2026 Program
OPENING CEREMONY
Join us for the opening ceremony of the CINEMA FOR SPACE Festival and witness a unique encounter between Thomas Pesquet and Mathieu Kassovitz.
This exceptional evening will mark the official launch of the festival’s second edition and will feature a discussion on space exploration, human adventure and the way in which cinema helps shape our view of space and our planet.
On the programme:
– Welcome address by the City of Cannes and the Fondation de l’Espace
– Presentation of the highlights of this 2nd edition by the Festival President
– Presentation of the Honorary Award to a prominent figure committed to bridging the gap between science, culture and society
– Official launch of the Festival: screening of a film in preview
SPACE FOR EARTH
Why not become a member of the jury for one screening? Discover a selection of inspiring films about space, then vote to recognise the works that have made the biggest impression on you.
The public is invited to take part in the voting to select the winners in several categories, including innovation, space exploration, environmental impact and the key players shaping the future of the space sector.
At 4 pm, there’ll be a screening of animated short films created by students from animation schools as part of a creative initiative organised by the festival to encourage the emergence of new stories about space.
Audience members are free to attend one or more screenings as they wish, and to stay on for the awards ceremony starting at 5.00 pm.
The screening is free and open to all!
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
Feature film | 107 minutes | 1997 | United States
Director: Steven Spielberg
DISCUSSION
Are we alone in the universe?
Screenwriters: Steven Spielberg – Hal Barwood – Jerry Belson
Executive producers: Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
Synopsis
Roy Neary, a power line fitter, sees his quiet, ordinary daily life turned upside down following a close encounter with a UFO.
Awards
Oscar for Best Cinematography and BAFTA for Best Production Design. The film also received numerous nominations at the Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTAs, notably for Steven Spielberg’s direction, John Williams’ score and its visual effects.
TALK SESSION
Topic: Space and climate change: applications for our daily lives
How do satellites help us to better understand and protect our planet? Find out how space technologies play a vital role in climate monitoring and are already providing practical solutions for our daily lives.
TERRE À L’HORIZON
Documentary | 98 minutes | 2025 | France
Director: Eliott Marceau
DISCUSSION
How can we reconcile our space ambitions with the challenges of preserving the earth ?
Screenwriters: Eliott Marceau – Hugo Le Dirach
Produced by Clément Guénot
A NABÛ production
Synopsis
This documentary takes us on a journey across Europe, in search of answers to one of the great questions of our century: what future in space can we envisage for humanity, in an era of ecological crisis that instead urges us to turn our gaze towards Earth and the life it sustains?
We follow a group of young scientists and filmmakers as they set out to meet astronauts, researchers, engineers and politicians, to bring to light questions and answers surrounding these major challenges, whilst exploring the very depths of their connections to Earth and space.
TERRE À L’HORIZON does not merely seek to chart a new future for the space industry. It lays new foundations for humanity’s ambitions regarding our use of space and our connection to other living species.
PASSENGERS
Feature film | 117 minutes | 2016 | United States
Director: Morten Tyldum
DISCUSSION
Are we ready to live in space?
Screenwriter: Jon Spaihts
Executive producers: Stephen Hamel, Michael Maher, Ori Marmur, Neal H. Moritz, Greg Baxter
Genre: Action, Romance, Science Fiction
Synopsis
A spaceship is travelling to a distant planet, carrying thousands of people. Due to a malfunction in the hibernation chambers, two passengers are awakened 90 years earlier than planned.
Awards
Winner of Oscars at the 2017 ceremony for its music (Thomas Newman) and art direction, the film also received the ADG Excellence in Production Design Award for the excellence of its sets in a science fiction setting.
NATURE, POUR UNE RÉCONCILIATION
Documentary | 105 minutes | 2025 | France
Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand
DISCUSSION
Science and space research in the service of the Earth
Screenwriters: Yann Arthus-Bertrand – Jean-Pierre Bibring – Lauriane Galeraod
Main producers: Hope Production – Calt Production
Synopsis
Combining poetry, science and emotion, this film traces the history of life, from its cosmic origins to its evolution on our planet, exploring the wonders of biodiversity and the contemporary challenges it faces. Through spectacular imagery, Yann Arthus-Bertrand explores the paradoxes of our age and calls for a collective transformation to reconcile humanity with nature.
Palmarès
Best Screenplay Award at the Gran Paradiso Film Festival (August 2025)
TALK SESSION
Topic: What will the space base of the future look like?
Lunar habitats, orbital stations, new technologies… What will the space bases where tomorrow’s explorers will live and work look like? A fascinating discussion between space experts and science fiction writers.
TALK SESSION
Topic: Does the Universe still have secrets to reveal to us?
Dark matter, the origin of the cosmos, exoplanets… Despite some spectacular discoveries, the Universe continues to surprise us. A fascinating encounter with scientists who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge every day.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Join us for a special evening to bring the second edition of CINEMA FOR SPACE to a close.
The ceremony will feature an inspiring discussion on the role of women in science and space exploration with Valentine Bonifacie, a pioneer in space computing, and Bruno Solo, author, actor and filmmaker.
The programme will also include the screening of a short film from the Animated Perspectives on Space collection, a look back at the festival’s highlights, and several keynote speeches celebrating this collective adventure.
A fitting conclusion to the festival before the screening of the closing film.
