The award ceremony of the 26th FestivaI International Nature Namur, one of the most important wildlife film festivals in Europe, opened with a visual tribute to the 23rd Gran Paradiso Film Festival, which allowed the international audience to see the best of the 2020 edition – a tangible proof of the collaboration between Fondation Grand Paradis and the Belgian festival. The event took place for the first time at the Citadel of Namur on 17 October, vis-à-vis a live audience and live streamed.

Luisa Vuillermoz, Artistic Director of the Gran Paradiso Film Festival, was invited to join the technical jury of the Festival International Nature Namur, which awarded six prizes, including the Grand Prix, the event’s main prize. The 26th edition counted no less than 774 films across all categories, coming from 82 countries.

During the award ceremony, the young director Julien Deper, winner of the Prix du Public and – for the second consecutive year – of the Gran Paradiso Film Festival Award for the best Amateur Film director, presented the short documentary entitled “Au bord du monde”, which he filmed this summer in Valsavarenche, in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park. “Au bord du monde” was premiered at the prestigious Festival International Nature Namur and live streamed – a significant opportunity to showcase and promote the Gran Paradiso area.

Like the Gran Paradiso Film Festival, the Festival International Nature Namur has decided not to cancel the physical events in the wake of the pandemic. Instead, new solutions were found to allow both events to take place to the benefit the audience, as well as of directors and photographers wishing to promote their work on an international stage. The warm reception of the Gran Paradiso Film Festival at the Namur event is testament to the synergy between the two renowned cultural events, a collaboration that will be strengthened over time to allow for the development of both.