8th edition of the "Sud de sciences" festival from December 2 to 7, 2025 to experience science differently in Montpellier
The University of Montpellier, the Faculty of Science, the four partner organizations (CIRAD, INRAE, INSERM, IRD), the Centre de l'imaginaire scientifique et technique (CIST), the City of Montpellier, the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole media library network and Arte Campus have joined forces to organize the 8th edition of the "Sud de sciences" festival. This annual event, dedicated to scientific films, has a shared ambition: to strengthen the dialogue between science and society by offering free screenings of recent documentaries, followed by discussions with researchers, directors and filmmakers. The 2025 edition offers a rich and diverse program, deployed in several media libraries of the metropolis (Castries, Castelnau-le-Lez, Clapiers, Montpellier) as well as at the Nestor Burma cinema.
Once again this year, the festival is supported by the ministerial label Science avec et pour la société (SAPS) awarded to the University of Montpellier. As part of this label, we are continuing our commitment to making scientific culture ever more accessible. Particular attention will be paid to the inclusion of the deaf and hard-of-hearing on the evening of Thursday December 4.
"Sud de sciences" 2025: a program for understanding, questioning and debating
This new edition explores major scientific issues: the accelerating melting of glaciers, the Anthropocene, the omnipresence of screens, sustainable food, biodiversity, living soils, innovative fish farming in the Amazon and geological mysteries in the Mediterranean. A key theme is the fight against misinformation, which will be discussed at a day-long event for professionals, students and the general public.
PROJECTIONS & EXCHANGES :
- Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 pm at the Albert Camus multimedia library (Clapiers)
"Glaciers arctiques, état des lieux" by Pierre Dugowson, 2025 - 52 min
Glaciologist Heïdi Sevestre travels the glaciers of Svalbard to take stock of a global phenomenon: the rapid melting of ice.
Speaker : Frédéric Bouchette, University Professor, Géosciences Montpellier.
- Thursday, December 4 at 6:30 pm at the Emile Zola multimedia library (Montpellier)
"Anthropocene, l'implacable enquête" by Cédric Defert, 2024 - 58 min
A scientific exploration of the clues that could define mankind's entry into a new geological era.
Speakers: Cédric Defert, director, Mary Robles, PhD in paleoecology and paleoclimatology (ISEM - UM) and Ludovic Dolez, PhD in archaeology and paleoenvironments (UM). Accessible screening: adapted subtitles + LSF interpretation.
- Friday, December 5 at 6pm at the Françoise Giroud multimedia library (Castries)
"Et si on levait les yeux? A classroom with screens" by Gilles Vernet, 2024 - 53 min
A teacher and his students question the place of screens, to the point of experimenting with ten days of disconnection.
Speakers: Gilles Vernet & Diane Purper-Ouakil (CHU Montpellier): Gilles Vernet & Diane Purper-Ouakil (CHU Montpellier).
- Friday, December 5 at 8:30 pm at Médiathèque Françoise Giroud (Castries)
"Planète collemboles: la vie secrète des sols" by Philippe Lebeaux, 2023 - 52 min
Spectacular discovery of microscopic soil life.
Speaker : Jérôme Cortet, University Professor (CEFE - Montpellier).
- Saturday, December 6, 10am at the Aimé Césaire multimedia library (Castelnau-le-Lez)
" The fox who saved his island" byEmma Baus, 2025 - 52 min
The incredible story of Santa Cruz's island gray fox, back from near extinction.
Speakers: Emma Baus & Marianne Dupré-Gabirot (University of Montpellier).
- Saturday, December 6 at 3pm at the Aimé Césaire multimedia library (Castelnau-le-Lez)
"What's for dinner? Des idées pour mieux se nourrir demain" by Bertrand Delapierre, 2025 - 90 min
Concrete ways to reduce the environmental impact of our food.
Speaker: Caroline Méjean, Research Director (INRAE - MOISA).
- Saturday, December 6 at 5pm at the Emile Zola multimedia library (Montpellier)
" Sustainable fish farming in the Amazon" byAna Castañeda, 2025 - 20 min
Fish farmers are developing an innovative process using organic waste transformed into fish feed.
Speaker: Michel Sauvain, Emeritus Research Director (IRD - PHARMA-DEV).
- Sunday, December 7 at 11am at the Nestor Burma cinema (Montpellier)
" Reunion Island, an evolutionary laboratory" by Jürgen Hansen, 2024 - 52 min
How to protect a recent island ecosystem that has been weakened by human activity.
Speakers: Jürgen Hansen, Vasilis Dakos (CNRS - ISEM), Adrien Chevallier (IRD - MARBEC), Mathieu Rouget (CIRAD - PVBMT).
- Sunday, December 7 at 11am at the Nestor Burma cinema (Montpellier)
" Cap Corse, le mystère des anneaux" by Yann Rineau, 2024 - 90 min
A scientific investigation led by Laurent Ballesta into enigmatic underwater structures.
Speaker: Julie Deter, scientific director of the film (Andromède Océanologie).
A meeting for professionals, students and the general public on Wednesday, December 3, 2025
University of Montpellier, Triolet campus in amphitheatre A36.01
9:30am - 12pm
Interactive conference "What is scientific evidence?" by Frédéric Feu (CIST), as part of the regional project science ou infox?
1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Arte Campus Master Class on the film "La fabrique de l'ignorance" (2021) with Franck Cuveillier, co-director, Sophie Della Mussia (CIRAD - scientific communication / mediation), Pierrick Labbé (ISEM).
Morning bookings: here and afternoon bookings: here
School screenings
Organized throughout the year in partner schools, with registration required, around documentaries suitable for primary, middle and high school levels.
Practical information:
- Date: December 2 to 7, 2025
- Program, registration and festival information: here