After being contacted by the production team, Ecocean provided comprehensive, customized support throughout the filming of this wildlife documentary to ensure that the desired footage was captured under the best possible conditions.
The result of leveraging our expertise in aquaculture and our marine research station in Marseille, this unique project was launched in 2023 and culminated in the production of a nature documentary series broadcast on Arte, among other channels: "Le grand cirque des marées".
Synopsis
On the shores of Brittany, along its granite coastline, an aquatic enclosure unfolds with every low tide. On the melancholic foreshore, as the sea recedes, regular inhabitants and stranded visitors find themselves side by side in ephemeral miniature arenas. All must survive for thirteen hours.
With the ebb and flow of the tides, the rules of the marine world are turned upside down until the ocean returns: predators can become prey, revealing unexpected vulnerabilities; surprising alliances form; and intruders try to adapt to this new law of the jungle.
« Writing animal fiction is incredibly exciting. On the other hand, bringing it to life on screen is rather nerve-wracking. Thanks to the Ecocean team, we managed to film all the behaviors we’d hoped to capture. From shrimp molting and crab reproduction to sand hoppers laying eggs and lobster hunting, the challenges were numerous. Without their expertise, patience, and good humor, “Le grand cirque des marées” would never have come to be! »
Manuel LefèvreCo-director
Know-how in Marseille
Filming around the clock for several weeks
In order to capture specific behaviors on camera, an initial filming phase took place at our marine station in Marseille during the winter of 2023–2024. A breeding facility was made available and modified to accommodate several filming tanks, with custom-built sets created on-site. Several of our animals were then used to capture the desired behaviors: the birth of a small dogfish, the spawning of a sea urchin, the molting of a shrimp, etc.
The second phase took place in Brittany in the spring of 2024, this time with the entire film crew on hand and a wide variety of scenes and animals to film, both in the wild and in captivity.
Ecocean handled the collection and transport of the animals, created custom sets, and assisted the crew throughout the entire shoot. Our team designed and set up a temporary farm in a warehouse provided by the production company. We managed the animals in these temporary farms and directly on natural sites, ensuring optimal conditions for observation and the capture of unique footage.
This on-site presence made it possible to capture the film’s key scenes while preserving the integrity of the ecosystems.
Awards and honors
2025 • Festival des mondes sous marin - Ormeau d'or
Festival international du film et de l'image des mondes marins, Trébeurden (France)
2025 • Festival Galathea - Palme d'or & Grand Prix du jury
Festival international du monde marin, Hyères (France)
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