Industry

One of the most urgent and recurring themes to emerge during the 31st edition of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre (September 1–5, 2025) was the climate emergency. From global warming to the melting of the Arctic ice caps, from the environmental devastation caused by polluting industries to the collective fear that the world is already past the point of no return, the message echoed through the week’s programming: it may already be too late to act.

The opening day set the tone with the premiere of Nature: Pour une réconciliation, a documentary by renowned filmmaker and environmental activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Distributed internationally by Federation International, the film issues a heartfelt plea for humanity to reconcile with the natural world before irreversible damage is done.

The climate crisis was also central to After Us,  a six-part drama (6×45’) created by Louis Aubert and Matthieu Bernard, distributed by Mediawan Rights. The series follows a clandestine organization that kidnaps the teenage children of powerful executives during a European summit to force action against governmental and corporate inaction on climate change.

Even the seemingly unrelated second season of the provocative drama Escort Boys (6×45’) opened with a storyline linked to environmental exploitation. In its first episode, a ruthless corporate executive threatens to destroy the ecosystem of a bee farm for industrial gain, drawing a connection between human greed and ecological collapse.

The theme continued with Sea Shadows (6×52’), a tense eco-thriller that follows a marine scientist investigating mysterious environmental crimes at sea. The series, deeply rooted in marine biology and climate science, explores how illegal fishing, deep-sea mining, and corporate pollution intertwine with political corruption, ultimately putting both ocean ecosystems and human lives at risk. Sea Shadows adds a suspenseful, investigative dimension to the environmental storytelling showcased at the Rendez-Vous.

From high-profile documentaries to gripping dramas, the week demonstrated that environmental issues are not just a niche concern but a growing creative priority for French producers, writers, and distributors. Across genres, the narrative thread was clear: the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, but a present-day emergency demanding urgent attention—on screen and off.