Magma
Sloan Science on Screen Award: Magma is the SFFILM Festival recipient of the Sloan Science on Screen Award, a recognition that celebrates the compelling depiction of science in a narrative feature film. Presented through a partnership between SFFILM and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the prize is part of SFFILM’s Sloan Science in Cinema Initiative.
Magma
The struggles between scientists, community members, and local politicians spills over like the titular substance that threatens the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in Cyprien Vial’s dramatic thriller starring Marina Foïs.
Sloan Science on Screen Award
Presented through a partnership between SFFILM and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sloan Science on Screen Award is a recognition that celebrates the compelling depiction of science in a narrative feature film.
Guests Expected
Director Cyprien Vial is expected to attend. Following the film, there will be an extended Q&A about the film and its scientific elements.
WITH SUPPORT FROM
Description
The struggles between scientists, community members, and local politicians spills over like the titular substance that threatens the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in Cyprien Vial’s dramatic thriller. When a team of scientists led by Katia (Marina Foïs) records the biggest magmatic surge in 50 years on the small island, a struggle ensues among politicians who want to evacuate, locals who can’t afford to stop working or shut down their businesses, and the researchers themselves who are forced to admit the inexactitude of volcanology. Particularly torn is Katia’s assistant Aimé (Théo Christine) who grew up on the island and is well aware of the frustrations stemming from the fact that the mostly Black populace is dictated to by white European officials. Vial keeps a keen eye on all three personal elements of the story while never losing sight of the island’s grand volcano, known as La Soufrière, whose majestic power will always have the last word. —Rod Armstrong
Cyprien Vial was born in Tulle, France, and studied directing at La Fémis. Among his short films is Dans le rang (2006), winner of the SACD Short Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. His debut feature, Young Tiger (2014), was nominated for a Lumiere Award for Best First Feature. That was followed by Kiss Me! (2017). Magma is his third feature.
Michael Manga studies the geological processes that shape Earth’s surface. This includes understanding the reasons why planets have volcanoes, why volcanoes erupt in so many different ways, and how volcanic eruptions affect climate and other Earth systems. He studies how geological processes affect and are affected by groundwater, including the formation of geysers, the effects of earthquakes on fluid flow in Earth’s crust, and the origin of springs and mud volcanoes. He also studies similar processes on other planets, including the eruption of water on icy satellites in the outer solar system, and deciphering the coupled history of water and volcanism on Mars. In 2001 he returned to Berkeley as a faculty member in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science where he received the Berkeley Campus Distinguished Teaching Award. He is a Macarthur Fellow, a Sloan Fellow, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Film Details
LanguageFrench, Creole
Year2024
PremiereInternational
Runtime85
CountryFrance
DirectorCyprien Vial
ProducerIsabelle Madelaine
Executive ProducerEmilie Tisné
WriterCyprien Vial, Nicolas Pleskof
EditorSanabel Cherqaoui
CinematographerJacques Girault
MusicLéonie Pernet
CastMarina Foïs, Théo Christine
Closed CaptionsClosed Captions are not currently confirmed for this film
Audio DescriptionAudio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this film
American Sign Language (ASL) InterpretationAmerican Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
