On Friday, April 17, 2026, members of the PAZ association (Project Animals Zoopolis) are organizing a protest in front of the Variétés and Gare du Sud cinemas in the heart of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes). They are protesting against the new movie “L’enfant du désert” directed by Gilles de Maistre, which was released on April 8th and features animals.
The activists are denouncing the exploitation of captive wild animals, particularly seven baby ostriches in southern Morocco. The PAZ association is mobilizing against the film “L’enfant du désert” in cinemas and is distributing flyers and setting up signs.
The association criticizes the use of fourteen ostriches, including seven babies, for staging purposes. These ostriches were trained and purchased from a Témara leather farm in Morocco. PAZ also criticizes other films by Gilles de Maistre and calls out what they perceive as hypocrisy.
The activists question the treatment of animals used in films compared to those in circuses, emphasizing the captivity, training, and stressful transportation they endure. Another protest is planned at Le Pavillon Bleu cinema in Roquefort-les-Pins on Sunday, April 19.
[Context: The PAZ association is protesting against the use of animals in the film industry, particularly criticizing Gilles de Maistre’s films. Fact Check: Gilles de Maistre is a real director known for films involving animals, but the specific details mentioned in the article would need verification.]
