Paolo, shot by cinematographer Romain Carcanade, has been chosen as the official opening fiction of the 2026 Festival de la Fiction de La Rochelle. The first two episodes will premiere on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:30 PM at La Coursive – Grand Théâtre, following the festival’s opening ceremony and in the presence of the film team. Created and directed by Sébastien Marnier and produced by Mintee Productions for HBO Max, the seven-part series follows Paolo, whose ordinary life is turned upside down when he reconnects with Téophane, a former schoolmate now running for mayor. What begins as admiration and a desire to support his campaign gradually turns into an all-consuming obsession, against the backdrop of a small provincial town shaped by class tensions, appearances and transgression. Starring Jérôme Niel, Yoann Gasiorowski, Magalie Lépine-Blondeau, Marie Oppert and Léo Chalié.
