European Film Promotion has revealed the 10 emerging actors who will take part in the 27th edition of European Shooting Stars program, which promotes European acting talent. Past Shooting Stars have included Carey Mulligan, Alicia Vikander, Maisie Williams and Riz Ahmed.
From Feb. 16-19, the actors will be presented to the international press and industry, and the German public at the Berlin Film Festival. One of the highlights will be the Shooting Stars Awards Ceremony on Feb. 19 at the Berlinale Palast.
The Shooting Stars for 2024 are Belgium’s Thibaud Dooms, Bulgaria’s Margarita Stoykova, France’s Suzy Bemba, Georgia’s Salome Demuria, Germany’s Katharina Stark, Ireland’s Éanna Hardwicke, Italy’s Valentina Bellè, Lithuania’s Džiugas Grinys, Poland’s Kamila Urzędowska and Sweden’s Asta Kamma August.
The jury that selected the actors comprised of Austrian director, screenwriter and producer Barbara Albert, Lithuanian producer Živilė Gallego, Irish actor Moe Dunford,...
From Feb. 16-19, the actors will be presented to the international press and industry, and the German public at the Berlin Film Festival. One of the highlights will be the Shooting Stars Awards Ceremony on Feb. 19 at the Berlinale Palast.
The Shooting Stars for 2024 are Belgium’s Thibaud Dooms, Bulgaria’s Margarita Stoykova, France’s Suzy Bemba, Georgia’s Salome Demuria, Germany’s Katharina Stark, Ireland’s Éanna Hardwicke, Italy’s Valentina Bellè, Lithuania’s Džiugas Grinys, Poland’s Kamila Urzędowska and Sweden’s Asta Kamma August.
The jury that selected the actors comprised of Austrian director, screenwriter and producer Barbara Albert, Lithuanian producer Živilė Gallego, Irish actor Moe Dunford,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
10-strong line-up includes Italian actress Valentina Bellè and Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke.
European Film Promotion (Efp) has revealed the ten young European talents selected for the 27th edition of European Shooting Stars, its initiative to showcase promising on-screen talent from the continent.
Efp has selected seven actresses and three actors who will be presented to international press, industry, and the public during the 2024 Berlin Film Festival.
The line-up includes Italian actress Valentina Bellè who starred in two competition films at Venice this year: Michael Mann’s Ferrari and Lubo by Giorgio Diritti. She also plays the leading role in Disney + series The Good Mother,...
European Film Promotion (Efp) has revealed the ten young European talents selected for the 27th edition of European Shooting Stars, its initiative to showcase promising on-screen talent from the continent.
Efp has selected seven actresses and three actors who will be presented to international press, industry, and the public during the 2024 Berlin Film Festival.
The line-up includes Italian actress Valentina Bellè who starred in two competition films at Venice this year: Michael Mann’s Ferrari and Lubo by Giorgio Diritti. She also plays the leading role in Disney + series The Good Mother,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
The film is the second from Mexican director Lila Avilés.
Mexican director Lila Avilés’s Berlinale Competition film Totem is selling briskly for Alpha Violet, including to New Wave Films for the UK and Ireland.
Rights for Spain have gone to Adso Films, which has previously released films such as Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage and Laurent Larivière’s About Joan.
Tótem is about a family getting ready for a birthday party, told through the eyes of a young girl. It is produced by Limerencia Films, Laterna and Paloma Production.
New Wave handled Avilés’ 2018 film The Chambermaid that premiered in Toronto...
Mexican director Lila Avilés’s Berlinale Competition film Totem is selling briskly for Alpha Violet, including to New Wave Films for the UK and Ireland.
Rights for Spain have gone to Adso Films, which has previously released films such as Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage and Laurent Larivière’s About Joan.
Tótem is about a family getting ready for a birthday party, told through the eyes of a young girl. It is produced by Limerencia Films, Laterna and Paloma Production.
New Wave handled Avilés’ 2018 film The Chambermaid that premiered in Toronto...
- 2/16/2023
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
Running Jan. 13-Feb. 13, this year’s MyFrenchFilmFestival, an online fest organized by France’s film-tv promotional body Unifrance, will mark its 13th edition with an emphasis on debut features and dynamic new voices.
Showcasing star power, animated auteur fare and award-winning documentaries – all subtitled in 15 languages – the 12 features and 17 shorts of this year’s selection will reach home viewers via 70 partner platforms as well on MyFrenchFilmFestival.com, where all the shorts will be available to screen free of charge.
In an effort to cast as wide a net as possible, this year’s competition will feature projects that run the gamut from Alice Diop’s breakthrough documentary “We” – which finds connections in the lives of immigrants, lovesick teens and retirees all connected by a commuter rail line north of Paris – to Jean-Christophe Meurisse’s satirical sketch comedy “Bloody Oranges,” which shreds polite society with anarchic glee.
In between are everything...
Showcasing star power, animated auteur fare and award-winning documentaries – all subtitled in 15 languages – the 12 features and 17 shorts of this year’s selection will reach home viewers via 70 partner platforms as well on MyFrenchFilmFestival.com, where all the shorts will be available to screen free of charge.
In an effort to cast as wide a net as possible, this year’s competition will feature projects that run the gamut from Alice Diop’s breakthrough documentary “We” – which finds connections in the lives of immigrants, lovesick teens and retirees all connected by a commuter rail line north of Paris – to Jean-Christophe Meurisse’s satirical sketch comedy “Bloody Oranges,” which shreds polite society with anarchic glee.
In between are everything...
- 1/5/2023
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
All great actresses of a certain age should get to anchor as many starring vehicles as the indefatigable Isabelle Huppert. Her prolific output and enduring marquee-name status are testament to French cinema’s continued interest in women past the age where Hollywood mostly confines them to secondary mom roles. But that doesn’t mean every project is going to be a gem, and “About Joan,” a muddled, maudlin character study that gives its leading lady plenty of screen time but little to actually do, sits at the least memorable end of her filmography. Starring Huppert as an independent, unmarried woman reflecting on the various men she’s loved and lost over the course of four decades, it’s painless but aimless, sunk by a terminal lack of narrative vigor.
Premiering in Berlin’s non-competitive Berlinale Special section (and surely selected only as an event on which to pin the festival...
Premiering in Berlin’s non-competitive Berlinale Special section (and surely selected only as an event on which to pin the festival...
- 2/16/2022
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Fêted and eternally fabulous, Isabelle Huppert is this year’s Berlin Film Festival honorary Golden Bear laureate for her life’s work so far, with an accompanying program of some of her most celebrated films. About Joan is her newest, screened out of competition as a Berlinale Special gala (though Huppert was unable to make the trip to Berlin after testing positive for Covid). That is quite a lot of weight to carry for Laurent Larivière’s slender story about the malleability of memory. That subject in itself, broad and deep as it is, may be too much for this rickety film to bear, even with Huppert’s flickering brilliance in the title role.
Joan first speaks to us across the dashboard of her car, telling us who she is: a successful publisher, the child of an Irish father and a French mother who gave her an Irish name nobody...
Joan first speaks to us across the dashboard of her car, telling us who she is: a successful publisher, the child of an Irish father and a French mother who gave her an Irish name nobody...
- 2/16/2022
- by Stephanie Bunbury
- Deadline Film + TV
Ladies They Talk About: Larivière Utilizes Huppert in Shaky Melodrama on Loss & Love
For his sophomore film À propos de Joan (About Joan), Laurent Larivière gets none other than Isabelle Huppert to star as his titular protagonist in a French-German-Irish co-production about one woman’s retread through traumatic memories after a significant figure from her past shows up. Co-writing with François Descodts, it’s a film which reveals itself to be a memory puzzle thanks to a significant twist redefining every sequence before, allowing for some forgiveness given the initial banality of its setup. The dependence on this revelation, however, tends to create a rigidity in the storytelling, with nearly all the performers besides Huppert suffering a bit from the narrative procedure—in short, it’s a film which would likely play better on a second viewing, when the full impact of each moment can be fully realized.…
Continue reading.
For his sophomore film À propos de Joan (About Joan), Laurent Larivière gets none other than Isabelle Huppert to star as his titular protagonist in a French-German-Irish co-production about one woman’s retread through traumatic memories after a significant figure from her past shows up. Co-writing with François Descodts, it’s a film which reveals itself to be a memory puzzle thanks to a significant twist redefining every sequence before, allowing for some forgiveness given the initial banality of its setup. The dependence on this revelation, however, tends to create a rigidity in the storytelling, with nearly all the performers besides Huppert suffering a bit from the narrative procedure—in short, it’s a film which would likely play better on a second viewing, when the full impact of each moment can be fully realized.…
Continue reading.
- 2/15/2022
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The in-person Berlin International Film Festival hit an obstacle today, as Isabelle Huppert, this year’s recipient of the prestigious Honorary Golden Bear award, is unable to attend the festival after testing positive for Covid-19, the festival announced. The actress caught the virus in Paris, and while she is not seriously ill, she can not accept her lifetime achievement award in person.
Huppert was scheduled to be in Berlin both to accept the award and to promote her latest film, “About Joan,” which is screening at the festival. The film, hailing from director Laurent Larivière, stars Huppert as a woman forced to confront her past after a mysterious figure from earlier in her life confronts her on a retreat to the countryside with her son.
However, the award ceremony is still scheduled to proceed at the Berlinale Palast on the evening of Tuesday, February 15. Huppert, who is asymptomatic and maintains that she feels fine,...
Huppert was scheduled to be in Berlin both to accept the award and to promote her latest film, “About Joan,” which is screening at the festival. The film, hailing from director Laurent Larivière, stars Huppert as a woman forced to confront her past after a mysterious figure from earlier in her life confronts her on a retreat to the countryside with her son.
However, the award ceremony is still scheduled to proceed at the Berlinale Palast on the evening of Tuesday, February 15. Huppert, who is asymptomatic and maintains that she feels fine,...
- 2/14/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Isabelle Huppert, recipient of this year’s Honorary Golden Bear is unable to attend the Berlin Film Festival in person due to testing positive for Covid, the festival has announced.
The Homage of the Berlinale 2022 is dedicated to French film and stage star who is also the recipient of the Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.
The actress tested positive today in Paris so won’t be able to make the journey.
“Considering that Isabelle Huppert is not feeling sick and she is willing to support the festival we have decided to go on with the award ceremony. As she cannot come, we will send our love and admiration to her home in Paris. We look forward to having her in Berlin another time”, said Berlinale directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian.
The award ceremony of the Honorary Golden Bear will take place on February 15, 2022 at 9.45 pm at the Berlinale Palast as planned.
