Fifes - Festival Internation du Film Ecologique et Social

Black butterflies
2025-05-30 16:30 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris) | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
David Baute, Spanish
83 min. – 2023 – Animation
Tanit, Valeria and Shaila are three women from very different parts of the world, all facing the same problem: climate change. They will lose everything due to the effects of global warming, and will be forced to emigrate in order to survive.

Parallel currents
2025-05-30 14:00 - 15:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Pablo Chavanel, Cambodia
68 min. – 2024 – Documentary – La Boîte à Songes

The proliferation of hydroelectric dams on the Mekong River, designed to supply energy to neighboring megalopolises, is forcing Samnang, the leader of an indigenous community, to fight for his survival and that of nature. Faced with pressure from the authorities, Samnang is prepared to take any risk. Meanwhile, in the Cambodian capital, Sothy, a painter and survivor of the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge regime 50 years ago, applies himself to a duty of remembrance and, through his art, reveals a violence that seems to be repeating itself. Through space and time, a dialogue is established.

I am the river, the river is me
2025-05-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Petr Lom, New Zealand
88 min. – 2024 – Documentary – Ten Thousand Images
The Whanganui River, in Aotearoa/New Zealand, is the first river in the world to be recognized as a legal person, a living, indivisible being.
Ned Tapa, the river’s Māori guardian, invites an Australian First Nations elder and his daughter, activists committed to saving their own dying river, to take part in a five-day canoe trip on this sacred river. They are joined by Ned’s friends and family, an international film crew and Ned’s dog Jimmy.
The river is the main character of this film. Both mirror and source of inspiration, it naturally unites all the travelers, offering everyone a voice – including the crew – to share stories of humor and light, and a space to heal from the darkness of the past and persistent historical injustices.
For the Māori, the Whanganui is a living being – their ancestor. This belief was institutionalized by New Zealand law in 2017. Granting the river the status of a legal person is both a means of environmental protection and a legal validation of the Māori worldview.
This film is an invitation to experiment with these values: to see our relationship with the world around us – and above all with the natural world – as an intergenerational responsibility of care and custody, rather than simply one of ownership, use or extraction.
Produced over a period of three years, in close collaboration with the Māori of Whanganui, this film is a positive and urgent call to action for the rights of nature, now the world’s fastest-growing legal movement.

Plastic Fantastic
2025-05-29 20:00 - 22:00 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Isa Willinger, Germany
103 min. – 2023 – Documentary – Rise And Shine World Sales

Plastics are everywhere. Not only do they invade our rivers and oceans, they also permeate the air, soil and even our bodies. As the crisis deepens and recycling remains largely ineffective, the plastics industry continues to increase production. Does the industry really want to continue as it always has?
PLASTIC FANTASTIC follows several protagonists: on the one hand, representatives of the plastics industry, and on the other, scientists and activists, to discover where the plastics crisis is taking us.

Kasàlà workshop
2025-05-29 17:30 - 18:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Kasàlà discovery and writing workshop – booking required
Co-hosted by Maji Da Abdi, director and member of the FIFES International Jury, and Jean Ngo
Semzara KABUTA, a specialist in African linguistics who writes and teaches Kasàlà.
Kasàlà is a form of poetry from sub-Saharan Africa that expresses diverse emotions such as joy, sadness, gratitude and rebellion. Inspired by oral literature, contemporary kasàlà is an intercultural and transcultural genre that celebrates joy,resilience and peace. It is characterized by a metaphorical, hyperbolic and rhythmic style, often with repetitions. Kasàlà tells laudatory tales in the form of portraits, biographies or descriptions, and often looks to the future whileallowing for criticism.Philosophically, it embodies Ubuntu, the idea that humanity is defined by its relationship with others. Used in ceremonial rituals such as weddings or commemorations, today it calls for writing, unlike the traditional form which was sungor recited. In short, kasàlà is an art of celebrating life through wonder and reflection.
Book here

The taste of a lifetime
2025-05-29 16:30 - 18:00 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Valérie Pouyanne, Canada
93 min. – 2024 – The Mad Eye
Given what we know about animal intelligence and sensitivity, isn’t it time we reconsidered our behaviour towards pets and animals?
wild? By visiting three animal shelters and hearing their stories, we discover that animals are not so different from us: intelligent, sensitive, supportive, stubborn, even cheating, etc. Yet we treat them as inferiors and to satisfy our needs, we make them live miserable lives. However, we treat them as inferiors, and to satisfy our needs, we make them live lives of misery. What if we imagined a different way of living with animals?

