The project
At the edge of Borneo’s vast rainforest, Kéria rescues a baby orangutan found in the palm plantation where her father works. At the same time, her young cousin Selaï seeks refuge with her family, fleeing the conflict that opposes his nomadic people to the logging companies. Kéria, Selaï, and Oshi, the baby orangutan, will fight together to protect the endangered native forest – a fight that also takes Kéria on a journey to uncover the truth about her roots.
Claude
Barras
Swiss director and producer Claude Barras was born in Sierre on January 19, 1973, into a farming family. He studied children’s illustration at the Émile Cohl School, anthropology and digital imagery at the Lumière University in Lyon, and 3D computer graphics at ÉCAL (École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne). After graduating, he co-directed his first animated short film with Cédric Louis, Ice Floe (2005), which was selected for the Official Competition at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Barras then produced and directed a dozen animated short films with the Hélium Films collective, many of which were selected and awarded at festivals worldwide. He also taught animation at the Geneva School of Applied Arts and La Poudrière School in Valence. In 2013, he began working on his first stop-motion feature film, My Life as a Courgette, co-written with Céline Sciamma. Premiering at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes in 2016, the film was distributed in over 60 countries, drawing more than 175,000 viewers in Switzerland and 800,000 in France. It was awarded numerous prizes, including two César awards and an Academy Award nomination in 2017.
In 2018, Claude Barras co-developed with Nancy Huston and Morgan Navarro the concept for a new animated feature, which he later co-wrote with Catherine Paillé. Selected for the Official Competition, “Savages” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2024.
Claude Barras is currently developing a documentary series on faeces and co-writing with Christelle Berthevas the adaptation of Fabien Toulmé’s graphic novel Ce n’est pas toi que j’attendais (You’re Not Who I Was expecting).
The impact
campaign
The release of “Savages” is backed up by an impact campaign inviting audiences of all ages to take action to drive positive change on issues highlighted in the film (deforestation, excesses of the food industry…). Developed in partnership with organisations recognized for advocating biodiversity protection and anti-deforestation, this campaign reflects Director Claude Barras’ and the film team’s commitment to protecting the environment and taking meaningful action beyond the film. This dedicated website encourages the audience to get actively involved: by signing a petition against deforestation (with Greenpeace France), by donating to expand protected reserves for Borneo local populations (with the Bruno-Manser-Fonds), to protect endangered species on Borneo (with Kalaweit), or by calling out major palm oil-producing food companies (with foodwatch). Children activities and educational resources are also available.
Impact campaign partners: Bruno Manser Fund, foodwatch, Greenpeace France, Kalaweit, One Voice, Pan Eco