The Homage of the Berlinale 2022 is dedicated to French film and stage star who is also the recipient of the Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.
The actress tested positive today in Paris so won’t be able to make the journey.
“Considering that Isabelle Huppert is not feeling sick and she is willing to support the festival we have decided to go on with the award ceremony. As she cannot come, we will send our love and admiration to her home in Paris. We look forward to having her in Berlin another time”, said Berlinale directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian.
The award ceremony of the Honorary Golden Bear will take place on February 15, 2022 at 9.45 pm at the Berlinale Palast as planned.
- 2/14/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The complete lineup for the 2022 Berlin International Film Festival, taking place February 10-20, 2022, has been unveiled and it’s a major collection of some of our most-anticipated films of the year. As teased yesterday, Claire Denis’ Fire (which now has the title Avec amour et acharnement (aka Both Sides of the Blade)) will premiere in competition, alongside Hong Sangsoo’s The Novelist’s Film, Carla Simón’s Summer 1993 follow-up Alcarràs, Ulrich Seidl’s Rimini, Rithy Panh’s Everything Will Be Ok, and more.
Elsewhere in the festival is Bertrand Bonello’s Coma, Dario Argento’s Dark Glasses, Andrew Dominik’s Nick Cave & Warren Ellis doc This Much I Know To Be True, Peter Strickland’s Flux Gourmet, Gastón Solnicki’s A Little Love Package, Quentin Dupieux’s Incredible But True, plus new shorts by Lucrecia Martel, Hlynur Pálmason, and more. Also recently announced was the Panorama section, which will open...
Elsewhere in the festival is Bertrand Bonello’s Coma, Dario Argento’s Dark Glasses, Andrew Dominik’s Nick Cave & Warren Ellis doc This Much I Know To Be True, Peter Strickland’s Flux Gourmet, Gastón Solnicki’s A Little Love Package, Quentin Dupieux’s Incredible But True, plus new shorts by Lucrecia Martel, Hlynur Pálmason, and more. Also recently announced was the Panorama section, which will open...
- 1/19/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Films by auteurs Claire Denis, Hong Sangsoo and Rithy Panh are part of the lineup in competition at the 72nd Berlin Film Festival.
Berlin’s 2022 selection spans 18 movies, seven directed by women, which will compete for the Golden and Silver Bears. The films originate from 15 countries, with 17 serving as world premieres. Two of the films are first features, both from women.
Artistic director Carlo Chatrian discussed the thematic throughline of “human and emotional bonds” across the selection, with the family unit serving as a key focal point in a number of movies. More than half are set in the present time, and two are within the pandemic era.
The festival hosts 12 returning filmmakers, eight of whom are in competition and five of whom already hold a Bear from Berlin.
The festival will go ahead as an in-person event, albeit with seating capacity in movie theaters reduced to 50% and without any parties or receptions.
Berlin’s 2022 selection spans 18 movies, seven directed by women, which will compete for the Golden and Silver Bears. The films originate from 15 countries, with 17 serving as world premieres. Two of the films are first features, both from women.
Artistic director Carlo Chatrian discussed the thematic throughline of “human and emotional bonds” across the selection, with the family unit serving as a key focal point in a number of movies. More than half are set in the present time, and two are within the pandemic era.
The festival hosts 12 returning filmmakers, eight of whom are in competition and five of whom already hold a Bear from Berlin.
The festival will go ahead as an in-person event, albeit with seating capacity in movie theaters reduced to 50% and without any parties or receptions.
- 1/19/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
À propos de Joan
We were anticipating a 2021 drop for Laurent Larivière‘s sophomore project (initially going by the title of Joan Verra) as this project was completed back in October of 2020. Starring Isabelle Huppert, Lars Eidinger, Swann Arlaud, Freya Mavor, Florence Loiret-Caille and Dimitri Dore, Larivière’s À propos de Joan comes a good seven years after his debut I Am a Soldier premiered in the Un Certain Regard in Cannes. Lariviere re-teams with scribe Francois Decodts and the project is lensed by Celine Bozon.
Gist: Joan Verra finds herself overwhelmed when a figure from her past suddenly turns up, forcing her to retreat to the countryside where she experiences fragmented recollection of her romantic encounters.…...
We were anticipating a 2021 drop for Laurent Larivière‘s sophomore project (initially going by the title of Joan Verra) as this project was completed back in October of 2020. Starring Isabelle Huppert, Lars Eidinger, Swann Arlaud, Freya Mavor, Florence Loiret-Caille and Dimitri Dore, Larivière’s À propos de Joan comes a good seven years after his debut I Am a Soldier premiered in the Un Certain Regard in Cannes. Lariviere re-teams with scribe Francois Decodts and the project is lensed by Celine Bozon.
Gist: Joan Verra finds herself overwhelmed when a figure from her past suddenly turns up, forcing her to retreat to the countryside where she experiences fragmented recollection of her romantic encounters.…...
- 1/7/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
As many as 85 films and a record 55 market premieres will screen at the Rendez-Vous in Paris, a week-long event organized by French promotion org Unifrance.
The event will open on Monday with the world premiere of “Simone: A Journey of the Century,” a biopic of Simone Veil, an Auschwitz survivor who became health minister of France and championed the 1975 law that legalized abortion in France. Directed by Olivier Dahan (“La Vie en rose”), the movie is headlined by Elsa Zylberstein, who completely transformed for the role. Other Angle has sold it to Samuel Goldwyn for North America, along with a string of international deals.
The lineup of market premieres includes Cédric Klapisch’s music-filled movie “Rise”; Patrice Leconte’s detective film “Maigret” with Gérard Depardieu; Fred Cayavé’s World War II-set drama “Farewell Mr. Haffmann” with Daniel Auteuil; Louis-Julien Petit’s social comedy “The Kitchen Brigade”; Jérôme Bonnell’s romantic...
The event will open on Monday with the world premiere of “Simone: A Journey of the Century,” a biopic of Simone Veil, an Auschwitz survivor who became health minister of France and championed the 1975 law that legalized abortion in France. Directed by Olivier Dahan (“La Vie en rose”), the movie is headlined by Elsa Zylberstein, who completely transformed for the role. Other Angle has sold it to Samuel Goldwyn for North America, along with a string of international deals.
The lineup of market premieres includes Cédric Klapisch’s music-filled movie “Rise”; Patrice Leconte’s detective film “Maigret” with Gérard Depardieu; Fred Cayavé’s World War II-set drama “Farewell Mr. Haffmann” with Daniel Auteuil; Louis-Julien Petit’s social comedy “The Kitchen Brigade”; Jérôme Bonnell’s romantic...
- 1/7/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French actor Isabelle Huppert is set to receive the Berlin Film Festival’s Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in February. Her films will also be honored as part of a special Homage section.
Huppert will be awarded the prize for lifetime achievement. In conjunction with the awards on Feb. 15 at the Berlinale Palast, the festival will screen her latest movie, Laurent Larivière’s “À propos de Joan” — unveiled on Wednesday in the fest’s first batch of titles — as a special gala premiere.
Huppert has a longstanding relationship with Berlin, and has starred in seven competition films to date. She was first a guest in Berlin with Jacques Doillon’s “La vengeance d’une femme” before appearing in Francois Ozon’s “8 Femmes” as an unprepossessing woman who emerges in the end as a confident beauty. The ensemble cast was awarded a Silver Bear for outstanding artistic accomplishment.
Huppert will be awarded the prize for lifetime achievement. In conjunction with the awards on Feb. 15 at the Berlinale Palast, the festival will screen her latest movie, Laurent Larivière’s “À propos de Joan” — unveiled on Wednesday in the fest’s first batch of titles — as a special gala premiere.
Huppert has a longstanding relationship with Berlin, and has starred in seven competition films to date. She was first a guest in Berlin with Jacques Doillon’s “La vengeance d’une femme” before appearing in Francois Ozon’s “8 Femmes” as an unprepossessing woman who emerges in the end as a confident beauty. The ensemble cast was awarded a Silver Bear for outstanding artistic accomplishment.
- 12/16/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
PoetBerlinale have announced the first 62 titles selected for the 72nd edition of their festival, set to take place physically from February 10 — 20.FORUMAfterwater (Dane Komljen)Poet (Darezhan Omirbayev)The Middle AgesEurope (Philip Scheffner)A Flower in the Mouth (Éric Baudelaire)Memoryland (Kim Quy Bui)My Two Voices (Lina Rodriguez)Nuclear Family (Erin Wilkerson, Travis Wilkerson)Super Natural (Jorge Jácome)The United States of America (James Benning)Forum EXPANDEDDragon Tooth (Rafael Castanheira Parrode)Home When You Return (Carl Elsaesser)Jail Bird in a Peacock Chair (James Gregory Atkinson)Sol in the Dark (Mawena Yehouessi)vs (Lydia Nsiah)PANORAMATalking About the Weather (Annika Pinske)The Apartment with Two Women (Kim Se-in)Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (Nina Menkes)Swing Ride (Chiara Bellosi)Dreaming WallsKlondike (Maryna Er Gorbach)A Love Song (Max Walker-Silverman)Myanmar Diaries (The Myanmar Film Collective)Into My Name (Nicolò Bassetti)Nelly & Nadine (Magnus Gertten)We, Students! (Rafiki Fariala)Until Tomorrow (Ali Asgari...
- 12/15/2021
- MUBI
The 2022 Berlin International Film Festival has revealed its first titles, including seven films that have been invited to the Berlinale Special program. You can see the full list of confirmed films below.
Those seven include Peter Flinth’s Against The Ice, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joe Cole, Heida Reed and Charles Dance, and Laurent Larivière’s About Joan, starring Isabelle Huppert, which both play as Berlinale Special Galas.
The Panorama program has unveiled 13 titles, with Generation confirming eight features, and further films set for Forum and Forum Expanded.
The Panorama strand includes Myanmar Diaries, a doc/feature hybrid from the Myanmar Film Collective that highlights violence suffered by Burmese citizens.
“The pandemic has created distances – not only between people but also the way we see the world. Amongst the 2022 selection are films shot during the pandemic, reflecting on how it feels to be disconnected from others. It is with this first...
Those seven include Peter Flinth’s Against The Ice, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Joe Cole, Heida Reed and Charles Dance, and Laurent Larivière’s About Joan, starring Isabelle Huppert, which both play as Berlinale Special Galas.
The Panorama program has unveiled 13 titles, with Generation confirming eight features, and further films set for Forum and Forum Expanded.
