press kit - Nuit de la Glisse

PRESS
KIT
“
In 2013:
700 theatres screened Nuit de la Glisse
That makes over 2800 cinema showings
H I S T O RY O F
La Nuit de la Glisse was started at the end of the '70s by a group of visionaries who contributed to the social phenomenon
called 'la glisse' (action sports). Over the last thirty years La Nuit de la Glisse has become a benchmark for these kinds of
sports.
Audiences are introduced to emerging sports and witness developments to existing ones through these totally original films,
whisking them around the world through sublime landscapes alongside the world’s best athletes.
From church halls, beachside shrines and conference centres on to the most prestigious theatres in Europe and multiplex
cinemas, La Nuit de la Glisse has found a unique place in the hearts and minds of its fans. From 16mm to digital film, its
longevity and development have depended on bringing picture quality and the philosophy of man to the big screen.
Director Thierry Donard: "My passion for filmmaking has never faltered. "La Nuit de la Glisse" was started by a group of skier
and surfer friends, the title first came out in 1984. I’ve always tried to convey to the audience what the athletes feel, to give an
insight into the personalities of the men and women who are so passionate about their discipline and to capture their deepest
emotions when living in the moment. Highlighting their ecological outlook and community-based life is also important to me so
including this human aspect is essential to my films. This is maybe the reason why they have been so successful."
Distribution Network:
Over the years La Nuit de la Glisse has extended its distribution network into the biggest and most prestigious cinemas in
Europe. The timing of the evening event-premieres with the athletes in attendance is scheduled for the start of winter when
thousands of people are itching to go riding. This plays an essential role in sparking the imaginations of the audience. These
films tell a story, inviting the audience to follow some of the best athletes in the world and granting access to their world. Some
wait months if not years to find THE giant wave or the optimal conditions to redefine perfection and surpass their limits.
THE FILM
2014
« ADDICTED TO LIFE »
To the four corners of the globe, from Chamonix Mont-Blanc to French
Polynesia via Châtel, the Swiss Alps, the Pyrenees and the Spanish
desert of Almeria, the new La Nuit de la Glisse film "Addicted to Life"
showcases extraordinary feats from passionate athletes within wild,
threatening natural environments. A unique encounter of the close kind
with men and women who continually push their limits in extreme
situations. In search of new challenges and unique sensations, they
spend their lives studying their respective environment in detail.
Across mountains and oceans, they bear
witness to climate changes that affect the
landscape and nature's elements. From
the melting snow caps to the dying coral
reefs, pollution threatens to changes
the backdrop of our global ecosystem.
Through their incredible performances
and the powerful sensations they
experience, these athletes touch the
dreams of millions of people and yet, with
the planet paying such a heavy price, no
one knows whether in 10 years the next
generation of "freeriders" will benefit
from the same privileges. A globetrotting
adventure immortalises the story behind
the amazing achievements of these
modern-day heroes. Thierry Donard : “with Addicted to Life, we
wanted to further improve the cinematographic quality, which is our trademark. Filming
and production were especially refined and
improved. The use of new technologies (professional cameras, 4K drone systems and onboard cameras) helped us to get breath-taking
action shots, incredible backdrops, plunging
the viewer into the athletes’ world by capturing their sensations and feelings as closely as
possible.”
PASSIONNATE
In surfing, wingsuiting, biking, freeriding or even kayaking, all these athletes are pushing their limits, continually inventing new exploits and challenges. “Addicted
to Life” is a balanced mix of extreme film segments and
poignant testimonies from athletes.
ATHLETES
Remi PESCHIER
Steeps Skier - Chamonix (France)
SKI
Chamonix Mont-Blanc local and ski instructor, Rémi is a steep skiing
aficionado. Always searching out new lines, he joined the Nuit de la
Glisse shoot to bring us his vision of skiing.
Karsten GEFLE
Professional Skier - Oslo (Norway)
After a short career in alpine skiing, Karsten launched himself into
freeride skiing. A lover of the great outdoors, this Norwegian has
spent his last fifteen winters in the resort of Chamonix and he’s back
for the sixth consecutive year filming with La Nuit de la Glisse.
Wille LINDBERG
Professional Skier - Stockholm (Sweden)
Well renowned in the freeride scene for
jumping big cliffs, this rider sponsored
by Perfect Moment has been expressing
his aggressive, committed skiing style for
many years on the Freeride World Tour.