Children and trees
2025-05-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Natalie Pfister, Switzerland
89 min. – 2024 – Documentary – Solothurner Filmtage

The film plunges us into a school in the middle of the forest, where, over the course of a year, we observe the children who play and learn there. Thirty children, from kindergarten to CE1, spend every day here, whatever the weather – sun, rain or snow. They explore the forest on their own, discover nature’s cycles and seek their place in the community. In this environment, they develop their sense of responsibility, courage, imagination and creativity, while interacting spontaneously and empathetically with their peers and other beings in the world.

Silvicola
2025-05-29 10:30 - 11:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Jean-Philippe Marquis, Canada
80 min. - 2023 - Documentary - Cinema Politica
A red cedar can live for over a thousand years, supporting multiple ecosystems and human cultures. But a voracious chainsaw can cut down that same tree in just a few hours. In the economics of commercial logging, the tree only acquires value once it has been cut down and transformed into a commodity.
At a time when the world's ancient forests are under threat as never before, Jean-Philippe Marquis has created a dazzling and disturbing film essay on contemporary forestry practices in the Pacific Northwest, home to the world's oldest and most majestic woodlands.

A call from the wild
2025-05-28 21:30 - 23:30 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
Asgeir Helgestad
81 min - Norway - 2024
Director Asgeir Helgestad documents the state of nature in his native Norway, which he has been photographing for as long as he can remember. From the bees on his farm to the wild reindeer in the high mountains, and the puffins by the ocean, he reveals the beauty of an endangered natural world and highlights the human actions responsible for its decline. This film is a personal story about our connection with the non-human world, the relationship between the small and the large, and a reminder of nature's strength and vulnerability.

Cie Les Somatonautes dance show
2025-05-28 21:00 - 22:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
Les Somatonautes : A troupe of undisciplined human beings united by a desire to offer the world their way of being through movement and dance. Dance at the service of the body, letting ourselves dance, improvising together in a common breath.
Through various techniques such as improvisation, sensitive dance, BMC, authentic movement and somatic listening, gesture takes on a new intensity.
The living inside and outside us grows, becomes palpable and vibrant.
The bond that unites us reinforces the quality of the experience of touch, sometimes of spontaneous singing.
We can trust each other because we're connected.
Born in 2015 in Lyon, this anthropological appellation, after multidisciplinary encounters, continues its path in artistic forms where the living movement in humans is at the heart of its creations.
Company Instagram: @les.somatonautes

Conference by Nelly Pons
2025-05-28 19:45 - 21:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
Followed by a book signing
PLASTICS, A TOXIC POLLUTION
The crisis is systemic, and so are the solutions.
Today, plastic pollution is no longer a secret. But who knows exactly what it is and what the consequences are for human health and ecosystems? Polymers, PFAS, endocrine disruptors, micro & nanoplastics, cleaning, recycling, bioplastics... What's the solution? What are the levers and where are the solutions?
After more than three years of investigation, two books and numerous conferences, Nelly Pons shares her findings on one of the greatest environmental challenges we face.
Refine our understanding of the subject to move towards sustainable solutions.
From the current state of affairs to a way out of the crisis, it deciphers preconceived ideas, serious avenues and false good solutions, and calls for urgent, coordinated, multi-stakeholder and multi-level action.
And because there are so many of us who don't want to sit back and do nothing, she also outlines a number of concrete courses of action for those of us who do want to take action.

Aubade and Provençal dance
2025-05-28 18:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
Les Fifres et Tambours de La Roquette-sur-Var and the Académie Provençale
Les Fifres et Tambours de La Roquette-sur-Var is a folk group that perpetuates the musical traditions of Nice and Provence.
Through traditional tunes and rhythms played on fife, drum and bass drum, they share and pass on a culture that spans generations.
Their music blends history, conviviality and tradition, while adapting to today's events to keep this local heritage alive and well.
The Académie Provençale's mission is to maintain the customs of Provence through dance, song, music, costume, language and cuisine throughout eastern and coastal Provence.
Music, dance and traditional costumes will be the order of the day at the FIFES opening ceremony, thanks to these two local ensembles.

