Every year since 2019, the Wonder France Festival has been rewarding the best audiovisual creations aimed at promoting a territory. For this4th edition, the awards ceremony took place during IFTM Top Resa, the trade show dedicated to tourism professionals held at Porte de Versailles from October 3 to 5, 2023. This year, over 180 videographers from a dozen countries took part in the event. 25 videos were selected before being divided into 7 distinct categories. Among the nations represented were France, which had its own category, as well as Oman, the Canaries, Morocco, Argentina, Bali and Naples.
We now know the names of the winners of this event, of which Le Petit Futé is a partner. They are as follows:
1. Discovery category: Morocco Arise by Brandon Li
During the filming of this video, American Brandon Li was keen to highlight the riches of Morocco, with the narrow streets of Marrakech's medina, craftsmanship and desert crossings by the Bedouins. Then, in the second part, he returned to the country's effervescence at the time of the Moroccan national team's qualification for the semi-finals of the 2022 Football World Cup.
Click on this link to watch the video.
2. Documentary category: El Desentierro del Diablo by Gaston Luna
This video takes us to northwest Argentina for the Jujuy carnival, during which the people glorify Mother Earth. The diablos , the colorful devil-like inhabitants, are the center of attention. This carnival, an incredibly immersive and cultural experience in Argentina for locals and visitors alike, is a mix of indigenous, Spanish and African traditions. Participants wear colorful costumes and make-up, and dance to lively music.
Watch the video here.
3. Travel Blog category: A digital Nomad meets a desert nomad by Bernardo Bacalhau
This magnificent 19-minute video takes us to the Rissani region of southwest Morocco. It's here, in the middle of the desert, that Portuguese travel vlogger Barnardo Bacalhau and Bedouin Ali forge a deep bond of friendship. A moment of sharing, exchange and profound humanity, as well as the discovery of marvellous Moroccan landscapes and local customs.
Click here to watch the video.
4. Category Travel Experience: Time travel in Kyrgyzstan by Alexis Lopez
This film presents videographer and adventurer Alexis Lopez's voyage of initiation to one of Central Asia's lesser-known countries , Kyrgyzstan. Accompanied by his guide Bakit, he sets off on horseback in the footsteps of Swiss explorer Ella Maillart. Equipped as it was in 1900, the expedition is even more authentic. Encountering a shaman, connecting with nature at its most grandiose and interacting with nomadic shepherds, this film is sure to whet your appetite for escape.
The video is available here.
5. France category: Marselha, A Marseille Legend by Zeke Film
Marshela is a journey to the heart of the different facets of the most unique of Mediterranean cities, Marseille. A true visual experience, an intimate portrait of raw elements, vibrant culture, traditions, modernity and multiculturalism. What better way to sum up the Bouches-de-Rhône prefecture?
Video available here.
6. Petit Futé Audience Award: Destination Nord by Mathieu Stanic
In just 2 minutes 45 minutes, this video sums up the richness and uniqueness of the Hauts-de-France region. A gentle journey at different times of day and through the four seasons. Each shot resonates like a painting, whether it's a craftsman at work, a belfry bathed in sunlight, wind turbines in motion or the rough sea along Dunkirk's beaches.
Click here to watch the video.
7. Drone category: Faroe Islands, a land of hostility by AirFlex
This video is the work of 4 friends who set out to film the majestic landscapes of the Faroe Islands, a rocky, volcanic archipelago located between Iceland and Norway, in the North Atlantic Ocean. We discover impressive basalt cliffs, moorland landscapes, grassy slopes, waterfalls, low clouds and colorful villages. A hostile land, so beautiful and so bewitching.
The video is available here.