FOUNDATION’S
WORKS
The foundation is dedicated to the preservation of François Bel’s work and memory.
With this objective in mind, it focuses on promoting the development of the essay film, supporting environmental protection and continuing the dissemination of François Bel’s photographic, sound and cinematographic work.
Since 2019, the Foundation has lent its support to Les Rendez-vous de l’Aventure (Days of Adventure) festival in François Bel’s hometown, Lons le Saunier.
A Grand Prix was created in Bel’s honour to reward outstanding films that bring together humans and nature.
Grants are also awarded to environmentally conscious young adventurers.
Vincent Grison’s Rennes – North Pole Expedition, which receives support from the Foundation, was delayed due to the recent health crisis. The expedition’s purpose is to help protect and raise public awareness about the environment – with a particular focus on educating children – and to contribute to fundamental research.
The journey resulted in Anne Beaugé’s documentary ‘ARCTICLAB Lointaines pollutions’ (‘ARCTICLAB Faraway Pollution’). The film will be shown to children who followed this adventure.
In June 2023, ARTIC LAB embarked on their third consecutive summer expedition to the Arctic.
Images extraites de « RDV Aventure 2024 » - Mizenboite Productions
Festival Lumexplore 2024
For two years, the Foundation has also been working with the École d’Audiovisuel de Phnom-Penh (Phnom Penh Film School), which was created by the ‘Pour un Sourire d’Enfant-PSE’ (For A Child’s Smile) association with the goal of enabling young Cambodians to find employment in the audiovisual sector.
For more than 20 years, PSE has been helping Cambodian children out of extreme poverty and into skilled, decent and fairly paid work by ensuring all their needs are taken care of and providing them with an education – from early childhood to professional training.
In 2012, the Institut created its École des Métiers de l’Audiovisuel with the aim of meeting the needs of Cambodia’s labour market. Designed in cooperation with partners like France’s École Nationale Supérieure Louis Lumière and with audiovisual professionals, the training programme supported by the Foundation consists of practical and theoretical work.
The International Ornithological Film Festival in the municipality of Ménigoute (Deux-Sèvres) is a major event on the wildlife documentary calendar. Some forty films from around the world are screened here every year – several of them in the director’s presence.
The event is an occasion to explore a selection of the latest wildlife documentaries, most of which are exclusive French releases. The jury is made up of cinema and environmental professionals. During the festival’s six-day run, visitors of all ages will be able to enjoy a range of nature-related activities.
The Foundation has supported the Festival, which aligns with François Bel’s cinematic vision, for two years; it also provides assistance to the IFFCAM (Institut Francophone de Formation au Cinéma Animalier de Ménigoute) and its student projects. Europe’s only wildlife cinema school, the IFFCAM has graduated nearly 200 students in 17 years.
