2024 - 20th edition
This anniversary edition was held from April 5 to 7, 2024 and had as its main theme 20 YEARS OF POLAR. Thus were celebrated 20 years of a genre that has continued to evolve and reinvent itself, 20 years and hundreds of authors from all walks of life that we have sometimes seen born and always supported as best we could, 20 years of exciting, inspiring and sometimes moving encounters, 20 years and thousands of passionate and enthusiastic festival-goers, 20 years of booksellers’ advice, 20 years of film noir, games, investigations, discoveries, professional exchanges, mediation actions around the book… In short, 20 years of passion for the polar genre. This anniversary was celebrated with themes that highlighted the evolution of the genre and the invitation of leading authors of the festival, while looking to the future by offering a spotlight on new authors, new trends in crime fiction and new partnerships. Social and committed themes were addressed through discussions and screenings, making the festival a space where literary crime meets major contemporary issues. We thus celebrated 20 years of a deeply committed genre and took the opportunity to discuss the fights dear to the authors we defend: the fight against racism and intolerance, against misogyny and violence against women, against inequalities, against environmental damage and its consequences on the planet… Because 20 years later, crime fiction continues to explore the faults of society, and invites us to reflect on our values.
2023 - 19th edition
For this 19th edition, Quais du Polar set out to discover the SPANISH CRIME FICTION which, like the French crime fiction, has been experiencing a new boom since the mid-2000s, to the point of becoming a true publishing and cultural phenomenon. With the presence of a substantial panel of authors, representative of the variety and richness of the genre, the sometimes dark and tortured history of this country was able to be explored. Festival-goers strolled with them through the streets of Barcelona and Madrid and summoned the tutelary figure of Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, who died 20 years earlier. A dive through literature, cinema and even gastronomy, into the soul of a modern monarchy where books and culture occupy a major place. The festival also explored the theme of NOVEL CRIME AND JOURNALISM, two forms of writing that have always maintained very close links. Literature of reality and heir to the popular soap opera, the detective novel is indeed very often interested in current events and their various facts, in search of a form of truth. Many writers who are journalists or former journalists, or authors of crime novels, choose to highlight journalist characters in their novels. From writing reports to writing essays or novels, the guests were able to tell their stories and the way in which reality influences their writing.
2022 - 18th edition
The 18th edition of the Quais du Polar international festival took place from April 1 to 3, 2022. On this occasion, the festival returned to its usual dates and locations on the Lyon peninsula, after an exceptional last summer edition in 2021. An inexhaustible source of inspiration for authors, both a setting and a character in its own right, THE CITY is at the heart of the programming of this 18th edition. World cities, dark cities, changing cities and utopian cities, we are thus drawing up with the guest authors a global map of crime fiction cities. A journey that takes us to the four corners of the world and allows us to question the new challenges of our post-covid society and to reconnect with the international dimension of the festival.
2021 - 17th edition
The 17th edition of Quais du Polar took place from July 2 to 4, 2021. It was an opportunity to set sail for EUROPE! An unprecedented journey that brought us to meet our neighbors, more or less close geographically and culturally, but all united by this common project that is Europe.
Weakened by Brexit and the many crises that have shaken it, what meaning does Europe still have for writers? What unites and defines us? Can we characterize European literature? What is the place of crime fiction in Europe; is European crime fiction today capable of competing with its Anglo-Saxon cousin? We interviewed the authors present and explored with them our common history and the unique histories of each country.
2020 - 16th edition
The 16th edition, which was to be held on April 3, 4 and 5, 2020, unfortunately had to be canceled due to Covid-19. This edition was to invite AMERICA OF THE MARGINS AND THE SHADOWS, with authors from the USA, Canada, Chile, Salvador and Cuba.
2019 - 15th edition
For this anniversary edition, Quais du Polar has for the first time put the spotlight on the NORDIC POLAR which, for more than 10 years, has become a real publishing phenomenon in France. More than 25 authors and screenwriters from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland were present. The opportunity to draw up a robot portrait of the Nordic polar, of what makes its essence and its originality and to discover these wide open spaces that have fascinated so many readers.
2018 - 14th edition
For this 14th edition, ITALY was at the center of the debates! More than fifteen authors as well as publishers and professionals from the Italian book and audiovisual sector were invited to participate in the festival. The opportunity to highlight “crime culture” in the Italian style, through literature but also cinema, music… An exceptional focus since Quais du polar brought together in Lyon the greatest current authors of Italian crime fiction, including Donato Carrisi, Luca di Fulvio, Nicola Lagioia and Valerio Varesi.
