“We’re all part of the ocean, and this water unites us all. It was in the sea that the first cell was formed, and our salty tears are evidence of this. So we are intimately linked to this part of the world that covers most of our planet.”
– François Sarano (Oceanographer and a Passionate diver)

About the Festival

The Night of Ideas is an annual festival of ideas organized by various French Embassies around the world. It is organized in India every year, on various topics. This year, it takes the form of a Festival of ideas – We are the Ocean, with major events taking place in Delhi, Chennai, Goa and Pondicherry from 2nd to 31st of May 2025.

The focus of the festival aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030) and leads up to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice from June 9–13, 2025, where global leaders will convene to accelerate ocean action in support of SDG 14: Life Below Water. 

With UNOC3, France aims to mobilize international support for ocean protection as much as it did for climate change with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015, which led to the Paris agreements.

This is more than just a festival. It’s a call to action. Let’s come together to discover, to engage, to connect.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever”
– Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Events and Activities

Join us for an exclusive Prelude Screening Series at Alliance Française de Delhi as we gear up for the Festival of Ideas: We Are The Ocean!

Venue: Auditorium, Alliance Française de Delhi
Free Entry | Open to All

Thursday, April 10 | 6:30 PM

Green Tide (Les Algues Vertes) – Directed by Pierre Jolivet (107 mins)
A gripping environmental thriller uncovering the hidden dangers of toxic green algae.

Wednesday, April 23 | 6:30 PM

Becoming Cousteau – Directed by Liz Garbus (93 mins)
Explore the life of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, ocean explorer and conservationist.

Friday, May 2 | 6:30 PM

Bigger Than Us – Directed by Flore Vasseur (96 mins)
An inspiring documentary following young change-makers tackling global crises.

Call for Educators

If you’re a social worker, school teacher, or university professor interested in organizing a group visit for students or children, please contact us at [email protected].

Festival Partners

Dakshin Foundation is a non-profit organisation working across India’s coastal, marine, and island ecosystems. Its mission is to inform and advocate for conservation and natural resource management, while supporting sustainable livelihoods, social development, and environmental justice.

Dakshin’s approach integrates research across multiple disciplines to address complex environmental and livelihood challenges. This holistic philosophy enables the development of context-specific, scalable models, implemented in partnership with local communities, government bodies, and civil society organisations.

AFD Group finances and drives the transition toward a fairer, safer, and more resilient world, working alongside partners to support communities across the globe.

Drawing on the complementary strengths of its entities — Agence Française de Développement for public financing, Proparco for responsible private investment, and Expertise France for technical cooperation — the Group is uniquely positioned to address the full spectrum of sustainable development challenges.

Operating in over 160 countries, including France’s Overseas Territories and Departments, AFD Group tailors its actions to local realities, actively supporting community-led initiatives.

With more than 4,000 projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Group works on behalf of the French people, in collaboration with all stakeholders committed to economic development and the protection of our shared global commons: climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, and global health.

Working by your side — for a world in common.

Mongabay-India is an environmental and conservation platform that delivers high-quality, original reporting from nature’s frontlines in India. It explores India’s development through the lens of environmental sustainability and conservation.

Mongabay-India is the India-specific portal of mongabay.com, and publishes content in both English and Hindi. The global platform was founded in 1999 by Rhett A. Butler, driven by his passion for tropical forests. He named the site Mongabay after an island in Madagascar.

The platform focuses primarily on forests, wildlife, oceans, and the broader conservation sector. It also conducts in-depth reporting on specific themes and geographies.

Mongabay’s readership includes conservationists, scientists, policymakers, development agency officials, business leaders, journalists, and members of civil society.

Nausicaá, the National Sea Centre, is a scientific and cultural institution dedicated to raising awareness about the vital relationship between humankind and the Ocean.

For over 30 years, Nausicaá has captivated the public with immersive experiences that reveal the wonders of the marine world and the extraordinary biodiversity it holds. Visitors are invited to marvel at the beauty of the ocean, understand pressing environmental challenges, and—most importantly—learn to love and protect the Ocean.

The Nausicaá team works hand-in-hand with partners to expand our understanding of marine species and actively contribute to their conservation.

Nausicaá is more than an aquarium—it is an institution with a mission. Backed by 220 dedicated employees, it is committed to preserving the Ocean in Boulogne-sur-Mer and around the world. Through education, advocacy, and innovation, Nausicaá promotes better ocean governance, the protection of biodiversity, and sustainable solutions for the future of our blue planet.

Océanopolis is a national centre for scientific culture dedicated to the Ocean — a space where knowledge is shared, allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to explore marine ecosystems and understand the urgent biodiversity challenges posed by climate change, pollution, and other human activities.

Since opening in 1990, Océanopolis has become a leading hub for scientific outreach and education focused on the marine environment.

Its mission is clear: to inspire, to educate, and to transform the way we see the Ocean — through emotion and understanding.

For over 20 years, the foundation has been striving for a revolution to preserve life, convinced that the Ocean is essential to the balance of our planet.

At the heart of its mission is the exploration of the Ocean and the sharing of scientific discoveries to raise collective awareness. It leads scientific expeditions, in partnership with leading international research laboratories, to study marine biodiversity and understand the impacts of climate change and pollution.

The foundation also raises public awareness — from younger generations to political decision-makers.

Thanks to its UN Special Observer Status, it plays an active role in international Ocean governance.

Exploring, sharing, and protecting this living Ocean is more vital than ever.
Let’s defend life. Let’s protect the Ocean.

The Museum of Goa (MOG) is a contemporary art institution in Goa, India, dedicated to narrating the stories of Goa’s past, present, and future through art. Established with the mission to make art accessible to a broader audience and integral to everybody’s life, MOG combines culture, art, and storytelling to foster conversations and appreciation for the arts.
The museum hosts exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies, and discussions, encouraging community engagement and creative expression across diverse media and artistic practices. Conceived in 2015 by artist Dr. Subodh Kerkar, the museum is not merely a repository of objects but a laboratory of ideas.

Stay tuned for the detailed program and join us in celebrating the spirit of ocean conservation. “We are the Ocean” invites you to reflect, engage, and contribute to a sustainable future for our oceans.

The Festival is Open to All.

A programme by

French Embassy in India

In partnership with