Nadia Tereszkiewicz, the César-winning actress from films like The Crime Is Mine and Forever Young, will star in Souveraines. This eco-thriller marks the first feature film from director Rémi Allier, who earned a César for his 2017 short Little Hands. The story tracks a tightly bonded mother and daughter who join a cell carrying out acts of eco-terrorism. Production details remain under wraps, but filming is set to begin soon after her current projects wrap up.
Background
Nadia Tereszkiewicz has built a steady rise in French cinema over the past few years. Born in 1998 in Paris to a Polish father and French mother, she started as a dancer before turning to acting. She trained at the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique in Paris. Her breakout came with roles in high-profile films that drew attention at festivals.
In The Crime Is Mine, directed by François Ozon, she played a key part in a story about a woman accused of murder in 1930s Paris. The film earned her a César award for Most Promising Actress in 2024. That same year, she appeared in Forever Young by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, a drama set in the 1990s theater world that also picked up César nods. These roles showed her range, from light comedy to deep emotional work.
Tereszkiewicz has kept busy since. In early 2026, she stars in the feminist western Pile ou Face by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, hitting theaters on January 7. There, she plays a woman dealing with grief by carrying her dead lover's head, a role she described as a way to explore loss and imagination. She also appears in Arnaud Desplechin's Deux Pianos alongside François Civil, a film about passion and simple life choices, connected through their shared love of music.
Rémi Allier brings his own credentials to Souveraines. His short film Little Hands won the César for Best Short Film in 2018 and made the Oscar shortlist that year. The short told a simple story of a boy and his father, praised for its quiet power and strong visuals. Allier has spent years developing feature projects, and Souveraines is his first to move forward with major backing.
The film fits into a growing trend of eco-thrillers in European cinema. Stories like this often look at climate desperation pushing people to extremes. A mother and daughter at the center adds a personal layer, focusing on family ties under pressure.
Key Details
Souveraines centers on a mother and daughter with a deep bond. They get pulled into a small group committing acts against environmental harm, like sabotaging polluters or disrupting industry. The plot builds tension around their choices and the risks they face. No other cast members have been named yet, but Tereszkiewicz takes the lead role.
Production Timeline
Filming for Souveraines is expected to start in the spring of 2026, once Tereszkiewicz finishes promotions for Pile ou Face and Deux Pianos. Allier has scouted locations in rural France, areas hit hard by climate issues like droughts and wildfires. The budget is mid-range for a debut feature, with support from French film funds focused on new voices.
Tereszkiewicz spoke recently about picking roles that hit her hard emotionally.
"I need to fall in love with a script, for it to match a real want in that moment." – Nadia Tereszkiewicz
She added that acting demands full belief in the story, no matter how strange.
Allier has said little publicly, but those close to the project note his short films often deal with family and moral edges, themes that carry over here.
Tereszkiewicz's schedule shows her pulling double duty between arthouse and bigger stories. After Souveraines, she has talks for international parts, building on her Dior ambassador role that takes her to fashion weeks worldwide.
What This Means
For Tereszkiewicz, Souveraines adds another layer to her filmography. At under 30, she has worked with top directors like Ozon, Bruni Tedeschi, and Desplechin. This role lets her tackle action elements in an eco-thriller, different from her recent dramas and western. It could open doors to English-language films, where climate stories are hot.
Allier's debut puts him on the map for features. His César win gives him pull with festivals like Cannes or Venice, places that love bold first films. If Souveraines lands well, it might follow the path of other shorts-turned-features that break out.
The film speaks to wider talks on climate action. Eco-terrorism plots highlight frustration with slow change, showing everyday people pushed to act. With real-world events like record heat and floods, stories like this find ready audiences. It also spotlights women in lead roles, with the mother-daughter focus driving the heart of the tale.
France's film scene supports these projects through grants for timely topics. Souveraines benefits from that push, blending entertainment with real concerns. Tereszkiewicz's draw will help it reach beyond festivals to wider release.
Her comments on acting show a grounded view.
"Each project could be the last. I know what it's like to be an extra, waiting for a break." – Nadia Tereszkiewicz
This mindset keeps her connected to the work. As she eyes roles into her later years, Souveraines marks a step into thrillers that test her further.
The project arrives as French cinema rebounds post-strikes and funding shifts. New voices like Allier get chances, and stars like Tereszkiewicz anchor them. Viewers can expect a film that mixes family drama with urgent eco-questions, delivered through strong performances.