Aubade
2025-05-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400

Children's workshop
2025-05-28 16:30 - 2025-06-01 19:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
Marine life
Around Jérémy’s fresco on the Place de la Castre, children will be free to draw with chalk. Models of marine animals will be offered, and they’ll become the creators of a collective, ephemeral work of art depicting the beauty of the marine world.
And grown-ups are welcome to join in!

Marché des Créateur.ice.s
2025-05-28 16:30 - 2025-05-29 00:00 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
The Marché des Créateurs is a meeting place for craftspeople, artists and spectators. It’s an opportunity to discover techniques, discuss practices and sell unique objects.The Marché des Créatifs will take place on Place de la Castre on two dates: Wednesday, May 28 and Saturday, May 31 from 4:30 pm to midnight.

Opening ceremony
2025-05-28 16:30 - 23:30 | Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes, 06400
To open this 5th edition of the festival, the Opening Ceremony, hosted by Sébastien Fouillade, will be held on May 28 from 4.30pmin the open air Place de la CastreLe Suquet. A landmark of Cannes' cultural heritage, this historic site offers breathtaking views over the bay, the town, the Croisette and the Lérins Islands.

16h30 Créateur.rices market, and crêpes snack.
17h Aubade at Marché Forville.
18h Aubade and traditional dance on the Place de la Castre.
19h00 Opening ceremony and cocktail reception.
20h00 Lecture by Nelly Pons, Ocean Plastic.
21h Dance performance by Compagnie Les Somatonautes.
21h30 Screening of the film Call From the Wild.

Masterclass Camille de Casabiance
2025-05-28 14:30 - 16:30 | Médiathèque Noailles, Address 1 avenue Jean de Noailles, Cannes, 06400, France
Meet Camille de Casabianca, godmother of the 2025 Festival, and learn more about her career, her work and her commitment to ecological and social issues.
Camille de Casabianca began her career as a screenwriter and actress, and has received a number of awards, including the César for original screenplay and adaptation (1987), the Prix Frédéric Rossif and the XXIst Century Filmmaker Award in New York.
Her filmography includes Pékin Central, a comedy filmed in China, Après la Pluie, a comedy about humanitarian aid in Africa, Le Fabuleux Destin de Madame Petlet and Vive nous! two social comedies.
She also directed Octavio, which follows an adopted child in Colombia and Alaska, Tatami, which follows a judo champion preparing for the world championships, and two documentaries on political life: C'est parti and Ça marche?! In the wake of the pandemic, his latest film, L'Heure du départ, was the subject of numerous public debates in France and Belgium. Also a writer, she has published several novels and short stories.

Masterclass Camille de Casabianca
2025-05-28 14:30 - 16:30 | Médiathèque Noailles, Address 1 avenue Jean de Noailles, Cannes, 06400, France

360° Impact
2025-05-28 09:00 - 12:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Impact 360° Morning, organized by Festival International du Film Ecologique et Social (FIFES) and EXIL by EXHIBIT GROUP
The aim of this event is to initiate a cycle of meetings with companies in order to :

Highlighting ecological and social innovations in the Maralpin region
Identify and develop concrete actions in favor of sustainable transition in our region.
Create local synergies and strengthen links between change agents.

This morning's program includes:

An inspiring film conference The first part highlights ecological and social innovations applied in companies, associations and institutions.
A "World Café"-style participatory workshop A dynamic, collaborative format for sharing and exchanging ideas, and co-creating solutions as ideas emerge. The aim is to draw inspiration for new best practices and to feed the roadmap of your R.S.E and environmental projects.

By invitation or by sending a request (form available soon)

Intergenerational short films
2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Based on exchanges between people of different generations, intergenerational links are beneficial for both the elderly and the young. Between shared solidarity and mutual enrichment, this type of relationship has been encouraged around the beautiful cinematographic project of creating short films: script writing, image capture and editing, ending with a screening in a cinema on the occasion of the FIFES.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Mediterranean and the city of Cannes. High school students from the Lycée Bristol cinema section, middle school students from Les Vallergues and seniors from Cannes Séniors le Club have combined their talents to bring six engaging stories to life, in a spirit of sharing and cooperation.

