Paris can switch moods in a second, and on the night of November 12, it shifted into full creative-drive mode as Nowness, Courir and Nike pulled people into Grand Palais Immersif for the unveiling of Contre Courant. Made by director duo Kourtrajmeuf. The film is a tight portrait of Garance Vallée and her way of moving through the city, her studio and her thoughts, while the event as a whole felt like an extension of that world. 

Below, we break down everything that took place on the night. 

IT WAS HOSTED IN AN ICONIC PARISIAN PALACE

The Grand Palais Immersif is already an impressive venue, but for this event, the space was transformed with metal structures, screens and mirrored surfaces that caught the light in a way that made the whole entrance feel like a surreal set. Guests walked in through a brushed steel photocall, caught glimpses of Nike Shox imagery, and wound their way around a product display that felt closer to sculpture than a showcase. 

CONTRE COURANT WAS SHOWN IN THE SPACE

The film gave an intimate look at Vallée, moving from her studio to the stage she designed for choreographer Léo Walk. Her voice and creative process set a quiet rhythm. Simultaneously, her thoughts on creation and time scrolled across a nearby screen in metro-style text, complementing the main projection. 

Head here to watch the film.

THERE WAS A Q&A AFTER THE SCREENING

LÿdiE LAPēstE took over for a conversation with Kourtrajmeuf’s Bouchra Ouikou and Ghizlane Terraz. Together, they broke down how the film came together, the way they worked with Vallée’s visual language, and the feeling of building something that sits slightly against the current of everything around it. 

SOME YOUNG FILMMAKERS GOT THEIR MOMENT ON THE BIG STAGE

In collaboration with Courir and Nike, NOWNESS challenged young French filmmakers to explore their creative obsessions – the authentic drives that compel them to push boundaries and craft resonant narratives. This open call was dedicated to spotlighting visions untainted by trends or the need for approval. The exceptional work of the three winning filmmakers: Marion Renerre (Le Rayon Est Vert), Thomas Gerard (Echoes of Darkness), and Harrison Garrett (Dreaming Again) was proudly showcased at the event.

THEN THERE WERE PERFORMANCES

Once the lights came back up, DJs Zepequenaï and Lil Rosy took the reins and shifted the room into a different gear on the dancefloor. It was a mix of Nowness, Courir and Nike’s circles, a lot of young creatives and around six hundred people who queued down the block to get in. 

AND DRINKS TO END THE NIGHT 

Thanks to Tico Tequila, Heineken, and Peak, drinks flowed all night, keeping the bars stocked as the crowd enjoyed the installations and dancefloor into the small hours.