AFFFF26 Ride Away

Mathias (Mathias Mlekuz), a father mourning his son, decides to honour his memory by retracing the bicycle journey his son once undertook, from La Rochelle to Istanbul. Seeking a way to come to terms with his grief, Mathias sets off with his longtime friend Philippe (Philippe Rebbot, Take a Chance on Me, AF FFF24) on this unusual road trip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. What begins as a personal pilgrimage soon evolves into a deeply emotional human adventure exploring friendship and marked by laughter and pain. As the kilometres unfold, the journey becomes less about the destination than about learning how to move forward. Between moments of humour, silence, and raw emotion, the two men navigate vulnerability, allowing space for tenderness and unexpected lightness. Philippe Rebbot delivers a critically acclaimed performance, earning the Best Actor award at the Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes 2024. Premiering worldwide at the Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême 2024, the film received three awards: Best Direction, Audience Award, and Best Film Music. Shot in a style reminiscent of a documentary, RIDE AWAY captures the authenticity of the journey with remarkable sincerity. A moving and soothing film that gently shows how, even after tragedy, it is possible to heal, reconnect, and rediscover the joy of being alive.