UFOs: conferences to open the debate in Troyes

Aficionados of “La Soupe aux choux” can move on. The series of conferences and the ufological dinner organized this Saturday, November 16, 2024 in Troyes (Aube) are being organized with the greatest seriousness. “The question is not whether we believe in it or not, but to open the debate around UFOs,” underlines Micke Dimvula, co-organizer of this event which will take place at the city's cinema. Creator of “Freestyle the series”, he teamed up with director and producer Paul Plumat. The latter, at the helm of the last seasons of the Trojan series, has “always been passionate about science fiction”.

On several occasions, as part of his work, he has explored this theme, as with one of his short films, “Stigma”. “UFOs became a passion five or six years ago,” continues the young man. The starting point is the articles of New York Times in 2017.” He refers to the revelations in the American daily newspaper on the existence of a program to identify advanced aerospace threats within the American army. The newspaper continued its investigations and demonstrated, during 2020, that there still existed a program, financed by American intelligence agencies, to investigate the disturbing encounters between soldiers and these unidentified flying objects. “This made it possible to formalize the subject which is often not covered in the media. When we talk about UFOs, people tend to disconnect quickly,” recognizes Paul Plumat.

“We can no longer say that there is nothing”

Through his research, he became a specialist on the subject and launched, in partnership with other enthusiasts, a show on YouTube a few months ago. Success was not long in coming. Several thousand Internet users log on every Thursday to listen to the specialists and their guests debate. “We were aware that there was a fan base, but what surprised us was the duration of the viewings. We have more views than subscribers! », notes Paul Plumat. After discussing the subject with his partner, they decided to organize this Saturday's event. “There are objects circulating in the airspace. We can no longer say that there is nothing,” says the director, who refuses to proselytize.

In the United States, the subject is being taken more and more seriously by institutions. In late 2023, the US government launched a website to allow current or former federal employees to report the presence of unidentified flying objects. “Our desire is also to educate people in search of information and for them to document it themselves, without having any preconceptions,” continues Micke Dimvula. If many fans from neighboring departments, or even from much further afield, make up the hard core of reservations, a large section of Aubois, curious to know more, were also seduced by the formula.

Among the specialists who will share their knowledge about these phenomena are Jack Krine, former member of the Patrouille de France, who claims to have encountered a UFO during a training flight in 1975, Alain Juillet, a former director of intelligence of the DGSE (general directorate of external security) which will address the impact of UFOs on national security, and Marie-Thérèse de Brosses, former senior reporter at “Paris Match”, who has produced numerous works on the subject. It's up to everyone to form their own opinion.