The Panorama strand includes Myanmar Diaries, a doc/feature hybrid from the Myanmar Film Collective that highlights violence suffered by Burmese citizens.
“The pandemic has created distances – not only between people but also the way we see the world. Amongst the 2022 selection are films shot during the pandemic, reflecting on how it feels to be disconnected from others. It is with this first...
- 12/15/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Berlin Film Festival has revealed several titles across various programs for the 2022 edition of the festival.
Women directors account for seven of the 13 titles revealed so far in the Panorama section, including U.S. filmmaker Nina Menkes’ “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power,” emerging German director Annika Pinske’s debut feature “Alle reden übers Wetter” (“Talking About the Weather”), and Maryna Er Gorbach’s Ukrainian war drama “Klondike.”
“The films confirmed so far herald a contemporary, unsparing but also conciliatory cinema in the 2022 Panorama,” said section head Michael Stütz.
Seven films have been unveiled for the festival’s Berlinale Special gala strand, including Peter Flinth’s “Against the Ice,” starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Laurent Larivière’s “About Joan,” featuring Isabelle Huppert, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” with Alia Bhatt.
“The pandemic has created distances – not only between people but also the way we see the world. Amongst the 2022 selection are films shot during the pandemic,...
Women directors account for seven of the 13 titles revealed so far in the Panorama section, including U.S. filmmaker Nina Menkes’ “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power,” emerging German director Annika Pinske’s debut feature “Alle reden übers Wetter” (“Talking About the Weather”), and Maryna Er Gorbach’s Ukrainian war drama “Klondike.”
“The films confirmed so far herald a contemporary, unsparing but also conciliatory cinema in the 2022 Panorama,” said section head Michael Stütz.
Seven films have been unveiled for the festival’s Berlinale Special gala strand, including Peter Flinth’s “Against the Ice,” starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Laurent Larivière’s “About Joan,” featuring Isabelle Huppert, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” with Alia Bhatt.
“The pandemic has created distances – not only between people but also the way we see the world. Amongst the 2022 selection are films shot during the pandemic,...
- 12/15/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Joan Verra
Director Laurent Larivière assembles a stellar cast for sophomore feature Joan Verra, headlined by Isabelle Huppert in the title role. A French-German-Irish co-production (with Marc-Antoine Robert and Xavier Rigault on hand from Paris based 2.4.7. Films), Huppert is joined by Lars Eidinger, Swann Arlaud, Freya Mavor, Florence Loiret-Caille and Dimitri Dore. Lariviere re-teams with scribe Francois Decodts and the project is lensed by Celine Bozon. Larivière’s debut feature I Am a Soldier, which starred Louise Bourgoin and Jean-Hugues Anglade, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard.…...
Director Laurent Larivière assembles a stellar cast for sophomore feature Joan Verra, headlined by Isabelle Huppert in the title role. A French-German-Irish co-production (with Marc-Antoine Robert and Xavier Rigault on hand from Paris based 2.4.7. Films), Huppert is joined by Lars Eidinger, Swann Arlaud, Freya Mavor, Florence Loiret-Caille and Dimitri Dore. Lariviere re-teams with scribe Francois Decodts and the project is lensed by Celine Bozon. Larivière’s debut feature I Am a Soldier, which starred Louise Bourgoin and Jean-Hugues Anglade, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard.…...
- 1/4/2021
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Isabelle Huppert, Lars Eidinger and Swann Arlaud star in the cast of the filmmaker’s second feature, which is produced by 2.4.7 Films with Gifted Films and Blinder Films, and is sold by Playtime. Having kicked off with a week of filming in the German city of Cologne, Joan, Laurent Larivière’s second feature film after I Am A Soldier (well-received in Cannes 2015’s Un Certain Regard line-up), has just finished its four-week film-shoot in France (Lyon) and will wrap with six days filming in Ireland (Dublin), as of 29 October, once the entire team has completed their 14-day quarantine. The film’s journey through three European countries has been complicated by the current Coronavirus context, because whilst there’s a compensation fund in France to protect productions should filming be halted due to Covid-19 (read our news), this isn’t the case in Germany or in Ireland where the film has had to take.
- 10/13/2020
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
The Eurimages Fund is supporting 28 features.
European support body Eurimages has selected 28 features for a total of €6.1m ($6.9m) funding, including new works by Robert Guédiguian and Jim Sheridan.
French filmmaker Guédiguian – who has directed 21 features since 1981 including his most recent, Venice 2019 selection Gloria Mundi – receives €470,000 for France-Canada co-production Bamako Twist.
Ireland’s Sheridan, who has been nominated for six Oscars across his career since his breakthrough debut feature My Left Foot, receives €280,000 for Ireland-uk-France documentary In Absentia, co-directed with Colm Quinn. The documentary looks into the murder of French producer Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in Ireland, in December 1996.
Other...
European support body Eurimages has selected 28 features for a total of €6.1m ($6.9m) funding, including new works by Robert Guédiguian and Jim Sheridan.
French filmmaker Guédiguian – who has directed 21 features since 1981 including his most recent, Venice 2019 selection Gloria Mundi – receives €470,000 for France-Canada co-production Bamako Twist.
Ireland’s Sheridan, who has been nominated for six Oscars across his career since his breakthrough debut feature My Left Foot, receives €280,000 for Ireland-uk-France documentary In Absentia, co-directed with Colm Quinn. The documentary looks into the murder of French producer Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in Ireland, in December 1996.
Other...
- 6/5/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
German-French Funding Committee is supported by the Ffa and the Cnc.
New films from Argentina’s Lisandro Alonso and Russia’s Viktor Kossakovsky and production companies including Wim Wenders’ Road Movies, are among the six projects to receive over €1m in production funding from the German-French Funding Committee administered by the German Federal Film Board (Ffa) and France’s Cnc.
Toni Erdmann production company Komplizen Film and French delegate producer Luxbox Sas received €250,000 for Alonso’s Eureka, a drama about Native American culture set between 1870 and 2019 that will take place in the Us, Mexico, and the Amazon rainforest.
Eureka’s...
New films from Argentina’s Lisandro Alonso and Russia’s Viktor Kossakovsky and production companies including Wim Wenders’ Road Movies, are among the six projects to receive over €1m in production funding from the German-French Funding Committee administered by the German Federal Film Board (Ffa) and France’s Cnc.
Toni Erdmann production company Komplizen Film and French delegate producer Luxbox Sas received €250,000 for Alonso’s Eureka, a drama about Native American culture set between 1870 and 2019 that will take place in the Us, Mexico, and the Amazon rainforest.
Eureka’s...
- 12/4/2019
- by 158¦Martin Blaney¦40¦
- ScreenDaily
The Franco-American Cultural Fund, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has announced the program for the 20th Colcoa French Film Festival that will run April 18-26 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The festival will showcase a record 70 films and television series - among them 64 in competition for Colcoa Awards - including four World Premieres, seven International Premieres, 19 North American or U.S. Premieres, 17 West Coast Premieres - and 21 new shorts. Colcoa, is now the world's largest event dedicated to French films and television.
"This 20th anniversary deserves a spectacular, strong program that reflects the diversity of French production, as well as the creativity and dynamism of French filmmakers and producers," stated François Truffart, Colcoa Executive Producer and Artistic Director. "More than ever, we are about to involve audiences in a journey that will stir them, make them laugh, cry, tickle their curiosity, and help them remain optimistic, while recognizing the urgent world zeitgeist."
"20 years is an achievement for any film festival in Hollywood. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the Franco-American Cultural Fund - a unique partnership of the DGA, the Mpa, la Sacem and the WGA West - creator of the festival in 1996 and supporter of its subsequent development. We also salute French sales companies, official supporters, sponsors, and U.S. distributors, whose loyalty and trust have given the festival its continuing excellence," he added.
Colcoa will open Monday, April 18th with the North American Premiere of "Monsieur Chocolat," a biopic about the first French black clown, co-written by Cyril Gely, Olivier Gorce, Gérard Noiriel, Roschdy Zem, directed by Roschdy Zem, and starring Omar Sy and James Thiérrée. The film will be presented in association with Gaumont, which celebrates its 120th anniversary.
The festival will close its competition on Monday, April 25th with the World Premiere of "Up For Love," the new romantic comedy written and directed by Laurent Tirard, starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. "Call My Agent" (Season 1), the most popular French TV series of the year, about a talent agency with actors playing their own roles, will close the Colcoa TV Competition.
Two other TV series, shown for the first time in North America, will be part of the program, presented in association with TV France International and Titrafilm: "The Disappearance," a drama co-written by Marie Deshaires and Catherine Touzet and directed by Charlotte Brändström; and "The Secret of Elise," a supernatural drama written by lsa Marpeau, Marie Vinoy, Marie Deshaires, and Catherine Touzet and directed by Alexandre Laurent, Samir Boitard, Mathieu Simonet, and Mehdi Meskar. The first two episodes of each series will be shown to the Colcoa audience.
To complete the competition, five TV movies will premiere at Colcoa: the North American Premiere of "Borderline," a thriller co-written and directed by Olivier Marchal, the International Premiere of "Carpets and Chaos," a comedy co-written and directed by Nader Takmil Homayoun, the International Premiere of "Stolen Babies," a drama written by Julie Jézéquel and directed by Golden Globe winner Alain Berliner; the International Premiere of "The Wall-Crosser," a fantasy written and directed by Dante Desarthes, based on Marcel Aymé's book; and the North American Premiere of "Woman Under the Influence," a drama written and directed by Claude-Michel Rome.
The feature film selection (40 features and documentaries and 21 shorts), will feature exclusive presentations. "Fanny's Journey," an epic drama written and directed by Lola Doillon, starring Cecile de France, is also a World Premiere. The U.S. Premiere of the thriller "Made in France," written and directed by Nicolas Boukhrief, is a film which did not have theatrical release in France because of sensitivity following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. Colcoa also will present the U.S. Premiere of Robert Guédiguian's provocative film about the Armenian genocide, "Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad." The U.S. Premiere of Oscar ® winner Claude Lelouch's new film "Un plus Une," starring Jean Dujardin and Elsa Zylberstein, will screen, in addition to another U.S. Premiere of "All Gone South," the comedy sequel co-written and co-directed by Nicolas Benamou and Philippe Lacheau, two years after the success of Babysitting at Colcoa in 2014.
