Festival Rencontre(s) at Nouvelles Galeries Annecy
Client
Citynove / Les Nouvelles Galeries Annecy
When
May 15 to 24, 2025, two immersive weekends (May 15-17 and 22-24)
Where
Nouvelles Galeries Annecy, The Great Hall
Industry
Retail, department store
Touchpoints
The Great Hall of Nouvelles Galeries Annecy
Audience
Open to all, families with kids’ workshops, young adults, cinema and culture enthusiasts
Expertise
Creative concept · Art direction · Brand Scenography · Production Direction · Partner Management · Budget Control
Scope
Festival concept and visual identity, immersive scenography on two themes (Love and Adventure), full sourcing (scenography, branding, workshops, entertainment, food), end-to-end production, on-site show calling for six nights
The brief
Design a cinema festival around a programme co-curated with MK2. Each film becomes the pretext for a dedicated scenographic world, bespoke fooding and a set of unique pre-screening activations.
The concept
“Six nights, six cult films, six worlds” to shift Nouvelles Galeries Annecy from a shopping destination into an event destination, and position the department store as a space for meeting and emotion, where relationships matter more than transactions.
Key Moments
The unveiling of the immersive scenography each night, built at speed inside the Great Hall.
The pre-screening moments with live performances, dance, piano-and-voice duo, talks and cocktails, stretching the cinema ritual well beyond the film itself.
The MK2 cinema talk with industry experts, for film lovers who want to keep the story going in another form.
The workshops woven into the journey, Flash Tattoo, Latte Art, a Foley workshop and a stunt initiation for kids.
Sensory Signature
Smell: the familiar scent of popcorn every night, an olfactory signal that it’s time to step into the film.
Sound: live performances (piano-and-voice duo), a foley workshop, and a film soundtrack themed to each night’s world.
Taste: a carefully curated, branded food offer directly tied to the film on screen.
Sight: two distinct scenographies, “Adventure” and “Love”, suspended film posters, window graphics, indoor and outdoor signage.
Mastery
Creative concept, art direction and visual identity for the festival. Two immersive scenographies built to coexist with an active retail space. Sourcing and management of over fifteen vendors (artists, food, technical, branding). Full scenographic turnaround in under 45 minutes between nights. End-to-end production and show calling for all six evenings.
Operational complexity
Running two distinct scenographic worlds inside the same commercial space, and switching between them at full speed between nights. Coordinating over fifteen vendors on a short, dense format while keeping the store’s regular opening hours intact during the day.
Results
Sold-out nights across the whole festival, a steady surprise effect, and a venue whose perception shifted for good, from store to event destination.
