Jean-Jacques Rault began by working the land in Mellionnec, in central Brittany. Coming from a long line of farmers, he naturally became interested in agricultural unionism and sustainable development fairly early on.

Leaving his dairy farm behind, his encounter with filmmaker Manuela Frésil crystallized his desire to make films. He then enrolled in the DESS documentary filmmaking program in Poitiers, where he directed his first film, “Une nuit avec des ramasseurs de volailles” (A Night with Poultry Collectors), which won an award at the Douarnenez Film Festival in 2005.

He then portrayed his former farming colleagues in “Vague à l’âme paysanne” (Etoile de la Scam) and later in “Mille et une traites” (Documentary Award at Filmer le travail). Unveiling a dense and richly meaningful narrative, he also offers a portrait of Edgard Pisani in “C’est beau la politique, vous savez!”.

From all these encounters, and from the fertile ground of Mellionnec—where a group of friends has been launching projects for years, each crazier than the last—the Rencontres du film documentaire and Ty Films were born in 2007. Ty Films is a non-profit organization now experiencing rapid growth, based in a village of just under 500 residents.