Several established writers/directors return and other known artists have been selected: Academy Award nominee Christian Carion ("Come What May"- with Cohen Media Group), Anne Fontaine ("The Innocents" - with Music Box Films), Vincent Garencq ("Kalinka"), Academy Award nominee Jean-Paul Rappeneau ("Families"), Christian Vincent ("Courted"), Maïwenn ("My King" - with Film Movement)
Every year, the Colcoa program is dedicated to a new generation of talent, many of whose films are included in Colcoa's French NeWave 2.0 Series: Samuel Collardey ("Land Legs"), Clément Cogitor ("Neither Heaven Nor Earth" - with Film Movement), Philippe Faucon - the writer/director of the 2016 César Best film winner ("Fatima" - with Kino Lorber), Emmanuel Finkiel ("A Decent Man"), Eva Husson ("Bang Gang" - with Samuel Goldwyn), Laurent Larivière ("I am a Soldier"), and Orelsan and Christophe Offenstein ("Uncompleted Song").
The After 10 Series at Colcoa invites audiences to explore new frontiers with an exclusive program, including the French-Belgian co-production from writer/director Bouli Lanners ("The First, the Last"), the new dark comedy from Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, starring Gérard Depardieu ("Saint Amour"), and Frédéric Schoendoerffer ("Past Convoy").
Two anticipated films about women in Muslim countries will be part of theWord Cinema Produced by France Series: the Franco-Moroccan co-production, "Much Loved," written and directed by Nabil Ayouch, premiered at the Director's Fortnight in 2015, and remains banned in Morocco; and, "As I Open My Eyes," a Franco-Tunisian film from female writer/director Leyla Bouzid (with Kino Lorber). The Argentine film, "Eva Doesn't Sleep," written and directed by Pablo Agüero will complete the series.
Two documentaries focusing on significant environmental issues will premiere at Colcoa: the closing film of the last Cannes Film Festival, "Ice and the Sky" (with Music Box Films) from Academy Award winner Luc Jacquet (March of the Penguins), and a special presentation following the United Nations screening of the 2016 Cesar winner for Best Documentary, "Tomorrow," written and directed by Cédric Dion and Mélanie Laurent. "The Frankenstein Complex," a tribute to the creators of big screen creatures, written and directed by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet, will complete this high profile documentary series.
All other Colcoa series are back in 2016: the Colcoa Classics Series with an exclusive program of digitally restored premieres (see February 19th press release); the Happy Hour Talks PanelSeriesin association withVariety (April 19-25); the Short Film Competition (Sunday, April 24 - March press release); the Focus on a Filmmaker, this year with writer/director Jean-Paul Rappeneau (Thursday, April 21); and the Focus on a Producer will be with Dominique Besnehard (Saturday, April 23).
Animation, an important part of the French film industry, will be shown at Colcoa with the premiere of Rémi Chayé's new film: "Long Way North" (with Shout Factory).
As is Colcoa tradition, comedieswill join the program almost every day, including the romantic comedy "Love at First Child," co-written and directed by Anne Giaffieri, starring Patrick Bruel and Isabelle Carré, Benoît's Graffin's "Hopefully," with Sandrine Kiberlain and Edouard Baer, Jean-Francois Richet's "One Wild Moment," starring Francois Cluzet and Vincent Cassel, and the new French hit "One Man and His Cow," written and directed by Mohamed Hamidi.
This last film will also be shown to the 3,000 students and teachers who will attend the now five High School Screenings (April 19-25) as part of the Colcoa Educational Program presented in association with Elma (European Languages and Movies in America). Two master classes for college and university students will complete the program.
For the ninth year, Lafca will partner with Colcoa Cinema for the Critics' Awards. The complete recipients list of the 2015 Awards - including the U.S. distributor winner of the Colcoa Coming Soon Award, presented in association with Kpcc, will be announced on Wednesday, April 27. Colcoa Awards are presented in association with Titrafilm, TV5 Monde USA, and Air Tahiti Nui.
"This 20th anniversary deserves a spectacular, strong program that reflects the diversity of French production, as well as the creativity and dynamism of French filmmakers and producers," stated François Truffart, Colcoa Executive Producer and Artistic Director. "More than ever, we are about to involve audiences in a journey that will stir them, make them laugh, cry, tickle their curiosity, and help them remain optimistic, while recognizing the urgent world zeitgeist."
"20 years is an achievement for any film festival in Hollywood. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the Franco-American Cultural Fund - a unique partnership of the DGA, the Mpa, la Sacem and the WGA West - creator of the festival in 1996 and supporter of its subsequent development. We also salute French sales companies, official supporters, sponsors, and U.S. distributors, whose loyalty and trust have given the festival its continuing excellence," he added.
Colcoa will open Monday, April 18th with the North American Premiere of "Monsieur Chocolat," a biopic about the first French black clown, co-written by Cyril Gely, Olivier Gorce, Gérard Noiriel, Roschdy Zem, directed by Roschdy Zem, and starring Omar Sy and James Thiérrée. The film will be presented in association with Gaumont, which celebrates its 120th anniversary.
The festival will close its competition on Monday, April 25th with the World Premiere of "Up For Love," the new romantic comedy written and directed by Laurent Tirard, starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. "Call My Agent" (Season 1), the most popular French TV series of the year, about a talent agency with actors playing their own roles, will close the Colcoa TV Competition.
Two other TV series, shown for the first time in North America, will be part of the program, presented in association with TV France International and Titrafilm: "The Disappearance," a drama co-written by Marie Deshaires and Catherine Touzet and directed by Charlotte Brändström; and "The Secret of Elise," a supernatural drama written by lsa Marpeau, Marie Vinoy, Marie Deshaires, and Catherine Touzet and directed by Alexandre Laurent, Samir Boitard, Mathieu Simonet, and Mehdi Meskar. The first two episodes of each series will be shown to the Colcoa audience.
To complete the competition, five TV movies will premiere at Colcoa: the North American Premiere of "Borderline," a thriller co-written and directed by Olivier Marchal, the International Premiere of "Carpets and Chaos," a comedy co-written and directed by Nader Takmil Homayoun, the International Premiere of "Stolen Babies," a drama written by Julie Jézéquel and directed by Golden Globe winner Alain Berliner; the International Premiere of "The Wall-Crosser," a fantasy written and directed by Dante Desarthes, based on Marcel Aymé's book; and the North American Premiere of "Woman Under the Influence," a drama written and directed by Claude-Michel Rome.
The feature film selection (40 features and documentaries and 21 shorts), will feature exclusive presentations. "Fanny's Journey," an epic drama written and directed by Lola Doillon, starring Cecile de France, is also a World Premiere. The U.S. Premiere of the thriller "Made in France," written and directed by Nicolas Boukhrief, is a film which did not have theatrical release in France because of sensitivity following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. Colcoa also will present the U.S. Premiere of Robert Guédiguian's provocative film about the Armenian genocide, "Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mad." The U.S. Premiere of Oscar ® winner Claude Lelouch's new film "Un plus Une," starring Jean Dujardin and Elsa Zylberstein, will screen, in addition to another U.S. Premiere of "All Gone South," the comedy sequel co-written and co-directed by Nicolas Benamou and Philippe Lacheau, two years after the success of Babysitting at Colcoa in 2014.
Several established writers/directors return and other known artists have been selected: Academy Award nominee Christian Carion ("Come What May"- with Cohen Media Group), Anne Fontaine ("The Innocents" - with Music Box Films), Vincent Garencq ("Kalinka"), Academy Award nominee Jean-Paul Rappeneau ("Families"), Christian Vincent ("Courted"), Maïwenn ("My King" - with Film Movement)
Every year, the Colcoa program is dedicated to a new generation of talent, many of whose films are included in Colcoa's French NeWave 2.0 Series: Samuel Collardey ("Land Legs"), Clément Cogitor ("Neither Heaven Nor Earth" - with Film Movement), Philippe Faucon - the writer/director of the 2016 César Best film winner ("Fatima" - with Kino Lorber), Emmanuel Finkiel ("A Decent Man"), Eva Husson ("Bang Gang" - with Samuel Goldwyn), Laurent Larivière ("I am a Soldier"), and Orelsan and Christophe Offenstein ("Uncompleted Song").
The After 10 Series at Colcoa invites audiences to explore new frontiers with an exclusive program, including the French-Belgian co-production from writer/director Bouli Lanners ("The First, the Last"), the new dark comedy from Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, starring Gérard Depardieu ("Saint Amour"), and Frédéric Schoendoerffer ("Past Convoy").
Two anticipated films about women in Muslim countries will be part of theWord Cinema Produced by France Series: the Franco-Moroccan co-production, "Much Loved," written and directed by Nabil Ayouch, premiered at the Director's Fortnight in 2015, and remains banned in Morocco; and, "As I Open My Eyes," a Franco-Tunisian film from female writer/director Leyla Bouzid (with Kino Lorber). The Argentine film, "Eva Doesn't Sleep," written and directed by Pablo Agüero will complete the series.
Two documentaries focusing on significant environmental issues will premiere at Colcoa: the closing film of the last Cannes Film Festival, "Ice and the Sky" (with Music Box Films) from Academy Award winner Luc Jacquet (March of the Penguins), and a special presentation following the United Nations screening of the 2016 Cesar winner for Best Documentary, "Tomorrow," written and directed by Cédric Dion and Mélanie Laurent. "The Frankenstein Complex," a tribute to the creators of big screen creatures, written and directed by Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet, will complete this high profile documentary series.
All other Colcoa series are back in 2016: the Colcoa Classics Series with an exclusive program of digitally restored premieres (see February 19th press release); the Happy Hour Talks PanelSeriesin association withVariety (April 19-25); the Short Film Competition (Sunday, April 24 - March press release); the Focus on a Filmmaker, this year with writer/director Jean-Paul Rappeneau (Thursday, April 21); and the Focus on a Producer will be with Dominique Besnehard (Saturday, April 23).
Animation, an important part of the French film industry, will be shown at Colcoa with the premiere of Rémi Chayé's new film: "Long Way North" (with Shout Factory).
As is Colcoa tradition, comedieswill join the program almost every day, including the romantic comedy "Love at First Child," co-written and directed by Anne Giaffieri, starring Patrick Bruel and Isabelle Carré, Benoît's Graffin's "Hopefully," with Sandrine Kiberlain and Edouard Baer, Jean-Francois Richet's "One Wild Moment," starring Francois Cluzet and Vincent Cassel, and the new French hit "One Man and His Cow," written and directed by Mohamed Hamidi.
This last film will also be shown to the 3,000 students and teachers who will attend the now five High School Screenings (April 19-25) as part of the Colcoa Educational Program presented in association with Elma (European Languages and Movies in America). Two master classes for college and university students will complete the program.
