen also features strongly, notably with the presentation of the Polar en séries-SCLEF Award, an event that will reward a book for its potential to be adapted into a TV series. A B2B appointment scheduling module will be made available to the various players involved in audiovisual adaptation.
Let’s talk business
At the heart of the meetings, the program will draw inspiration from current events in the crime fiction genre and issues specific to the cultural and creative industries. A variety of formats, such as workshops, round tables, catalog and project presentations, will encourage exchanges of ideas and experiences.
The professional programme is available upon accreditation.
The Polar en Séries – SCELF award
Le prix Polar en Séries – Scelf 2026 valorise la production littéraire du polar francophone en mettant en lumière des œuvres pour leur potentiel d’adaptation en série audiovisuelle. Conçu en collaboration avec la SCELF – Société Civile des Éditeurs de Langue Française – ce prix s’intègre dans le programme professionnel de Polar Connection, créant ainsi une passerelle essentielle entre l’univers du livre et de l’audiovisuel.
Le prix Polar en Séries – Scelf récompense un roman noir, thriller, ou polar francophone pour ses qualités intrinsèques et son potentiel d’adaptation. Les œuvres sélectionnées illustrent la création littéraire dans le genre polar et offrent des perspectives riches pour une adaptation en séries.
Polar en Séries repose sur un appel à candidature lancé auprès des maisons d’édition spécialisées dans le polar.
As the Polar en Séries award ceremony is an integral part of the Polar Connection program, it will take place on Friday, April 3, 2026, following a presentation of the works by the publishers themselves at the Chapelle de la Trinité.
The jury for the 12th edition of the Polar Series Award: Michel ABOUCHAHLA, president of Écran Total; Slimane-Baptiste BERHOUN, director (Surface, Vortex…); Camille BERTRAND, Fiction Program Manager, Arte France; Carole LE BERRE, Program Advisor, Fiction Unit, France Télévision; Xavier LEHERPEUR, journalist, film and series critic, France Inter, L’Obs, etc.; Claire LE LUHERN, screenwriter (Furies, Soleil Noir, French Connection); Véra PELTEKIAN, consultant, script doctor; Fanny ROBERT, screenwriter, producer, Anthracite Productions / Mediawan (Anthracite, Profilage, etc.).
Le programme 2026 est en cours d’élaboration. Il présente des formats multiples tels que des tables-rondes, des ateliers, des sessions de pitchs, des présentations de catalogues français et internationaux, rendez vous BtoB et moments conviviaux.
Un programme centré sur les échanges
L’objectif de Polar Connection est avant tout de réunir des acteurs variés autour de l’univers du polar et de favoriser le dialogue entre professionnels.
Pour faciliter vos échanges et rendez vous durant ces trois jours vous aurez à votre disposition :
– Un annuaire numérique de tous les participants Polar Connection envoyé en amont de l’évènement.
– Un module de prise de rendez-vous BtoB pour les différents acteurs de l’adaptation audiovisuelle, accessible en ligne dès mars.
Pour l’édition 2026, Polar Connection accueille toujours des influenceurs du livre et initie un nouveau programme destiné à de jeunes traducteurs francophones étrangers. L’objectif est de leur proposer des échanges avec les professionnels et une immersion dans le polar français.
Retour sur l'édition précédente
The 4-handed Polar
Among the highlights of this edition, we include the presentation of the 4-handed Polar. A collaborative writing project between two authors, one French and the other from a crime town, their 4-handed thrillers already form a collection with the complicity of Points editions.
This year’s ‘Polar à 4 mains’ is the result of a collaboration between France and Iceland, in which the Icelandic novelist Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and the French author Jérôme Loubry take turns writing a story set between Lyon and Reykjavík.
As part of Polar Connection, a meeting with the authors, publishers and translator is planned to discuss their creative process and their perceptions of borders, which lie at the heart of their stories.
Find details of the 2025 Four-Handed Thriller, Contrebandiers, as well as archives of previous years’ projects on the ‘The Festival Internationally’ page.
This project benefits from the support provided by the French Institute / City and Metropolis of Lyon agreement.
The archives
- Polar Connection Program 2025
- Polar en Séries 2025 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2024
- Polar en Séries 2024 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2023
- Polar en Séries 2023 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2022
- Polar en Séries 2022 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2021
- Polar en Séries 2021 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2020
- Polar en Séries 2020 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2019
- Polar en Séries 2019 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2018
- Polar en Séries 2018 booklet
- Polar Connection Program 2017
- Polar Connection Program 2016





