Drone shows in France: Cannes to the Alps

Cannes Lions: the bay of Cannes

During the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, together with Kargo, we flew the first drone light show over the bay of Cannes: 600 drones telling the evolution and future of media. The year after, we came back with 1,400 drones, over four nights with three shows each evening, translating iconic movie moments into the sky above the bay. The show won the Digiday Media Award for Best Event, and we keep coming back to the Croisette.

Val Thorens: JBL, in the snow

For the JBL Snow Party in Val Thorens we flew our first drone show in the snow: 200 drones above the peaks of the Alps. Flying at altitude, in the cold, asks a lot of the batteries and the crew: we plan shorter flights, keep the drones warm until take-off and watch the mountain wind closely.

Saint-Tropez: Franchise Freedom on the Côte d'Azur

In Saint-Tropez we flew Franchise Freedom by Studio DRIFT, the flock of starlings made of light, for an evening of the Aurora Institute. Over the sea, on a summer night, the swarm moves exactly as it was meant to: like birds, not like pixels.

Arles: Van Gogh's Starry Night at LUMA

At LUMA Arles, 600 drones brought Van Gogh's Starry Night back to the sky of Arles, above Frank Gehry's tower: a Studio DRIFT performance for 150 years of Impressionism and 10 years of the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles, produced by Drone Stories. The paintings were recreated in the sky with swarming algorithms.

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte: an exclusive wedding

At Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte we flew a drone show for an exclusive wedding. A château asks for a show that respects the place: the façade and the gardens are part of the image, and the story is about two people, not about a logo.

Private stays private

Many of our weddings and private events are for people who do not want their celebration online. We never publish their names or images without consent. If you would like to see what we flew for them, we are happy to share references and footage in private.

What a drone show in France takes

Airspace approval. Every show flies under an authorisation from the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority, for the exact site, date and time window, with the local authorities informed. Near an airport, on the coast or in the mountains it takes more lead time. We handle the application.

The site. A bay, a ski slope, a château park or a festival ground: we need a take-off field and a safety zone between the drones and the audience. Our crew checks the site before we confirm.

The weather. Show drones fly in wind up to 40 km/h (25 mph) and handle a few drops of rain. On the coast and in the mountains the evening wind decides a lot, so we plan a weather window and, where possible, a back-up slot.

Time. Count on about a month for a known site. The permit, not the animation, usually sets the clock.

How many drones, and what it costs

200 drones tell a full story for a wedding or a brand evening; a festival on the Croisette called for 1,400. Read how many drones a show needs. Our shows start at $50,000; most land between $100,000 and $200,000. How drone show cost works.

Planning a show in France?

Tell us the place, the date and who will be watching. Within a day you hear whether it can fly there and what we would do with it. Get a proposal, or see our shows in Cannes and in Arles.