For the ninth year, Lafca will partner with Colcoa Cinema for the Critics' Awards. The complete recipients list of the 2015 Awards - including the U.S. distributor winner of the Colcoa Coming Soon Award, presented in association with Kpcc, will be announced on Wednesday, April 27. Colcoa Awards are presented in association with Titrafilm, TV5 Monde USA, and Air Tahiti Nui.
- 4/14/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
I Am a Soldier
Directed by Laurent Larivière
France, 2015
Philadelphia Film Festival
Laurent Larivière’s brilliant debut I Am a Soldier is genuine and suspenseful. It’s the rare film that feels personal and sprawling at once, and is buoyed by a fantastic performance from Louise Bourgoin.
Sandrine (Bourgoin) loses her apartment and is unable to find a job, so she moves temporarily to her mother’s house. Her sister (Nina Meurisse) and brother-in-law (Nathanael Maini) have also moved home amidst similar financial tension. Sandrine takes a job with her Uncle Henri (Jean-Hugues Anglade) and enters the world of illegal dog trafficking.
There was a time when cute dogs and a female protagonist equaled a very certain kind of schmaltzy, romantic film, and I Am a Soldier is anything but. Sandrine isn’t a cold anti-hero, and like any good protagonist her weaknesses are on full display, but she’s...
Directed by Laurent Larivière
France, 2015
Philadelphia Film Festival
Laurent Larivière’s brilliant debut I Am a Soldier is genuine and suspenseful. It’s the rare film that feels personal and sprawling at once, and is buoyed by a fantastic performance from Louise Bourgoin.
Sandrine (Bourgoin) loses her apartment and is unable to find a job, so she moves temporarily to her mother’s house. Her sister (Nina Meurisse) and brother-in-law (Nathanael Maini) have also moved home amidst similar financial tension. Sandrine takes a job with her Uncle Henri (Jean-Hugues Anglade) and enters the world of illegal dog trafficking.
There was a time when cute dogs and a female protagonist equaled a very certain kind of schmaltzy, romantic film, and I Am a Soldier is anything but. Sandrine isn’t a cold anti-hero, and like any good protagonist her weaknesses are on full display, but she’s...
- 11/3/2015
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
The Cannes Film festival was an exceptional edition for French films this year. A focus on the rising generation of French actors and directors that have been highlighted in Cannes and will most certainly be the stars of tomorrow was compiled by Unifrance chief Isabelle Giordano.
They are a force to be reckoned with. Unifrance films is ready to bet that you will certainly hear about these ten talented people. They represent the French cinema of today and will soon be on the screens worldwide.
Emmanuelle Bercot
An actress and a director, Emmanuelle Bercot began by enrolling at the Cours Florent drama school and taking dancing lessons after her baccalaureate. She graduated from Femis in 1998, after winning the Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for her short film "Les Vacances," in 1997. After her first few roles in the films of Jean-François Richet and Michel Deville, her career as an actress took off when Claude Miller gave her one of the main roles in "La Classe de neige" (1998). The following year, she made the headlines with the medium-length film she directed called "La Puce," presented in the selection of Un Certain Regard at Cannes. This film tells of the love affair between a 35-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl, played by Isild Le Besco.
Her first feature-length film, "Clément" (2001), is about the life of a troubled woman who has one adventure after another with various men until she meets a 14-yearold boy. Her second film, "Backstage" (2004), continues to explore teenage angst through a relationship between a hit singer and a young obsessional fan. She earned her first critical and public acclaim with "On My Way" (2013), the third film written by the director for Catherine Deneuve, in which the star plays a woman who has decided to leave everything behind and hit the road in France.
She was indisputably the most talked about person during the Cannes Film Festival 2015, both as an actress and a director. Thierry Frémaux surprised everyone by announcing that "Standing Tall," Emmanuelle Bercot’s fourth feature-length film would open the 68th Cannes Film Festival. Emmanuelle Bercot says that she has rediscovered the social fiber of her beginnings with this tale of juvenile delinquency. After the enthusiastic and unanimous reception of her film, she won the Best Actress Award for her role as a woman under the influence of love in the film "Mon Roi" by Maïwenn, with whom she co-wrote the script for "Polisse," which won the Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012
Thomas Bidegain
Thomas Bidegain may well be one of the best known French screenwriters in the profession today, but it took him ten years to achieve this status. His career path in film is anything but ordinary. He started out in the 1990s by distributing and producing independent American films: "Ice Storm" by Ang Lee and "Chasing Sleep" by Michael Walker. He came back to France and joined MK2 where he became director of distribution. In 1999, he returned to production for "Why Not." In 2007, he told the story of his attempt to stop smoking in "Arrêter de fumer tue," a personal diary that was turned into a documentary, then a book.
In the meantime, he began screenwriting and worked on several projects. In 2009, he wrote the screenplay for Jacques Audiard’s film, "A Prophet," alongside Nicolas Peufaillit and Abdel Raouf Dafri, which won the Grand Prix du Jury in 2009. He participated in Audiard’s next film, "Rust and Bone" and "Our Children" by Joachim Lafosse. He was also the co-writer for "Saint Laurent" by Bertrand Bonello. Winning a César for the best original script and a César for the best adaptation, he presented "Cowboys" at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes this year, his first film as a director. He is also co-writer of "Ni le ciel ni la terre" by Clément Cogitore, presented during the Semaine de la Critique, as well as co-writer of the script for Jacques Audiard’s latest film, "Dheepan," which won the Palme d’Or.
Louise Bourgoin
Louise Bourgoin attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts for five years, during which she began her career as a model. After she graduated from art school in 2004, she radically changed direction and became a presenter on cable TV. She was Miss Météo in Le Grand Journal on Canal + from 2006 to 2008. Her slot became essential viewing and attracted a wide audience, including the attention of the film industry.
She began her acting career in "The Girl from Monaco" by Anne Fontaine, and her performance earned her a César nomination for Most Promising Actress. This recognition led to a whole series of roles and launched her career in film. She headed the bill of several films in 2010 ("White as Snow" by Christophe Blanc, "Sweet Valentine" by Emma Luchini, and "Black Heaven" by Gilles Marchand). The same year, Luc Besson selected her for the leading role in "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec."
Since then, Louise Bourgoin has played in film after film, and has taken her first steps in the international scene with her part in the American film "The Love Punch" by Joel Hopkins. She attracted attention at the Cannes Film Festival this year with her unusual role in Laurent Larivière’s first film, "I Am a Soldier," presented at Un Certain Regard.
Anaïs Demoustier
Her passion for acting started at a very young age and rapidly pushed her to take drama classes. She auditioned, when still a teenager, and got her first role alongside Isabelle Huppert in "Time of the Wolf" by Michael Haneke. After this, her career was launched and she played in a series of films among which "L’Année suivante" by Isabelle Czajka, "Hellphone" by James Huth, "The Beautiful Person" by Christophe Honoré, "Sois sage" by Juliette Garcias, "Sweet Evil" by Olivier Coussemacq, "Dear Prudene" by Rebecca Zlotowski, "Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Robert Guédiguian, "Thérèse Desqueyroux" by Claude Miller, "Quai d’Orsay" by Bertrand Tavernier, "Paris Follies" by Marc Fitoussi, etc.
A filmography rich of 30 films for an actress who isn’t 30 years old yet. In 2014, the press talked about the blooming of Anaïs Demoustier because her face and poise became essential to cinema. Present in "Bird People" by Pascale Ferran, "Caprices" by Emmanuel Mouret, "À trois on y va" by Jérôme Bonnell and "The New Girlfriend" by François Ozon, she is Marguerite in the last Valérie Donzelli’s film, "Marguerite et Julien" screened in Official selection in Cannes.
Louis Garrel
The son of actress Brigitte Sy and the director Philippe Garrel, he began his career in film thanks to his father, who started filming him at the age of six in "Emergency Kisses," alongside his mother and his grandfather, Maurice Garrel. He went onto study drama at the Conservatoire National d’Art Dramatique. He made his real cinema debut in 2001 in the film "Ceci est mon corps" by Rodolphe Marconi. Two years later, he played opposite Michael Pitt and the future Bond girl, Eva Green, in "The Dreamers" by Bernardo Bertolucci.
He then starred in another of his father’s films, "Regular Lovers". His performance earned him the César for the Most Promising Actor in 2005. Since then, he has played alongside the greatest, such as Isabelle Huppert in "Ma mère" by Christophe Honoré. This marked the beginning of a long collaboration between the filmmaker and the actor. They worked together in the film "In Paris" with Romain Duris, then in 2007 in "Love Songs" with Ludivine Sagnier, in "The Beautiful Person" with Léa Seydoux, in "Making Plans" for Lena with Chiara Mostroianni and, finally, in " Beloved" with Catherine Deneuve. He also topped the bill with Valéria Bruni Tedeschi in "Actresses," whom he worked with again in 2013 in "A Castle in Italy."
In 2010, he directed a short film, "The Little Tailor," in which he directed Léa Seydoux. He performed once again in one of his father’s films, "A Burning Hot Summer," followed by "Jealousy." In 2014, he starred in Bertrand Bonello’s film "Saint Laurent," a role which led to another César nomination, but this time in the best supporting role category. His first feature-length film, "Two Friends," presented at a Certain Regard, was applauded by the critics. He also starred in "Mon Roi," Maïwenn’s fourth feature-length film, alongside Emmanuelle and Vincent Cassel, presented as part of the official selection.
Guillaume Gouix
After studying at the Conservatoire in Marseille and the Ecole Régionale d’Acteur de Cannes, Guillaume Gouix began his career in television. He played the male lead in "The Lion Cubs," by Claire Doyon, in 2003. Noted for his performance, especially the highly physical aspect of it and his intense gaze, he then played a series of supporting roles as a young hoodlum in "Les Mauvais joueurs" by Frédéric Balekdjian and in "Chacun sa nuit," by Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold. He featured in the 2007 war film "Intimate Enemies" by Florent Emilio Siri, thus confirming his taste for complex characters.
The following year, he was applauded for his performance in the film "Behind the Walls" by Christian Faure. In 2010, he starred in "22 Bullets" by Richard Berry and in 2011, he established his reputation with roles in "Nobody Else But You" by Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, "Et soudain, tout le monde me manque" by Jennifer Devoldere, and "Jimmy Rivière," Teddy Lussi-Modeste’s film debut.
