The free-to-air television premiere of the French comedy Chien et Chat on TF1 brings renewed attention to the hazardous freezing conditions during its production, Serieously reported. Director Reem Kherici and her cast faced severe weather in Canada, including temperatures dropping to minus 27 degrees Celsius, which regularly froze camera equipment before shooting could even begin.
Freezing Temperatures Freeze Cameras on Day One
Production on Chien et Chat hit immediate obstacles when the crew arrived in Canada for the winter shoots. The opening day of filming took place in minus 27-degree weather, according to Serieously. Technical equipment failed to operate in the intense cold, leaving the director unable to call action as cameras and memory cards froze solid.
🔗 https://t.co/6W84JqP1QFTroisième film de Reem Kherici en tant que réalisatrice, le long-métrage baptisé Chien et Chat, qui sera diffusé le dimanche 18 octobre 2026 en prime time sur TF1, n'a pas été de tout repos pour la cinéaste en raison du lieu dans lequel les prises de…
Le premier jour de tournage par exemple, on tournait par -27 degrés. Le temps qu’on s’installe, les caméras et les cartes mémoires ne fonctionnaient plus parce que tout avait gelé. Donc je n’ai même pas dit ‘action’ que ça ne fonctionnait pas,
Kherici explained to Télé 7 Jours during the film’s theatrical release.
Snowstorms Test Cast Resilience in North America
Kherici drew inspiration for the project from her four years living in Canada, where she discovered sweeping, snow-covered landscapes that she wanted to capture on film. Yet these same landscapes brought daily logistical and safety hurdles for the actors and crew.
Philippe Lacheau praised the director’s handling of the harsh environment, noting to Serieously that the crew persevered through heavy blizzards. Il y avait des jours de tempête de neige… Reem a assuré là-dessus. Elle gardait la bonne humeur. Ça me fascinait !
Lacheau stated.
Broadcast Schedule and Production Timeline
- February 2024: Chien et Chat debuted in French cinemas, showcasing the journey of a social media star cat named Diva and a stray dog named Chichi traveling from Montreal to New York.
- October 18, 2026: TF1 broadcast the film on free-to-air television at 21:10, marking its first broadcast television window in France.
Keep reading