Casey WESLEY
Extreme Skier - Wyoming (USA)
Coming from the west of the United States, this skier started out in the
northern Montana resort of Jackson Hole. A lover of freeride skiing
and shooting video, Casey found a way of combining the two in
Chamonix.
SNOWBOARD
Matt ANNETTS
Professional Extreme Snowboarder - Jackson Hole (USA)
Ex competitor on the Freeride World Tour, Matt seizes all the
opportunities that come his way, making the most of his winters
in the French and Swiss Alps. As a Nuit de la Glisse ambassador
for several years, this snowboarder hasn’t lost any of his touch on
the snow and returns with increased motivation!
WINGSUIT
Mathias WYSS
Proximity Wingsuiteur - Switzerland
Mathias is one of this discipline’s precursors. He is getting close to man’s dream of flying by
exploring powerful sensations and freedom. Just one dive gives him his wings.
BIKE
Antoine BIZET
Professional - Versailles (France)
After his impressive performance at the
biggest and latest mountain biking competition in the United States (Red Bull
Rampage), this ex gymnast has become
a reference point in the sport and continues to demonstrate his talent at all the
most prestigious meetings across the
world.
SURF
Hira TERIINATOOFA
Professional Surfer- Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Double ISA World Champion in 2004 and 2011,
this Tahitian is extending his career with La Nuit de la
Glisse in increasingly wild environments searching for
big waves like Teahupoo for which Hira has a particular affection.
Tikanui SMITH
Extreme Surfer - Moorea (French Polynesia)
Tyler LARRONDE
Extreme Surfer - Maui, Hawaii (USA)
Matahi DROLLET
Extreme Surfer - Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Nominated in the big wave category at the
last Billabong XXL Awards, Tikanui is recognised by his peers for his commitment
and ability to surf oversized waves.
Son of one of the greatest big wave surfers (Michel Larronde), Tyler has earned his own place
in the ranks by surfing Jaws at the age of just
15. Today he is one of the regulars in the line
up at the most renowned spots in the world.
The last in the line of a surfing brotherhood,
Matahi has followed in his older brothers’
footsteps, surfing the Teahupoo wave at
the age of 14. Two years later, the Tahitian
continues his rise, taking charge of the most
awe-inspiring waves.
Stand Up Paddle
KITESURF
Aude LIONET-CHANFOUR
Free Surfer - Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Jesse RICHMAN
Professional Kitesurfer - Maui, Hawaii (USA)
Riding a board since she was little, the style of this Tahitian combines grace and commitment, a style she developed during her many surf trips across the world. Afraid of
nothing, this beautiful freesurfer often adventures onto the biggest Polynesian waves.
Double world kitesurfing champion,
Jesse has established himself as one of
the unmistakable figures on the circuit.
Between sky and sea, he dedicates his life
to his passion, combining competitions and
film shoots.
SKATE
Maxime GERONZI
Professional Skater - Perpignan (France)
Spotted at a young age, Maxime has lived
from his passion for several years now thanks
to his film shoots. Despite his injuries, he
remains amongst the best and always presents
spectacular video sequences.
EXTREME KAYAKING
Éric DEGUIL
Professional Kayaker - Nîmes (France)
With two Extreme Kayaking world titles and
five French Slalom Championships to his
name, Eric is one of the most decorated guys
on the river. He has been in the top three
extreme kayakers for several years and takes
on waterfalls and other vertical drops on an
almost daily basis.
