France TV Distribution, the distribution and co-production arm of the public broadcaster France Television Group, will present the youth drama “A Night to Live” at the upcoming Unifrance Rendez-Vous, which will run from September 2 to 6 in Le Havre.
“A Night to Live” will be distributed worldwide by France TV Distribution, the country’s largest television exporter, and produced by Wanda Productions, a Paris-based television commercial production company specializing in music videos, photography, animated films and television series for television networks and streaming platforms.
The eight-part series with 26-minute episodes will celebrate its world premiere in the French competition of the Festival de la Fiction in La Rochelle, which runs from September 10 to 15.
“Nos vies en l’air” was written by Margaux Bonhomme, whose debut “Head Above Water” received two Cesar nominations, and Victor Lockwood (“Mental,” “Nudes”). The series will premiere on Slash TV, a young adult-focused channel owned by France Télévisions, whose hits include “Mental.”
Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024. The series centers on two teenagers, Mina and Ocean, who meet on the same rooftop in Paris and consider jumping to their deaths.
Although they are on a completely different level – Mina comes from the barren Parisian district of Belleville, Ocean from high society – they grow closer and agree on a deal: they want to give life a chance, at least for one night, before deciding whether death is the only option.
Mina is played by Inès Kermas, Ocean by Anthony Goffi (“Déter”).
Based on the novel of the same name by Manon Fargetton, “A Night to Live” is directed by Anthony Jorge and Jonathan Cohen-Berry, who also teamed up for “First Love.” The film won Best Short Series at Series Mania 2018 and was produced by CG Cinéma for Blackpills.
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. And yet it is a taboo subject and a very painful and personal topic that makes it very difficult for young people to ask for help regarding their mental health,” the series’ writers and producers said in a statement.
“On the other hand, a survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Pierre Deniker Foundation found that 95% of young people are fundamentally interested in life. We wanted the story of Ocean and Mina to fully reflect this contradiction,” they added.
The show’s writers and producers said they don’t have a one size fits all solution to such a complex issue. However, they hope “the show will encourage teens to open up to others.”
