Nature & Environment Film Festival

The very first nature and environment film festival in France

Founded in 1976 by FRAPNA Isère (Rhône-Alpes Federation for Nature Protection), which became France Nature Environnement Isère (FNE Isère) in 2019, the Nature & Environment Film Festival is a pioneering event: it is the very first festival in France entirely dedicated to wildlife and environmental film. For nearly fifty years, this autumn gathering has brought together filmmakers, naturalists, environmental activists, and the general public for screenings of committed documentaries, followed by passionate debates in the heart of the Grenoble metropolitan area.

A unique activist and cultural event in Isère

The festival is much more than just a film event: it is an activist and cultural gathering driven by the volunteers of FNE Isère. Each edition is the result of colossal selection work—over 300 hours of viewing—during which each film is watched by at least three committee members before being selected. The program addresses major contemporary environmental themes: biodiversity, climate change, ecological transition, species protection, deforestation, sustainable agriculture, pollution, and many other topics at the heart of today's concerns.

Screenings and debates in metropolitan cinemas

The screenings take place in several cinemas in the Grenoble metropolitan area: Cinéma Le Club in Grenoble for evening screenings and family sessions, La Vence Scène in Saint-Égrève for the opening night, and Cinéma Le Jeu de Paume in Vizille for the closing ceremony accompanied by a nature outing and awards ceremony. Each session consists of a short film and a feature-length documentary, followed by a discussion with specialists, directors, or members of environmental associations.

Honorary Presidency of Hubert Reeves

Since 1999, the festival has been under the honorary presidency of Hubert Reeves, an astrophysicist, scientific popularizer, and ardent defender of nature. This prestigious endorsement attests to the quality and seriousness of the programming, which combines scientific rigor and artistic sensitivity to raise awareness about the state of living things.

Awards presented by an associative jury

A jury composed of members from associations affiliated with FNE Isère rewards the best films of each edition by presenting three awards:

• The Golden Hedgehog for the best feature-length documentary
• The Silver Hedgehog (or Bronze Hedgehog) for the second-best feature film
• The Golden Choupisson for the best short film

These original distinctions, reflecting the hedgehog emblem of nature conservation, reward works that combine cinematic quality and environmental commitment.

An ambitious school program

In addition to public screenings, the festival offers a significant school program: about twenty sessions are organized for students from primary school to high school in the Grenoble area and the Isère region. Each year, nearly 5,000 students, accompanied by their teachers, discover films from the youth selection, contributing to environmental education through documentary cinema.