French filmmaker Camille Delamarre is set to direct “The Godforsaken Sea,” an epic true story set against the 1996–1997 Vendée Globe, considered to be the toughest solo ocean race in the world and often described as “The Everest of the Seas.” The project is set to be introduced to buyers in Cannes.
According to the producers, the film will seek to bring to life the “full scale and intensity” of the Vendée Globe, following a fleet of elite sailors as they attempt to circumnavigate the globe alone, non-stop and without assistance — navigating extreme weather systems, treacherous Southern Ocean conditions and months of total isolation.
But, as the description notes, what begins as the “ultimate test of endurance and competition evolves into a life-or-death fight for survival,” with “The Godforsaken Sea” following the real-life story of British sailor Pete Goss. In midst of the 1996-1997 race and battling hurricane-force winds and waves reaching six stories high, Goss decided to turn back into the storm to save fellow competitor Raphaël Dinelli, whose boat had capsized thousands of miles from land.
The film is based on Goss’s memoir “Close to the Wind” and the life rights of both Goss and Dinelli. Elizabeth Fowler (“Official Secrets,” “Devil’s Knot”) of Clear Pictures Entertainment produces alongside RJ Sauer of Brudder Productions. The screenplay is by Christopher Sargent and RJ Sauer.
“What drew me to The Godforsaken Sea is that beneath the epic scale of the Vendée Globe, it tells a profoundly human story,” said Delamarre, who previously directed “Brick Mansions” and “The Transporter Refueled.” “Pete Goss’s decision to turn back into the storm was not an act of heroism for glory, but an act of pure humanity. That truth gives the film its emotional power, and I want to bring it to the screen with authenticity, intensity, and respect for this extraordinary world.”
Prior to his directing work, Delamarre began his career as an editor within the EuropaCorp creative sphere, with credits including “Taken 2,” “Transporter 3” and “Colombiana.”
Production is slated to begin fall 2026 in Belgium, with financing from JR Films and strategic brand partnerships already in place. Casting is currently underway.
Delamarre is represented by WME.
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