THE FILM DIRECTOR OF
THIERRY DONARD
Key dates
1978 : Met Dick Barrymore
1984 : 1st “La Nuit de la Glisse” film
1988 : Creation of the series “Pushing the Limits”
1994 : Release of the official film “Pushing the Limits”
1996 : Relaunch of the Nuit de la Glisse concept
1996 à 1998 : Production and direction of two feature film
documentaries for Nuit de la Glisse in coproduction with Warren
Miller
2003 : Creation of Perfect Moment
2013 : Over 600 theatres screen La Nuit de la Glisse in Europe
Portrait of Director
Thierry Donard has been passionate about skiing and action sports since he was a boy. He
started filming at the age of 12 and made his first ski film the following year. In 1978 he met
American director and action sport movie pioneer Dick Barrymore and the encounter would
change the course of his life. Thierry worked for ten years with him, learning how to become
a filmmaker. At the start of the ‘80s, Thierry joined the company Huiana making action sports
films and in 1984 he released his first film under the label “La Nuit de la Glisse” with his group
of avant-garde skier and surfer friends. Alongside his sporting activities, in 1988 he created his
first feature length 90-minute film dedicated to action sports broadcast in France. He continued
with the “Pushing the Limits” series in collaboration with France Télévision between 1989 and
1994 before releasing a new fictional feature film in 1992 inspired by true stories from shooting
the TV series. Thierry then relaunched the Nuit de la Glisse series in 1996 with the intention of
extending his films to cinema theatres and consolidated his project in 2003 through the label
“Perfect Moment Entertainment”. These films are now distributed throughout Europe (Germany,
Switzerland, Scandinavia, etc)…
The substance of his films
For over 30 years, Thierry Donard has always maintained a documentary aspect to all of his films, taking care to demonstrate a
personal dimension and to highlight the athletes’ respect for nature. Philosophy, sensitivity and romanticism characterise his films
whose main objective is to immortalise the instant and capture the action and emotion of a given moment. Unplanned occurrences
and wonderful moments punctuate the film shoots, which unfold in places that this filmmaker is highly accustomed to. Along with
high-quality production, in “Addicted to Life” Thierry prioritises showing the inner pursuit of feeling and personality with a simple,
real script, bringing authenticity and realism.
A film crew at the heart of the action
Highly experienced in shooting in extreme situations and hostile environments, the “Nuit de la
Glisse” production and editing crew is composed of around thirty people. They know best how to
capture the athletes’ performance after years of the right kind of practice. Being highly mobile and
adapting to various climactic and meteorological fluctuations are prerequisites to capturing the
right moment in the right way. The film crew has honed great awareness in unpredictable, difficult
environments, whether it be high in the mountains or deep under water. Cohesive and solid, they
film at the heart of the action, helping these athletes to truly share their experiences with viewers.
Author/Director : Thierry Donard
Delegated executive producer: Perfect Moment Entertainment
Associate Producers: Globo Focus Production Jackson Hole, Tiroir à Films Denver, Threesome films Paris.
Thierry Donard : “Bringing spectators an exclusive featuring talent, escapism and emotion at one single annual unmissable gathering is the
primary concept of La Nuit de la Glisse. Throughout the years, we have adapted to developments in the sports, equipment and new technologies and techniques. Our approach to how we film has been strengthened and refined. Picture quality is now faultless, making films fit for
cinema; that is the ultimate goal of La Nuit de la Glisse!"
Chief Cameramen: Thierry Donard, Bertrand Delapierre, Simon Favier
Simon Favier, charismatic rider for Nuit de la Glisse for many years and passionate filmmaker, he joined the production
crew in 2006 as a cameraman and became chief cameraman a few years later.
Bertrand Delapierre, a true high-mountain athlete and cameraman, he is capable of shooting in the most extreme and
remote places.
Aquatic cameraman : Tamatoa Cowan
Polynesian Swimming Champion, Tamatoa is just as at ease bodysurfing as he is surfing, bringing aquatic images to the
film.
Cameraman wingsuit : Christopher Espen
An enthusiast of air sports like paragliding, wingsuiting and base jumping, Christopher didn’t hesitate to join the Perfect
Moment production team in 2014.
Drone team :
Drone Pilot : Davis Di Lillo / Framer : Andrew Mackenzie
Additional footage : Tim Pruvost
A tradition: World Premiere at the
Grand Rex-28 November 2014
Since 1981 La Nuit de la Glisse has been buzzing out cinemas in France and throughout the world with the
screening of the best action sports images and the most talented outdoor athletes in the world. On this 32nd
Nuit de la Glisse event, the mythical Grand Rex theatre welcomes the annual cult action sports gathering to the
capital city on 28th November 2014 for a showing of the latest film from director Thierry Donard: “Addicted to
Life”. An unmissable moment for action and adventure sports enthusiasts who will find themselves in attendance
alongside the best athletes in the world.
Showings of La Nuit de la Glisse in cinemas :
4th, 5th, 6th and 7th December 2014
Find the full movie theatre list on: www.nuitdelaglisse.com
Press contacts
USA
Catriona McLaughlin – [email protected] – +1 415 574 8739
English speaking territories
Perfect Moment Entertainment– [email protected]