Explore Academy Graduates Premiere Documentary Works in Frontignan

The inaugural class of the Explore Academy, France’s first institution dedicated to exploration documentary filmmaking, will screen their final projects on Saturday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Quai des Lumières cinema in Frontignan. The event showcases two documentaries produced by students Paul Cazaux, Thémis Bernat, Baptiste Frémeaux-Heuzey, and Alexandre Czech, marking the conclusion of their nine-month professional training program.

What is the Explore Academy training model?

Founded in Frontignan, the Explore Academy focuses on technical and narrative training for filmmakers operating in challenging environments. According to co-founder Stéphane Urbinati, the curriculum requires students to master filming techniques in extreme conditions, including underwater, at high altitudes, underground, and while skydiving.

The final examination involves producing documentaries under strict thematic constraints imposed by the faculty. Urbinati notes that this pedagogical choice forces students to look beyond their personal preferences, teaching them how to develop professional angles on diverse subjects. The school has already attracted interest from the film industry, which seeks professionals capable of technical production in difficult field environments.

Exploring local ecosystems and human perspectives

The student-produced films, Le Peuple des Marais – L’Hiver and La Traversée des Possibles, represent the culmination of their practical training.

• Le Peuple des Marais – L’Hiver: This documentary examines the wetlands and salt marshes of Frontignan. Filmed over four months during a period of heavy rainfall, the project documents the local ecosystem and the impact of human activity on the habitat. It serves as a visual record intended for future generations and is the first in a planned series of seasonal installments to be completed by subsequent student cohorts.
• La Traversée des Possibles: This film captures a ten-day maritime journey aboard a vessel from the association Cap Au Large. The filmmakers documented an inclusive crew of both able-bodied individuals and people with disabilities. Due to the inability to recharge equipment at sea, the production team was forced to adapt its technical workflow. Urbinati describes the resulting interviews as providing a distinct perspective on the experience of disability.

What happens after the premiere?

Following the public screening in Frontignan, the films are scheduled to enter a tour of French and international festivals specializing in exploration and documentary cinema. The production timelines for these projects were intensive: Le Peuple des Marais required two weeks of editing and three weeks of color grading, while La Traversée des Possibles involved one month of script development followed by one month and a half of post-production.

Urbinati characterizes the quality of these debut works as high, noting the inclusion of significant “cinematographic shots.” The screening at the Quai des Lumières is open to the public with free admission.