2017 - 13th edition
The 2017 edition of the Quais du Polar festival was divided into a main theme EUROPE FROM EAST TO WEST, then into several other themes. Through this first focus, Quais du Polar explored new or little-known territories of crime fiction: Germany, but also further east Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, Poland and Serbia. New, unique and often very dark spaces, offered to the curiosity of readers. The notion of “genre” was also developed: literary genres of course, with the presence of crime fiction authors and writers from other literary backgrounds. But also the question of the feminine and masculine genres and the place they occupy in crime fiction where the role of women – author, character or reader – has fortunately evolved a lot since its beginnings. One wonders if women have not today seized on black power…
2016 - 12th edition
During this twelfth edition of Quais du Polar, GREAT BRITAIN was in the spotlight. The other major themes were: the French-speaking world (with writers from Algeria, Togo, Gabon, Quebec, Switzerland and Belgium), humor and… football, since Lyon is one of the eleven French cities that hosted Euro 2016 in June. An “Espionage” theme made it possible to address burning issues as diverse as geopolitical changes, refugee issues, computer surveillance and financial globalization.
2015 - 11th edition
For this 11th edition, Quais du Polar headed towards THE OTHER AMERICAS. The public was able to discover authors from Central America with Paco Ignacio Taibo II (Mexico), Leonardo Padura (Cuba), Horacio Castellanos Moya (El Salvador), Daniel Quirós (Costa Rica). South America with Paulo Lins and Edyr Augusto (Brazil), Luis Sepúlveda (Chile), Santiago Gamboa (Colombia), Ernesto Mallo (Argentina), Diego Trelles Paz (Peru). Adaptation was one of the major themes of this edition with the creation of the “Polar en séries” prize which rewards a French-language thriller for its adaptation qualities to the TV series, and with a very rich cinema program in partner theaters.
2014 - 10th edition
For this 10th edition, Quais du Polar has decided to highlight FRENCH CRIME FICTION. Contrary to previous editions, where the festival had promoted other countries or continents, this theme imposed itself. The crime genre having evolved considerably in France during the previous 10 years, with a significant renewal of authors and themes.
2013 - 9th edition
In 2013 ASIA was at the heart of the programme with the presence of authors from China, Japan and Korea, French and Anglo-Saxon authors who were able to discuss their links with this continent and a whole programme in connection (notably a night of Asian black cinema).
2012 - 8th edition
In 2012, the festival opened to ASIA, the new continent of global crime fiction. Quais du Polar also opened its program to science fiction and fantasy. The encounter of these “bad genres” has indeed influenced many crime fiction authors who have taken their codes to create futuristic and hybrid thrillers that surprise, disturb, and shake up our certainties.
2011 - 7th edition
For this 7th edition, MEXICO was the guest of honor: the opportunity to discover a little-known territory of crime fiction and to meet Gabriel Trujillo Munoz, Elmor Mendoza, Sergio Gonzalez Rodriguez, Francisco Haghenbeck…
2010 - 6th edition
During this 6th edition, the countries in the spotlight were RUSSIA, 2010 being the year of France-Russia cultural cooperation and South Africa, in relation to the news of the 2010 football World Cup.
2009 - 5th edition
2009 being the centenary of the birth of Léo Malet, this edition was the opportunity for Quais du Polar to pay tribute to this essential author of detective literature, father of Nestor Burma, one of the most famous French detectives. A tribute was also paid to Chester Himes on the occasion of the centenary of his birth. A dive into the world of American detectives and the underworld of New York, the black condition in detective fiction, jazz and blaxploitation films.
2008 - 4th edition
2007 - 3rd edition
In 2007, it was the BRITISH POLAR which was in the spotlight, reflecting its flourishing news. Visitors were therefore able to take advantage of meetings, conferences and debates to provide an overview of the crime scene across the Channel. ITALIAN POLAR was a second strong focus of the festival. A true instrument of social criticism, Italian noir was illustrated by the presence of four emblematic authors: Massimo CARLOTTO, Loriano MACCHIAVELLI, Santo PIAZZESE and Andrea G PINKETTS. Finally, a tribute was paid to the work of Jim Thompson on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his death.
2006 - 2e édition
For its 2nd edition, the festival multiplies the bridges between disciplines, offering a rich and varied panorama of this literary and cinematographic genre. Around fifty French and foreign authors, among the best of the genre, were present in Lyon for this occasion. Note the exceptional presence of Donald Westlake, but also Tonino Benacquista, Iain Pears and even Martin Winckler and Patrick Raynal.
2005 - 1st edition
It is between Rhône and Saône that Quais du Polar organized its first festival in 2005 with the greatest authors of the genre. Quais du Polar wanted to invite the Lyonnais to discover or rediscover the thriller in all its diversity through a program that opens up another perspective on the city through a rich program: novels, comics, cinema, urban theater, games and investigations …