Les Gardiens du rivage: To preserve Cannes’ coastline from pollution, we’ll need to call on everyday superheroes and their superpowers.
Water in the gas: As a family prepares to celebrate a birthday, a strange contamination of the water causes havoc.
Western poubelle: A group of young and old compete in a duel in the sun to clean up a Cannes beach.
Back to the past: in a world where drinking water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, it’s up to the courageous Marty McFly to bring water back to the future!
Lord of the Drops: Young Frodo must fulfill the mission of the old sage Gandalf: to purify the waters using a sacred vial.
Between sand and generations: To be able to live together on a beach, young and old have to swap roles for a game of soccer.

Opening of Celyne Roy's exhibition
2025-05-27 16:30 - 17:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Celyne Roy is an underwater photographer based in the PACA region of France, who has been passionate about the sea since childhood.
An amateur photographer since the age of 13, she specialized in aquatic photography after discovering freediving in Indonesia in 2019. This practice became the link between her passions for the sea and photography, with water becoming a terrain for infinite creations.
Celyne collaborates with dancers, athletes, private individuals and brands to create unique, underwater projects.
At the same time, her work on marine life aims to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of underwater ecosystems. Through her images, she hopes to encourage discovery, appreciation and protection of the ocean. For FIFES, Celyne will be exhibiting two series of photographs, Freedancing and Vie marine, in the Espace Miramar showroom. Audio-guided tours of the aquatic world will also be available.
Celyne's website: www.celyneroy.com
Instagram: @celyneroy
Exhibition from Tuesday, May 27, 4:30 p.m. to Friday, May 30, 10 p.m.

Once upon a time in the forest
2025-05-27 14:00 - 16:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
Virpi Suutari, Finnish
93 min. - 2023 - Documentary - Euphoria Film
The setting for this modern fable is the Finnish forest, one of the largest and oldest coniferous areas in Europe. Here, a group of young people live in symbiosis and harmony with nature. However, their decision to settle in the forest was not motivated solely by their love of nature, but rather by the threat of deforestation for the local timber industry, politics and the mentality that the forest is the backbone of Finland's economy and prosperity. Ida, Minka, Ville, Otto and Eerik stand guard in the hope of a better future, aware that their efforts may be in vain.

Moon
2025-05-27 09:30 - 11:00 | Olympia Cinema, 5 rue d'Antibes, Cannes, 06400
Gilles de Maistre, France & Belgium
98 min. - 2025 - Film
Tian is 12 when he is sent to live with his grandmother because of his poor results at school. Far from the city, in the mysterious mountains of China, he secretly befriends a panda he names Moon. This is the start of an incredible adventure that will change his life and that of his family forever.

Moon
2025-05-27 09:30 - 11:00 | Olympia Cinema, 5 rue d'Antibes, Cannes, 06400

Screening: Les têtes givrées
2024-11-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Espace Miramar, Rue Pasteur, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, 06400, France
A film by Stéphane Cazes
From age 11
In a middle school at the foot of Mont Blanc, SEGPA students have no interest in anything. To motivate them and make them dream, Alain, their teacher, organizes a surprising and perilous outing into the bowels of a glacier. The teenagers discover a breathtakingly beautiful world of ice. But they realize that with global warming, if nothing is done, this glacier like many others could disappear. Against everyone’s advice, but led by their teacher, they throw themselves heart and soul into a crazy project: to protect the glacier and stop it from melting… From now on, nothing can stop them, because there’s no Planet B!

Screening: Flow, the cat who was no longer afraid of water
2024-11-12 09:30 - 10:00 | Alpes-Maritimes
A film by Gint Zilbalobis
From age 6
A cat wakes up in a world overrun by water, where all human life seems to have disappeared. He finds refuge on a boat with a group of other animals. But getting along with them proves an even greater challenge than overcoming his fear of water! From now on, they’ll all have to learn to overcome their differences and adapt to the new world they find themselves in.
