French actor Nadia Tereszkiewicz, fresh off her César win and acclaimed turns in The Crime Is Mine and Forever Young, has signed on to headline Souveraines, the feature debut of filmmaker Rémi Allier.
The project marks a major step for Allier, whose 2017 short Little Hands earned a César and later landed on the Oscars shortlist — credentials that have put his first feature firmly on industry radars.
A mother–daughter bond inside radical activism
Souveraines centers on a fiercely connected mother and daughter embedded in a cell of eco-terrorists driven by conspiracy thinking. After a wind turbine sabotage lands the mother behind bars and costs her custody, the girl is sent to live with her aunt — a move that exposes her to a radically different worldview. Torn between two maternal figures, the daughter remains deeply influenced by her mother’s beliefs, convinced a shadowy elite is manipulating society.
The film promises an intimate, psychologically charged look at ideology, loyalty, and generational influence — themes Allier has explored with precision in his short-form work.
Production details and backing
The feature is produced by Lionel Massol and Pauline Seigland for Films Grand Huit, alongside Benoît Roland of Wrong Men. Shooting is slated for later this year.
A busy slate at Films Grand Huit
Beyond Souveraines, Films Grand Huit is lining up several notable projects. Among them is Disorder, the next feature from Giacomo Abruzzese, following his Berlin competition debut Disco Boy. Set in 1990s Milan during the rise of private television, the Italian-language film has secured institutional backing and is planned for late-2026 production, with KMBO handling French distribution.
The company also has Vanishing Goats ready for an April theatrical release in France, and will soon shoot Une de perdue, une de perdue, a queer romcom directed by Mathilde Elu, featuring a cast that includes Laura Felpin, Pomme, Louise Chevillotte, and Harpo Guit.
Talent to watch
Notably, Tereszkiewicz and filmmaker Jonathan Millet were both named Unifrance Talents to Watch at recent Unifrance Rendez-Vous editions in Paris — a signal of the growing international interest surrounding this creative circle.
Final words
With a bold premise, a proven short-film voice stepping into features, and a César-winning lead, Souveraines is shaping up as one of the more provocative French debuts on the horizon. It’s a project that leans into discomfort — and that’s precisely where its power may lie.
