THE 2025 FILM COMPETITION: A CELEBRATION OF NATURE AND CINEMA
The 2025 film competition received nearly 250 submissions from 35 countries, illustrating the richness and diversity of film production dedicated to nature. Among these works, 33 films were selected, including 14 in the amateur category, to be screened from April 12 to 20, 2025, in Abbeville (Le Rex Cultural Center and then the Municipal Theater) and in partner theaters: Le Cyrano in Crécy-en-Ponthieu and Le Vox in Fort-Mahon-Plage. The screenings were in French, dubbed or subtitled.
A global participation
The submitted films came from 35 different countries, with an impressive diversity:
- Professionals: 28 countries, including Sri Lanka, Hungary, Iran, and a strong German presence with over 30 films.
- Amateurs: 17 countries, including Bahrain, Brazil, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Jury and Prizes
A jury chaired by Emmanuel Rondeau, director, along with Claude-Julie Parisot and Cyril Ruoso, also directors, as well as David Gremillet of the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), Jessica Serra, ethologist, and Agathe Somont and Jules Courbet, high school students, awarded four prizes totaling €10,000, including €4,000 for the Grand Prix and four special distinctions.
Festival-goers selected their favorite film, which will receive the Audience Prize worth €2,000.
A total of 10 films were awarded prizes, with the Jury selecting two joint winners for the Wildlife Prize.
- « GRAND PRIX » OF THE BIRD AND NATURE FESTIVAL – €4,000
Awarded to Rémy TEZIER (Tec Tec Production) – France for Des baleines, des tortues et des hommes
- JURY SPECIAL PRIZE – €2,000
Awarded to Patrick DESTINE (Quentin NOIRFALISSE) – Belgium for Mission Castor
- WILDLIFE PRIZE ex-aequo – €2,000
Awarded to Jan HAFT (Melanie HAFT / Nautilus Films) – Germany for Welcome to the forest – The puzzle of life
And to Matt HAMILTON (Terra Mater Studios & Dandy Lion Films Production) for Raptors – A fistful of daggers : ep 2 : Extreme lives
- ENVIRONMENT PRIZE – €2,000
Awarded to Asgeir HELGESTAD – Norway for A call from the wild
- PUBLIC PRIZE – €2,000
Awarded to Sofian CHOUAIB – France for Faire un documentaire animalier devant chez soi
- SPECIAL DISTINCTION FOR WRITING
Awarded to Ariane LAMARSAUDE & Samuel TOUTAIN (Dominique TIBI / Roche Productions) – France for Dr. Pic Noir, urgences des bois
- SPECIAL DISTINCTION FOR BEST IMAGE in the professional category
Awarded to Will & Lianne STEENKAMP – South Africa for Lions of the Skeleton Coast
- SPECIAL DISTINCTION
Awarded to Sinéad REYNOLDS (NFTS) – Great-Britain for The outlanders
- SPECIAL DISTINCTION FOR BEST IMAGE in the amateur category
Awarded to Lionel PAWLOWSKI – France for Cosmogonie
2025 Winners
PROFESSIONALS
Films about birds in their natural environment, wildlife, environment or natural history. Films from 26 to 100 minutes
AMATEURS
Competition is also open to amateur wildlife filmmakers who do sound recording, shooting or editing as a hobby. Films from 3 to 13 minutes.