The article is devoted art-house cinema and its features. «French avant-garde» is regarded as a direction in the development of cinema as opposed to commercial cinema. Also, analyzes the birth of the art-house cinema and his connection with representatives of the "New Wave". In addition, reveals the essence of the author's film, what is this cinema, which is entirely done by the director himself. In this cinema the main place is occupied by the idea of the creator. The director aims at not receiving benefits, but reports to the audience his views, beliefs. Author's cinema does not become cash because, it has a narrow target audience. Not everyone wants to think, to analyze. Many people go to the cinema to rest, get a charge of good mood. Many people go to the cinema to rest, to get a charge of good mood. The spectator is waiting for the author's cinema of truth in artistic form, to boldly face the reality, take it freely, without fear, without illusions. Directors of art cinema allow the viewer to leave the hall after receiving a moral and social lesson, philosophical lesson, a lesson for the future. Author's cinema stimulated the development of world cinema, became an important criterion of knowledge of the world. It is international, as the contribution to its development was made almost by all film schools all over the world. In addition, it is concluded that the director is the key figure of the whole film process and the author of the film.