Pariscience 2019

How is a long-eared owl, great crested grebe, or kingfisher born? The paper sculptures in the series Bonjour le Monde! bring the spectacle of wildlife to life. Three episodes from this animated series will be screened during the session, offering adventures that reveal the awakening of three animal species to the world. Each episode of this naturalist series poetically introduces, through an artist's perspective, the environment and early life of these feathered creatures. They reveal the discoveries and challenges these young animals face: how to find food, learn to fly, grow, or protect themselves from predators.

In the northeast corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there remains a "red zone", designated as such since the second war of the Congo, (1998-2002), where no foreigners have entered since 1999. The biologist Anne Laudisoit and her Congolese scientists team embark upon a scientific exploration to identify species that dwell in one of the last virgin territories of Central Africa. In the lush yet inaccessible valleys of the Blue Mountains, an amazing startling bio-diversity thrives. It is said that there are even chimpanzees.

Goats are not just cute and somewhat comical. They are also surprisingly intelligent! What if they were as clever as dogs? Meet four of them, evolving in different environments, and discover this sensitive and clever animal.

Humpback whales, sperm whales, and orcas live in an environment so distant from ours that it is hard to imagine what their lives are like. Marine biologist and filmmaker Rick Rosenthal has spent a large part of his long career filming whales. Now, he seeks to dive deeper into their lives and learn more about these marine animals with surprising intelligence, comparing scientific observations with his own experiences. Could it then be possible to glimpse the world as these ocean giants perceive it?

How does a pike, a pond turtle, or a salamander come into the world? The paper sculptures of the Bonjour le monde! series animate the spectacle of wildlife. Three episodes from this animated series will be shown during the session, each an adventure that unveils the awakening of three animal species. Each episode of this naturalist series poetically reveals, through the eyes of an artist, the environment and the early life of these animals. It unveils the discoveries and challenges these young creatures face: how to grow, feed, swim, walk, or protect themselves from predators?

This film offers a behind-the-scenes look at The Wolf Odyssey, directed by Vincent Steiger, the result of significant writing work and meticulous research. From the daily efforts of Pascal Treguy with habituated wolves to the field studies and observations organized by scientists and nature protection associations, the documentary explores the various issues surrounding our relationship with this wild animal, which is often misunderstood: the wolf. It introduces the men and women who dedicate their lives to wolves, as well as farmers, providing a deeper understanding of this once-feared creature.

Is the rabbit a friend or foe? As a pet, we adore it like a living stuffed animal. In the wild, this herbivore, at the bottom of the food chain, is a prime prey for many predators. To survive, it can reproduce at an astonishing rate, to the point that it is often considered a pest by humans. Some have even attempted to exterminate it... to the point of threatening the species. But the rabbit is tough. Beneath its fragile appearance, it is an extraordinary athlete that has developed superpowers over the centuries. This film reveals its secrets and also explores our unique relationship with this surprising species.

Is it because they slither? Or because some are venomous? Or perhaps it is our religious heritage that makes snakes terrifying creatures? While the answer is far from obvious, one thing is clear: many of us are afraid of them, and some are even phobic. Using various cinematic forms, the filmmakers of this documentary humorously explore the question of our fear of snakes and attempt to debunk the many misconceptions surrounding these misunderstood creatures. By questioning humanity's relationship with nature, the film helps us better understand these animals, in the hopes of fostering a better coexistence with them.