He also appeared in "Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen. He more recently starred in "Attila Marcel," by Sylvain Chomet, in which he played the lead role, in "French Women" by Audrey Dana, and "The Connection" by Cédric Jimenez with Jean Dujardin and Gilles Lelouche. He performed in three films presented at Cannes this year ("Les Anarchistes" by Elie Wajeman, which opened the Semaine de la Critique, "La Vie en grand" by Mathieu Vadepied, which closed the week, and in "Enragés" by Eric Hannezo, screened at the Cinéma de la Plage). He also directed his first short film "Alexis Ivanovitch, vous êtes mon héros" in 2011 and will soon start on a feature-length film, which is currently being written. He will be topping the bill in 2015 with "Braqueurs," a thriller by Julien Leclercq.
Ariane Labed
Born in Greece to French parents, Ariane Labed has always navigated between her two countries. She studied drama at the University of Provence and began her acting career treading the boards. After setting up a company combining dance and theater, Ariane Labed returned to live in Greece where she played at the National Theater of Athens. 2010 was the year of her first film, "Attenberg," directed by Athiná-Rachél Tsangári. "Alps" by Yorgos Lanthi-mos, the following year, confirmed the talent of this strangely charming actress. Two years later, she starred in "Before Midnight" by Richard Linklater where she played the role of Anna. The follow-up to "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset," this third part of the saga was a great success, making Labed known to a wider audience.
In 2014, she played a young sailor in "Fidelio, Alice’s Odyssey," who is torn between faithfulness and her desire to live her life. Winning the best actress award at the Locarno Film Festival and nominated for a César, the French actress gives a brilliant performance in Lucie Borleteau’s first feature-length film. She joined Yorgos Lanthimos in Cannes in 2015, where he won the Prix du Jury for his film "The Lobster."
Vincent Macaigne
Vincent Macaigne is the leading light in young French cinema. He joined the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique in Paris in 1999, appearing on stage and assuming the role of director. His free adaptations of the great classics of literature and drama earned him public and critical acclaim. He directed "The Idiot" by Dostoïevski and presented "Au moins j’aurai laissé un beau cadavre in Avignon," inspired by Hamlet. He also rapidly made a name for himself in demanding art-house films. In 2001, he was seen for the first time in "Replay" by Catherine Corsini. In 2007, he starred in "On War" by Bertrand Bonello and in 2010, in "A Burning Hot Summer" by Philippe Garrel.
Since 2011, Vincent Macaigne’s presence in short, medium and full-length films has gradually increased. Faithful to his directors, he has starred in several of their films. As is the case with his friend Guillaume Brac, who directed him in "Le Naufragé," "Tonnerre" and "Un monde sans femmes." He was awarded the Grand Prix and the Prix Télérama at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and the Prix Lutin for Best Actor in this film. Under the direction of Vincent Mariette, he played in "Les Lézards" then "Fool Circle." In 2013, we find the funny and touching thirty-something in "La fille du 14 juillet" by Antonin Peretjatko, "Age of Panic" by Justine Triet, and "2 Autumns, 3 Winters" by Sébastien Betbeder.
He was discovered by the general public at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Considered a figurehead of the revival of French cinema, Vincent has drawn the attention of the Cahiers du Cinéma, and even the British newspaper The Observer, which referred to him as the “new Gérard Depardieu”. In 2011, he directed "What We’ll Leave Behind," a very well-received medium-length film which won the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival. He also starred in Mia Hansen-løve’s 2014 film "Eden." He plays one of the main roles in the actor Louis Garrel’s first feature-length film, "Two Friends," presented during the Semaine de la Critique. He also featured in his 2011 film, La Règle de trois.
Vimala Pons
From the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique, where she attended drama classes even though she wanted to be a screenwriter, to circus tents, Vimala Pons is an acrobat in all senses of the word. The 29-year-old actress has established her physical and poetic presence in French art-house films. She began her career in film with Albert Dupontel in "Enfermés dehors" in 2006. She then starred in "Eden Log" by Franck Vestiel in 2007, then in "Granny’s Funeral" by Bruno Podalydès in 2012.
Since then, we have seen her cross France in a little blue dress in "La Fille du 14 juillet," (she plays the girl) by Antonin Peretjatko, and changing into a lioness in "Métamorphoses," by Christophe Honoré. The impetuous muse of French independent film, Vimala Pons played in "Vincent" by Thomas Salvador this year. The actress has made a name for herself in 2015, in particular with "Comme un avion" by Bruno Podalydès, "Je suis à vous tout de suite" by Baya Kasmi, "La vie très privée de Monsieur Sim" by Michel Leclerc, and "L’Ombre des femmes" by Philippe Garrel (presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs this year in Cannes). She has also begun an international career, with a leading role in Paul Verhoeven’s latest film, "Elle."
Alice Winocour
The director Alice Winocour started out at Femis. After going into law, she returned to film and won three prizes for her short film "Kitchen: Prix TV5" for the best French-language short film, best international short film and the Silver Bear at the Festival of Nations (Ebensee). For "Magic Paris," she was awarded the jury prize at the St. Petersburg International Documentary, Short Film and Animated Film Festival.
She continued her career by writing the script for the film "Ordinary," by Vladimir Perisic. At the Cannes Film Festival 2012, Alice Winocour made a marked entry in the international arena with a film by a woman about women and the unchanging way of looking at them. In the film "Augustine," we are told the story of a professor and his patient, played by Vincent Lindon and Soko respectively. In 2015, she brought out her second feature-length film, "Maryland," which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 68th Cannes Film Festival. She is also the co-writer of "Mustang," by Denis Gamze Ergüven, presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs.
They are a force to be reckoned with. Unifrance films is ready to bet that you will certainly hear about these ten talented people. They represent the French cinema of today and will soon be on the screens worldwide.
Emmanuelle Bercot
An actress and a director, Emmanuelle Bercot began by enrolling at the Cours Florent drama school and taking dancing lessons after her baccalaureate. She graduated from Femis in 1998, after winning the Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for her short film "Les Vacances," in 1997. After her first few roles in the films of Jean-François Richet and Michel Deville, her career as an actress took off when Claude Miller gave her one of the main roles in "La Classe de neige" (1998). The following year, she made the headlines with the medium-length film she directed called "La Puce," presented in the selection of Un Certain Regard at Cannes. This film tells of the love affair between a 35-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl, played by Isild Le Besco.
Her first feature-length film, "Clément" (2001), is about the life of a troubled woman who has one adventure after another with various men until she meets a 14-yearold boy. Her second film, "Backstage" (2004), continues to explore teenage angst through a relationship between a hit singer and a young obsessional fan. She earned her first critical and public acclaim with "On My Way" (2013), the third film written by the director for Catherine Deneuve, in which the star plays a woman who has decided to leave everything behind and hit the road in France.
She was indisputably the most talked about person during the Cannes Film Festival 2015, both as an actress and a director. Thierry Frémaux surprised everyone by announcing that "Standing Tall," Emmanuelle Bercot’s fourth feature-length film would open the 68th Cannes Film Festival. Emmanuelle Bercot says that she has rediscovered the social fiber of her beginnings with this tale of juvenile delinquency. After the enthusiastic and unanimous reception of her film, she won the Best Actress Award for her role as a woman under the influence of love in the film "Mon Roi" by Maïwenn, with whom she co-wrote the script for "Polisse," which won the Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012
Thomas Bidegain
Thomas Bidegain may well be one of the best known French screenwriters in the profession today, but it took him ten years to achieve this status. His career path in film is anything but ordinary. He started out in the 1990s by distributing and producing independent American films: "Ice Storm" by Ang Lee and "Chasing Sleep" by Michael Walker. He came back to France and joined MK2 where he became director of distribution. In 1999, he returned to production for "Why Not." In 2007, he told the story of his attempt to stop smoking in "Arrêter de fumer tue," a personal diary that was turned into a documentary, then a book.
In the meantime, he began screenwriting and worked on several projects. In 2009, he wrote the screenplay for Jacques Audiard’s film, "A Prophet," alongside Nicolas Peufaillit and Abdel Raouf Dafri, which won the Grand Prix du Jury in 2009. He participated in Audiard’s next film, "Rust and Bone" and "Our Children" by Joachim Lafosse. He was also the co-writer for "Saint Laurent" by Bertrand Bonello. Winning a César for the best original script and a César for the best adaptation, he presented "Cowboys" at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes this year, his first film as a director. He is also co-writer of "Ni le ciel ni la terre" by Clément Cogitore, presented during the Semaine de la Critique, as well as co-writer of the script for Jacques Audiard’s latest film, "Dheepan," which won the Palme d’Or.
Louise Bourgoin
Louise Bourgoin attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts for five years, during which she began her career as a model. After she graduated from art school in 2004, she radically changed direction and became a presenter on cable TV. She was Miss Météo in Le Grand Journal on Canal + from 2006 to 2008. Her slot became essential viewing and attracted a wide audience, including the attention of the film industry.
She began her acting career in "The Girl from Monaco" by Anne Fontaine, and her performance earned her a César nomination for Most Promising Actress. This recognition led to a whole series of roles and launched her career in film. She headed the bill of several films in 2010 ("White as Snow" by Christophe Blanc, "Sweet Valentine" by Emma Luchini, and "Black Heaven" by Gilles Marchand). The same year, Luc Besson selected her for the leading role in "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec."
Since then, Louise Bourgoin has played in film after film, and has taken her first steps in the international scene with her part in the American film "The Love Punch" by Joel Hopkins. She attracted attention at the Cannes Film Festival this year with her unusual role in Laurent Larivière’s first film, "I Am a Soldier," presented at Un Certain Regard.
Anaïs Demoustier
Her passion for acting started at a very young age and rapidly pushed her to take drama classes. She auditioned, when still a teenager, and got her first role alongside Isabelle Huppert in "Time of the Wolf" by Michael Haneke. After this, her career was launched and she played in a series of films among which "L’Année suivante" by Isabelle Czajka, "Hellphone" by James Huth, "The Beautiful Person" by Christophe Honoré, "Sois sage" by Juliette Garcias, "Sweet Evil" by Olivier Coussemacq, "Dear Prudene" by Rebecca Zlotowski, "Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Robert Guédiguian, "Thérèse Desqueyroux" by Claude Miller, "Quai d’Orsay" by Bertrand Tavernier, "Paris Follies" by Marc Fitoussi, etc.
A filmography rich of 30 films for an actress who isn’t 30 years old yet. In 2014, the press talked about the blooming of Anaïs Demoustier because her face and poise became essential to cinema. Present in "Bird People" by Pascale Ferran, "Caprices" by Emmanuel Mouret, "À trois on y va" by Jérôme Bonnell and "The New Girlfriend" by François Ozon, she is Marguerite in the last Valérie Donzelli’s film, "Marguerite et Julien" screened in Official selection in Cannes.
