Two decades after Loïc Jean-Albert first brought the legendary Soul Flyers together on the volcanic ridges of Réunion Island, the wingsuit dream returns home. In Soul Flyers: A Return to Origins, filmmaker Thibault Gachet follows elite pilots Fred Fugen and Vincent Cotte as they leap back into the birthplace of their craft, stitching together a film that fuses breathtaking beauty with incredible skill.
Set against the towering Piton de la Fournaise volcano and ravines that plunge into turquoise seas, this 15-minute spectacle isn’t just about wingsuit flying—it’s about testing human limits.
A Film Born by Chance, Fuelled by Passion
When asked why he chose to make this film, Thibault admits it wasn’t the plan. Originally, he and his team were in Réunion to film content for a brand. But the more they captured, the harder it became to leave those images to the scroll of social media.
“I didn’t want these images to be just content for phones,” Thibault explains. “I wanted them to be seen for what they were worth—on the big screen, with sound and image worthy of their power.”
It was a spark of intuition that turned into destiny: exactly 20 years after the Soul Flyers’ birth, the team was back at the same cliffs. The story, as Thibault says, “was written in the sky.”
Honouring Legends, Writing a New Chapter
The Soul Flyers legacy runs deep. From pioneers like Loïc Jean-Albert and Vince Reffet, to today’s new guardians of flight, the thread is the same: passion, self-mastery, and friendship.
“This film is about enthusiasts,” Thibault reflects. “From the founders to Fred and Vincent today, the goal has always been to share flights in exceptional places. That’s the essence of Soul Flyers.”
For fans of high-adrenaline adventure, that essence is unmistakable: pushing beyond boundaries, without reckless abandon—only relentless preparation.
Capturing the Rush: Cameras in the Sky
We’ve all seen wingsuit flying online—snappy edits, GoPro footage, violent speed. Thibault wanted to go deeper.
“The montage shows flights in real time,” he explains. “You hear their live discussions, their doubts, their excitement. You feel the environment, not just the performance.”
The result? A film that lets you live inside the flight. From tight cockpit-style shots that make your stomach drop, to wide frames that reveal the grandeur of Réunion’s volcanic playground, the rush isn’t just shown—it’s shared.
Dancing With Danger
Of course, no wingsuit film comes without risk. But Thibault insists that what looks reckless is, in reality, meticulously planned.
“Fred and Vincent are top-level athletes,” he says. “Every flight is scouted, analysed, prepared. Danger is always there, but it’s masked by their professionalism.”
Still, the stakes are real. Fred refused certain jumps, including one Vincent opened on his own, because he didn’t feel fully ready. That level of honesty, discipline, and trust is what allows the team to flirt with the edge—without tumbling over it.
The Moments That Will Make Your Heart Stop
For adrenaline seekers in the audience, Thibault teases two scenes that will leave you breathless:
- A rooftop skimming flight, just metres above houses—close enough to make your skin prickle.
- A 60-metre ravine leap, where the drop feels bottomless and the air itself seems to vanish.
He grins, but won’t give away more. “The thrills will speak for themselves on the big screen.”
Flight, Then and Now
Wingsuit flying has always been about dreamers. Twenty years ago, the founders of Soul Flyers couldn’t have imagined how far the sport would go. Today, Fred and Vincent carry that torch forward—writing new chapters in the sky, while staying tethered to the values of freedom, friendship and flight.
“Who can predict the wingsuit of tomorrow?” Thibault asks. “What matters is that passion transcends generations. The love of free flight is eternal.”
Why You Can’t Miss It
Soul Flyers: A Return to Origins isn’t just a film. It’s a 15-minute adrenaline injection. It’s the feeling of standing on the edge of a ravine, heart hammering, and then leaping into nothing. It’s not just about watching—it’s about being there, lungs full of fear and wonder.
This October, the Adventure Reels Film Tour will take audiences straight into the heart of Réunion’s cliffs, and into the minds of the world’s boldest pilots.
Buckle up. Because this is flight as you’ve never seen—or felt—it before.
Get your tickets now – https://adventurereelstour.com.au/tickets/
All images are stills taken from the film ‘Soul Flyers’ by Thibault Gachet
