Editorial by Marie-Dominique Michaud

“I was touched and honored to be named president of the FIFES 2026 jury. I sincerely thank the festival team for its confidence, as well as the jury members who are accompanying me in this edition.”

I approach this role with humility and seriousness, aware that the stories and accounts we will have the privilege of discovering are the fruit of a patient commitment, often carried out against the current, carried by a lucid look at the complex issues and colossal challenges of our time, as well as by a deep desire to bear witness and pass on.

The FIFES offers these works a rare space: a place for listening, resonance and dialogue, free from both simplism and the spectacular. A space that allows films to exist in all their complexity. I’m looking forward to viewing this year’s shortlisted projects alongside the other members of the jury. The exchanges to come, nourished by the diversity of our sensibilities and backgrounds, will be an integral part of this experience.

The FIFES holds a special place in my career. In 2024, L’Océan vu du cœur was awarded the Coup de cœur prize. This film will forever be associated with the presence, benevolence and commitment of the late Hubert Reeves, so dear to my heart. His unique talent for making science accessible in a poetic and responsible way, his constant fight to protect biodiversity and his deeply embodied humanism have made a lasting impression on millions of people, far beyond scientific or activist circles. I often remember the phrase he used to repeat: “If we say that everything is ruined, then everything is ruined. We have to act as if we’re going to make it, with the obstinacy of a child who says no.” This obstinacy resonates with particular force today.

At a time when the collapse of the living world, social inequalities and political tensions cut across every territory and every life, it would be an illusion to pretend that these upheavals don’t affect us profoundly. There’s plenty to feel upset about, and sometimes discouraged. Against this backdrop, I believe it is essential to discover these stories. These films remind us that we are not alone in refusing to be indifferent, nor in wanting a better society that is demanding and clear-sighted, and that lives up to what we believe is still possible.

So it’s with great gratitude that I’ll be taking part in this 2026 edition, to contribute with attention and high standards, alongside the members of the jury, the festival team, the filmmakers and the public.

Marie-Dominique Michaud
Producer, designer and director