CONCEPT
Une Espèce à part. Un titre un brin provocateur qui propose de remettre gentiment l'Homme à sa place. De l'infiniment grand à l'infiniment petit, cette série d'animation (10x3mn) explore de manière ambitieuse les mystères de l'univers, observe l'humanité à la loupe et propulse le spectateur dans un monde dont l'Homme n'a jamais été le centre. Avec son alliance d'images magnifiques et de métaphores puissantes pour expliquer la beauté et la science de notre environnement, Une Espèce à part s'adresse à un large public art.
SYNOPSIS
Une Espèce à part parle de quelque chose de pas très important. L'Homme. À tous les égards, son existence même est d'une improbabilité ridiculement microscopique. Dans l'immensité de l'univers, on ne trouve l'homme qu'à un seul endroit, infiniment restreint, une toute petite planète. Et encore, même là on ne l'y trouve que les tout derniers instant de l'histoire de cette planète. Il y partage son territoire avec une quantité impressionnante de colocataires, dont il ignore l'existence pour la plupart, même si la grande majorité est bien plus ancienne que lui. Il n'y est ni le plus grand, ni le plus rapide, ni le plus nombreux. Il n'a pas non plus le monopole de l'intelligence et s'est toujours inspiré des inventions des autres espèces. Il est particulièrement faible et peu inapte à la survie en milieu hostile, même au zénith de son succès. Il dépend totalement de la plupart des autres espèces, pour sa survie comme pour son bien-être. Et d'ailleurs, son existence même, en tant qu'Humain, n'est possible que grâce à de nombreux organismes qui l'aident à digérer ou à se protéger des maladies et des parasites. Non vraiment, pas de quoi en faire le Centre de l'Univers.
DISPOSITIF
Une Espèce à part est une série de 10 épisodes de 3 minutes pensée pour une diffusion sur les écrans TV et web. Réalisée en Full 3D, cette série ambitieuse utilise les dernières technologies d'animation.

How can we go further into space while using as little fuel as possible? By using gravitational slingshot! A spacecraft sent into space can adjust its speed and trajectory by utilizing the gravitational force of celestial bodies it encounters during its journey. Created for CNES, this animated short film playfully reveals how this technique works.

The nightmare of space debris has become a reality: fragments of missiles or satellites accumulated over 60 years in orbit around Earth are multiplying exponentially. Every new debris collides with other objects, generating even more debris. Today, they are out of control and threaten rocket launches and space installations, including the International Space Station. Yet our civilization can no longer function without satellites. Engineers worldwide are competing with ingenuity to become space garbage collectors, testing their wild projects: tugs, nets, harpoons, and other jellyfish-like robots.

By 2050, as the planet's resources will no longer be sufficient to meet everyone's needs, Earth will have nearly 10 billion inhabitants. Pollution, depletion of fossil fuels, climate change... it is becoming necessary to change our energy habits. From Iceland to the Canary Islands, through the Netherlands and Paris, this episode of a four-part series showcases various engineering and research projects. Meeting with professionals dedicated to finding sustainable solutions, it reveals how to better understand marine and aquatic environments in order to exploit them respectfully.

In 1939, Nazi Germany weaves its web, and the old continent plunges into war. At the same time, physicist Albert Einstein is concerned about the scientific advancements taking place in Europe. Soon, both the French and Germans will unlock the secret of nuclear energy. In France, research is being conducted under the guidance of Irène Curie and Frédéric Joliot-Curie. Starting in October 1939, they conduct their work under the newly created CNRS. A frantic race against time ensues, involving scientists, politicians, and secret services, to obtain a rare substance essential for their research: heavy water.

Hidden deep in our intestines, 100,000 billion bacteria are keeping us healthy by producing a range of molecules.
Although their names may be perplexing — Fecali bacterium, Roseburia, Akkermansia mucinifila, Eubacterium halli… — and they are invisible to the naked eye, they could revolutionize the future of medicine. That is, if our modern lifestyle doesn't wipe them out first.

The fourth episode of the Interstellar Odyssey series concludes the story of an extraordinary adventure, conceived with the help of scientists: the launch of a space exploration probe destined for a distant exoplanet, in search of extraterrestrial life, potentially intelligent. How can such a mission be conceived, and how can we detect life and its potential traces in the universe? What forms of life might we expect? How would we react to the discovery of extraterrestrial life, and can we survive long enough to find out? Between science and imagination, the film attempts to answer these many questions.

The European mink is on the brink of extinction. This little-known species deserves attention. It is part of a whole segment of biodiversity that is disappearing out of the spotlight. This documentary explores the fieldwork of professionals dedicated to protecting the species, along with scientific, ethical, and philosophical reflections. How can we coexist with wildlife, respect their habitat, and approach conservation work? What resources should be committed to protect an endangered species? What environmental and moral imperatives lie behind these missions?