AZF : Au cœur du chaos

21 September 2001, 10h17. In the AZF factory, in Toulouse, France, a 300 ton storage of ammonium nitrate exploded, injuring thousands and killing 31 people. 20 years later, first-hand witnesses recount their memories of this industrial disaster, the biggest in french history since WWII.

AZF : Au cœur du chaos | 44’ | 2021
Director: Simon Kessler
Producer: Memento Productions
Broadcaster: National Geographic

Minerve: Ghost of the abyss

In 1968, in the middle of the Cold War, the french submarine S647 Minerve disappeared in the Mediterranean sea. 50 years later, thanks to the efforts of the families of the victims, the search for the submarine is finally resumed.

Minerve : Ghost of the Abyss | 44’ | 2021
Director: Stéphane Rybojad
1st AC: Simon Kessler
Producer: Memento
Broadcaster: National Geographic

In Search of Flight AF447

On June 1st, 2009, Air France flight 447 disappeared somewhere over the South Atlantic. After five lengthy, costly search campaigns, the plane was finally located and the black boxes recovered. Now, for the first time, footage from the search missions has been made available. We discover the story behind this search for an aircraft lost, and found, in the middle of nowhere.

Director: Simon Kessler
Writers: Simon Kessler & Fabrice Gardel
Producer: Bernard Vaillot | Galaxie | ECPAD

Festivals :
FIGRA 2019

Generation Greta

‘Generation Greta’ recounts the story of nine young female climate activists, combining moving eyewitness accounts and breathtaking archive footage. Produced by Galaxie Presse, AFP and Ushuaïa TV.

Directors : Johan Boulanger & Simon Kessler
Producer: Thierry Caillibot | Galaxie

Festival Selections:
Ecocup Film Festival (Russia)
Japan Prize (Japan)
Devour Film Fest (Canada)
Cinemambiente (Italy)
Deauville Green Awards (France)

Awards:
ADEME Special Prize at Deauville Green Awards

A Sea of Plastics

Plastics are stifling the Mediterranean sea. Explorer Alexandra Cousteau investigates the projects and people coming to its rescue.

Directors: Marie-France Barrier & Christian Gaume
Researcher: Simon Kessler
Producer: Thierry Caillibot | Galaxie
Broadcaster: Disney+

Notre-Dame :
Race Against the Inferno

On 15th April 2019, during Holy Monday Mass, the world’s most famous cathedral caught fire. Notre-Dame de Paris was ablaze in minutes, as an epic battle unfolded for heroic French firefighters. Under the gaze of the world’s media, they fought the inferno for more than 15 hours. Exclusive footage and interviews bring vividly to life the moment-by-moment courage of the Paris fire and police services, as they put their lives on the line to save this historic building.

Directors: Simon Kessler, Fabrice Gardel, Josselin Mahot
Producer: Thierry Caillibot | Galaxie
Broadcaster: National Geographic & Disney+