A land born of fire and time
TerrAzores, our next documentary, follows an adventure that is both intimate and universal: that of an explorer who travels the islands to understand how they were born, how their complex geological structures were formed, and above all, how this geodiversity has shaped the landscapes, ecosystems and lifestyles of their inhabitants.
Through accessible and rigorous explanations, the film reveals the powerful natural phenomena that have sculpted the archipelago: volcanism, plate drift, erosion, collapses, earthquakes and tectonic movements. By shedding light on the mechanisms behind the archipelago, TerrAzores seeks to reveal the profound link between the Earth and those who inhabit it, between the science of the past and the human realities of today.
A story guided by the Earth's chronology
The heart of the film is an embodied exploration. The protagonist, who is at once a witness, a curious observer and a teacher, travels around the archipelago in the order in which the islands were formed. His journey follows a geological chronology, from the oldest lands to the youngest, anchoring each discovery in a coherent scientific narrative.
Guided by landforms, stone strata and expert explanations, he discovers, and shares with the viewer, how the Azores were built layer by layer, through complex geodynamic processes. Each stage becomes a chapter in which the history of the Earth is explained and felt: a crater tells of an eruption, a lava tunnel reveals an underground past, a cliff exposes a tectonic rupture..
An invitation to feel, understand and pass on
At a time marked by ecological urgency and the acceleration of the world, TerrAzores proposes a different rhythm: that of the Earth. By tracing the slow genesis of an archipelago and the traces it has left behind, the film invites us to slow down, to observe, but above all to understand. To understand how landscapes are formed, how the invisible forces of the subsoil govern the visible forms of our lives. To understand that geology is not a distant knowledge, but an essential key to understanding the present.
TerrAzores is an educational and human film that takes us on a journey where science becomes a story, where rocks become witnesses, and where the Earth finally speaks to us.
An Earth told by those who live on it
TerrAzores is also about passing on knowledge. Alongside the inhabitants, the floor is given to those who live closest to these phenomena.
In this way, the film is constructed as a work of popularisation, in which scientific knowledge is embodied, told and experienced. The result is an instant learning experience, right in the heart of the landscape, along a path, at eye level, in the middle of nature.
A geology that speaks to cultures
TerrAzores is a film about geodiversity, but also about the links between this science of the subsoil and the cultures that take root there. Through cliffs, lava flows, thermal springs and sculpted rocks, geology becomes language, memory and symbol.
Natural structures have influenced the layout of villages, architecture, beliefs and even the way places are named. This documentary looks at how human societies adapt to their geological environment, and how they make it an essential part of their identity. It's an exploration of forms... and what they form.
Meet the team
Sébastien
Director and expedition manager
Sébastien initiated the TerrAzores project and came up with the idea and wrote the documentary. Passionate about volcanoes and exploration stories, he plays the main character on screen, as well as providing his voice. He also pilots the drone footage and oversees all aspects of the production: organisation of filming, administrative coordination, institutional relations and technical management. Between fieldwork and storytelling, he builds a living link between science, images and emotion.
Stéphane
Co-director and cameraman
Co-director and co-producer of TerrAzores, Stéphane is involved in writing the film and is in charge of ground and overhead photography. Navigating between framing, logistics and the film's influence, he ensures that the TerrAzores adventure finds its place on screens - and in people's minds.
Ilha de Flores
Upcoming expeditionIlha de Graciosa
Upcoming expeditionIlha de Terceira
Upcoming expeditionA project with roots and support
TerrAzores is a project rooted in reality: conceived in the field, supported by a team living locally, and based on direct knowledge of the Azorean territory.
Thanks to a SAGAX–SEF grant, it is being carried out in co-production with Sagax Development Corp. / Pax Arctica and the Société des Explorateurs Français, two organisations committed to promoting the Earth sciences, the environment and responsible exploration.
The project also benefits from the close collaboration of the Associação Os Montanheiros, rooted in the island's volcanic culture, and the Geoparque Açores, whose experts accompany the discoveries in the field.