Louis Garrel
The son of actress Brigitte Sy and the director Philippe Garrel, he began his career in film thanks to his father, who started filming him at the age of six in "Emergency Kisses," alongside his mother and his grandfather, Maurice Garrel. He went onto study drama at the Conservatoire National d’Art Dramatique. He made his real cinema debut in 2001 in the film "Ceci est mon corps" by Rodolphe Marconi. Two years later, he played opposite Michael Pitt and the future Bond girl, Eva Green, in "The Dreamers" by Bernardo Bertolucci.
He then starred in another of his father’s films, "Regular Lovers". His performance earned him the César for the Most Promising Actor in 2005. Since then, he has played alongside the greatest, such as Isabelle Huppert in "Ma mère" by Christophe Honoré. This marked the beginning of a long collaboration between the filmmaker and the actor. They worked together in the film "In Paris" with Romain Duris, then in 2007 in "Love Songs" with Ludivine Sagnier, in "The Beautiful Person" with Léa Seydoux, in "Making Plans" for Lena with Chiara Mostroianni and, finally, in " Beloved" with Catherine Deneuve. He also topped the bill with Valéria Bruni Tedeschi in "Actresses," whom he worked with again in 2013 in "A Castle in Italy."
In 2010, he directed a short film, "The Little Tailor," in which he directed Léa Seydoux. He performed once again in one of his father’s films, "A Burning Hot Summer," followed by "Jealousy." In 2014, he starred in Bertrand Bonello’s film "Saint Laurent," a role which led to another César nomination, but this time in the best supporting role category. His first feature-length film, "Two Friends," presented at a Certain Regard, was applauded by the critics. He also starred in "Mon Roi," Maïwenn’s fourth feature-length film, alongside Emmanuelle and Vincent Cassel, presented as part of the official selection.
Guillaume Gouix
After studying at the Conservatoire in Marseille and the Ecole Régionale d’Acteur de Cannes, Guillaume Gouix began his career in television. He played the male lead in "The Lion Cubs," by Claire Doyon, in 2003. Noted for his performance, especially the highly physical aspect of it and his intense gaze, he then played a series of supporting roles as a young hoodlum in "Les Mauvais joueurs" by Frédéric Balekdjian and in "Chacun sa nuit," by Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold. He featured in the 2007 war film "Intimate Enemies" by Florent Emilio Siri, thus confirming his taste for complex characters.
The following year, he was applauded for his performance in the film "Behind the Walls" by Christian Faure. In 2010, he starred in "22 Bullets" by Richard Berry and in 2011, he established his reputation with roles in "Nobody Else But You" by Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, "Et soudain, tout le monde me manque" by Jennifer Devoldere, and "Jimmy Rivière," Teddy Lussi-Modeste’s film debut.
He also appeared in "Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen. He more recently starred in "Attila Marcel," by Sylvain Chomet, in which he played the lead role, in "French Women" by Audrey Dana, and "The Connection" by Cédric Jimenez with Jean Dujardin and Gilles Lelouche. He performed in three films presented at Cannes this year ("Les Anarchistes" by Elie Wajeman, which opened the Semaine de la Critique, "La Vie en grand" by Mathieu Vadepied, which closed the week, and in "Enragés" by Eric Hannezo, screened at the Cinéma de la Plage). He also directed his first short film "Alexis Ivanovitch, vous êtes mon héros" in 2011 and will soon start on a feature-length film, which is currently being written. He will be topping the bill in 2015 with "Braqueurs," a thriller by Julien Leclercq.
Ariane Labed
Born in Greece to French parents, Ariane Labed has always navigated between her two countries. She studied drama at the University of Provence and began her acting career treading the boards. After setting up a company combining dance and theater, Ariane Labed returned to live in Greece where she played at the National Theater of Athens. 2010 was the year of her first film, "Attenberg," directed by Athiná-Rachél Tsangári. "Alps" by Yorgos Lanthi-mos, the following year, confirmed the talent of this strangely charming actress. Two years later, she starred in "Before Midnight" by Richard Linklater where she played the role of Anna. The follow-up to "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset," this third part of the saga was a great success, making Labed known to a wider audience.
In 2014, she played a young sailor in "Fidelio, Alice’s Odyssey," who is torn between faithfulness and her desire to live her life. Winning the best actress award at the Locarno Film Festival and nominated for a César, the French actress gives a brilliant performance in Lucie Borleteau’s first feature-length film. She joined Yorgos Lanthimos in Cannes in 2015, where he won the Prix du Jury for his film "The Lobster."
Vincent Macaigne
Vincent Macaigne is the leading light in young French cinema. He joined the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique in Paris in 1999, appearing on stage and assuming the role of director. His free adaptations of the great classics of literature and drama earned him public and critical acclaim. He directed "The Idiot" by Dostoïevski and presented "Au moins j’aurai laissé un beau cadavre in Avignon," inspired by Hamlet. He also rapidly made a name for himself in demanding art-house films. In 2001, he was seen for the first time in "Replay" by Catherine Corsini. In 2007, he starred in "On War" by Bertrand Bonello and in 2010, in "A Burning Hot Summer" by Philippe Garrel.
Since 2011, Vincent Macaigne’s presence in short, medium and full-length films has gradually increased. Faithful to his directors, he has starred in several of their films. As is the case with his friend Guillaume Brac, who directed him in "Le Naufragé," "Tonnerre" and "Un monde sans femmes." He was awarded the Grand Prix and the Prix Télérama at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and the Prix Lutin for Best Actor in this film. Under the direction of Vincent Mariette, he played in "Les Lézards" then "Fool Circle." In 2013, we find the funny and touching thirty-something in "La fille du 14 juillet" by Antonin Peretjatko, "Age of Panic" by Justine Triet, and "2 Autumns, 3 Winters" by Sébastien Betbeder.
He was discovered by the general public at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Considered a figurehead of the revival of French cinema, Vincent has drawn the attention of the Cahiers du Cinéma, and even the British newspaper The Observer, which referred to him as the “new Gérard Depardieu”. In 2011, he directed "What We’ll Leave Behind," a very well-received medium-length film which won the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival. He also starred in Mia Hansen-løve’s 2014 film "Eden." He plays one of the main roles in the actor Louis Garrel’s first feature-length film, "Two Friends," presented during the Semaine de la Critique. He also featured in his 2011 film, La Règle de trois.
Vimala Pons
From the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique, where she attended drama classes even though she wanted to be a screenwriter, to circus tents, Vimala Pons is an acrobat in all senses of the word. The 29-year-old actress has established her physical and poetic presence in French art-house films. She began her career in film with Albert Dupontel in "Enfermés dehors" in 2006. She then starred in "Eden Log" by Franck Vestiel in 2007, then in "Granny’s Funeral" by Bruno Podalydès in 2012.
Since then, we have seen her cross France in a little blue dress in "La Fille du 14 juillet," (she plays the girl) by Antonin Peretjatko, and changing into a lioness in "Métamorphoses," by Christophe Honoré. The impetuous muse of French independent film, Vimala Pons played in "Vincent" by Thomas Salvador this year. The actress has made a name for herself in 2015, in particular with "Comme un avion" by Bruno Podalydès, "Je suis à vous tout de suite" by Baya Kasmi, "La vie très privée de Monsieur Sim" by Michel Leclerc, and "L’Ombre des femmes" by Philippe Garrel (presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs this year in Cannes). She has also begun an international career, with a leading role in Paul Verhoeven’s latest film, "Elle."
Alice Winocour
The director Alice Winocour started out at Femis. After going into law, she returned to film and won three prizes for her short film "Kitchen: Prix TV5" for the best French-language short film, best international short film and the Silver Bear at the Festival of Nations (Ebensee). For "Magic Paris," she was awarded the jury prize at the St. Petersburg International Documentary, Short Film and Animated Film Festival.
She continued her career by writing the script for the film "Ordinary," by Vladimir Perisic. At the Cannes Film Festival 2012, Alice Winocour made a marked entry in the international arena with a film by a woman about women and the unchanging way of looking at them. In the film "Augustine," we are told the story of a professor and his patient, played by Vincent Lindon and Soko respectively. In 2015, she brought out her second feature-length film, "Maryland," which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 68th Cannes Film Festival. She is also the co-writer of "Mustang," by Denis Gamze Ergüven, presented at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs.
- 7/5/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Cannes Review: Laurent Larivière's 'I Am A Soldier' Starring Louise Bourgoin And Jean-Hugues Anglade
Around about this time last year in the Un Certain Regard sidebar of Cannes we were discovering eventual winner Kornél Mundruczó's "White God" which features incarcerated, maltreated dogs taking revenge on their human captors. So a little deja vu was inevitable when at a key moment in Laurent Larivière's debut feature "I Am A Soldier" a character gets mauled to unconsciousness by a riled-up German Shepherd escaped from its joyless cage. But while canine captivity is definitely a part of Larivière's debut film, his focus is resolutely on the human characters, the sordid decisions they make in order to keep their heads above water in a drowning economy, and the relationships that crumble and coalesce in that crucible. It is narrow in scope, solid in execution but a little too familiar and too unfocused to take to heart. It does however boast a strong, un-self-pitying performance from model/TV-presenter-turned-actress Louise Bourgoin.
- 5/26/2015
- by Jessica Kiang
- The Playlist
While largely unknown to American audiences, model-turned-actress Louise Bourgoin is an up and comer in France and it feels like she could be on the verge of a breakthrough, or at least proving she is much more than a pretty face. Known for starring in Luc Besson’s adventure film “The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec,” “The Girl From Monaco,” out-of-competition 2010 Cannes entry “Black Heaven,” and a recent appearance in William Monahan’s Tribeca entry “Mojave,” Bourgoin has been making strides towards a respectable career (she started out as a TV presenter), but a starring vehicle at Cannes, might just be her tipping point. The feature-length directorial debut of Laurent Lariviere (who’s made several shorts before this), “I Am A Soldier” stars a stripped down Bourgoin in a crime drama about an unemployed woman who tries to make good for herself in and around the world of dog trafficking.
- 5/13/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
According to Thierry Frémaux, Cannes Film Festival Director, this past year has been an outstanding year for French production and the submissions received for consideration were of exceptional quality. Five French films are in competition in the official selection and will have the honor to be presented at the red carpet events, there are also numerous coproductions, films screening out-of-competition and others in the parallel sections.
Official Selection - In Competition
-"Standing Tall" (La tête haute) - Opening Film
Dir. Emmanuelle Bercot
World Sales: Elle Driver
World Premiere
- "Dheepan - L'homme qui n-amait plus la guerre"
Dir. Jacques Audiard
World Sales: Celluloid Dreams / Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"The Measure of a Man" (La loi du marché)
Dir. Stéphane Brizé
World Sales :mk2
World Premiere
-"Marguerite & Julien"
Dir. Valérie Donzelli
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"Mon Roi"
Dir. Maïwenn
World Sales: StudioCanal
World Premiere
- "Valley of Love"
Dir. Guillaume Nicloux
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Ice and the Sky" (La Glace et le Ciel"
Dir. Luc Jacquet
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
Short Film Competition
-"Le Repas dominical" de Céline Devaux – Sacrebleu Productions
-"Sali (Mardi) de Ziya Demirel – oriGine films – Istos Films
-"Ave Maria" de Basil Khalil – Incognito Films – Flying Moon Filmproduktion
Cinefondation
-"Léonardo" de Félix Hazeaux, Thomas Nitsche, Edward Noonan, Franck Pina, Raphaëlle Plantier – Mopa
-"Les Chercheurs" de Aurélien Peilloux – La fémis
Official Selection - Special Screenings
-"Asphalte"
Dir. Samuel Benchetrit
World Sales: TF1 International
World Premiere
-"L'esprit de l'escalier"
Dir. Elad Keidan
Israel/ France
World Sales: The Match Factory
World Premiere
-"Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mas"(Une histoire de fou)
Dir. Robert Guédiguian
World Sales: mk2
World Premiere
Official Selection - Un Certain Regard
-"I'm a Soldier" (Je suis un Soldat)
Dir. Laurent Larivière
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Close Protection" (Maryland)
Dir. Alice Winocour
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
Director's Fortnight
-"In the Shadow of Women" (L'Ombre des Femmes)
Dir. Philippe Garre
l
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"Les Cowboys"
Dir. Thomas Bidegain
World Sales: Pathé Distribution
World Premiere
-"My Golden Days" (Trois Souvenirs de Ma Jeunesse)
Dir. Arnaud Desplechin
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Fatima"
Dir. Philippe Faucon
World Sales: Pyramide International
World Premiere
Short Films
-"Calme ta joie" de Emmanuel Laskar – Ecce Films
-"Pitchoune" Reda Kateb – 31 Juin Films
Critic's Week
-"The Anarchists" (Les Anarchists) - Opening Film
Dir. Elie Wajeman
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"The Wakhan Front" (Ni le Ciel, Ni la Terre)
Dir.Clément Cogitore
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
-"Les Deux Amis"
Dir. Louis Garrel
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
-"Learn By Heart" (La Vie en Grand)
Dir. Mathieu Vadepied
World Sales: Gaumont
World Premiere...
Official Selection - In Competition
-"Standing Tall" (La tête haute) - Opening Film
Dir. Emmanuelle Bercot
World Sales: Elle Driver
World Premiere
- "Dheepan - L'homme qui n-amait plus la guerre"
Dir. Jacques Audiard
World Sales: Celluloid Dreams / Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"The Measure of a Man" (La loi du marché)
Dir. Stéphane Brizé
World Sales :mk2
World Premiere
-"Marguerite & Julien"
Dir. Valérie Donzelli
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"Mon Roi"
Dir. Maïwenn
World Sales: StudioCanal
World Premiere
- "Valley of Love"
Dir. Guillaume Nicloux
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Ice and the Sky" (La Glace et le Ciel"
Dir. Luc Jacquet
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
Short Film Competition
-"Le Repas dominical" de Céline Devaux – Sacrebleu Productions
-"Sali (Mardi) de Ziya Demirel – oriGine films – Istos Films
-"Ave Maria" de Basil Khalil – Incognito Films – Flying Moon Filmproduktion
Cinefondation
-"Léonardo" de Félix Hazeaux, Thomas Nitsche, Edward Noonan, Franck Pina, Raphaëlle Plantier – Mopa
-"Les Chercheurs" de Aurélien Peilloux – La fémis
Official Selection - Special Screenings
-"Asphalte"
Dir. Samuel Benchetrit
World Sales: TF1 International
World Premiere
-"L'esprit de l'escalier"
Dir. Elad Keidan
Israel/ France
World Sales: The Match Factory
World Premiere
-"Don't Tell Me the Boy Was Mas"(Une histoire de fou)
Dir. Robert Guédiguian
World Sales: mk2
World Premiere
Official Selection - Un Certain Regard
-"I'm a Soldier" (Je suis un Soldat)
Dir. Laurent Larivière
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Close Protection" (Maryland)
Dir. Alice Winocour
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
Director's Fortnight
-"In the Shadow of Women" (L'Ombre des Femmes)
Dir. Philippe Garre
l
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"Les Cowboys"
Dir. Thomas Bidegain
World Sales: Pathé Distribution
World Premiere
-"My Golden Days" (Trois Souvenirs de Ma Jeunesse)
Dir. Arnaud Desplechin
World Sales: Le Pacte
World Premiere
-"Fatima"
Dir. Philippe Faucon
World Sales: Pyramide International
World Premiere
Short Films
-"Calme ta joie" de Emmanuel Laskar – Ecce Films
-"Pitchoune" Reda Kateb – 31 Juin Films
Critic's Week
-"The Anarchists" (Les Anarchists) - Opening Film
Dir. Elie Wajeman
World Sales: Wild Bunch
World Premiere
-"The Wakhan Front" (Ni le Ciel, Ni la Terre)
Dir.Clément Cogitore
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
-"Les Deux Amis"
Dir. Louis Garrel
World Sales: Indie Sales
World Premiere
-"Learn By Heart" (La Vie en Grand)
Dir. Mathieu Vadepied
World Sales: Gaumont
World Premiere...
- 5/12/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Father and son wine tour tale reunites directorial duo Benoit Delépine and Gustave Kervern with Gérard Depardieu and Benoît Po
Le Pacte has picked up sales on Benoit Delépine and Gustave Kervern’s latest collaboration Saint Amour, starring Gérard Depardieu and Benoît Poelvoorde as a farmer and his son who bond and find love on an eventful wine tour.
Delépine and Kervern last worked with Depardieu on their 2010 comic road movie Mammuth, which premiered in Berlin, was a breakout arthouse hit in France and sold well internationally.
Poelvoorde is a frequent collaborator with Delépine and Kervern, starring most recently as middle-aged punk in Le Grand Soir – which won Un Certain Regard’s Grand Jury Prize in 2012.
In Saint Amour, Poelvoorde plays disheartened cattle breeder Bruno who is attending the Paris International Agriculture Show with his father Jean, played by Depardieu.
The latter is hoping their prize bull Nabucodonosor will finally take top honours at the event and that...
Le Pacte has picked up sales on Benoit Delépine and Gustave Kervern’s latest collaboration Saint Amour, starring Gérard Depardieu and Benoît Poelvoorde as a farmer and his son who bond and find love on an eventful wine tour.
Delépine and Kervern last worked with Depardieu on their 2010 comic road movie Mammuth, which premiered in Berlin, was a breakout arthouse hit in France and sold well internationally.
Poelvoorde is a frequent collaborator with Delépine and Kervern, starring most recently as middle-aged punk in Le Grand Soir – which won Un Certain Regard’s Grand Jury Prize in 2012.
In Saint Amour, Poelvoorde plays disheartened cattle breeder Bruno who is attending the Paris International Agriculture Show with his father Jean, played by Depardieu.
The latter is hoping their prize bull Nabucodonosor will finally take top honours at the event and that...
- 5/7/2015
- ScreenDaily
The Festival de Cannes has announced the lineup for the official selection, including the Competition and Un Certain Regard sections, as well as special screenings, for the 68th edition of the festival:
COMPETITIONOpening Night: La Tête Haute (Emmanuelle Bercot) (Out of Competition)Dheepan (Temporary title) (Jacques Audiard)La loi du marché (Stéphane Brizé)Marguerite et Julien (Valérie Donzelli)The Tale of Tales (Matteo Garrone)Carol (Todd Haynes)The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien)Mountains May Depart (Jia Zhangke)Our Little Sister (Hirokazu Kore-eda)Macbeth (Justin Kurzel)The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos)Mon Roi (Maïwenn)Mia Madre (Nanni Moretti)Saul Fia (László Nemes)Youth (Paolo Sorrentino)Louder than bombs (Joachim Trier)The Sea of Trees (Gus Van Sant)Sicario (Denis Villeneuve)Cronic (Michel Franco)The Valley of Love (Guillaume Nicloux)
Un Certain REGARDOpening Night: An (Naomi Kawase)Asphalte (Samuel Benchetrit)Fly Away Solo (Neeraj Ghaywan)Rams (Grímur Hákonarson)Journey to the Shore (Kiyoshi Kurosawa...
COMPETITIONOpening Night: La Tête Haute (Emmanuelle Bercot) (Out of Competition)Dheepan (Temporary title) (Jacques Audiard)La loi du marché (Stéphane Brizé)Marguerite et Julien (Valérie Donzelli)The Tale of Tales (Matteo Garrone)Carol (Todd Haynes)The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien)Mountains May Depart (Jia Zhangke)Our Little Sister (Hirokazu Kore-eda)Macbeth (Justin Kurzel)The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos)Mon Roi (Maïwenn)Mia Madre (Nanni Moretti)Saul Fia (László Nemes)Youth (Paolo Sorrentino)Louder than bombs (Joachim Trier)The Sea of Trees (Gus Van Sant)Sicario (Denis Villeneuve)Cronic (Michel Franco)The Valley of Love (Guillaume Nicloux)
Un Certain REGARDOpening Night: An (Naomi Kawase)Asphalte (Samuel Benchetrit)Fly Away Solo (Neeraj Ghaywan)Rams (Grímur Hákonarson)Journey to the Shore (Kiyoshi Kurosawa...
- 4/23/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
Australia hasn.t had a film in official competition at the Cannes Film Festival since 2011 but Justin Kurzel will fly the flag with Macbeth at next month.s festival.
Michael Fassbender plays the troubled Scottish king and Marion Cotillard is Lady Macbeth in the Shakespearian drama produced by See-Saw Films. Iain Canning and Emile Sherman.
The UK production financed by Studiocanal and Film4 will be released in Oz by Transmission Films, probably in October.. Kurzel's Snowtown screened during Critics Week in Cannes in 2011, where it got a special mention and he was nominated for the Golden Camera award for best first feature.
Also among the 17 titles competing for the Palme d'Or is Carol, Todd Haynes. lesbian romance set in 1950s New York, which stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Sarah Paulson.
Based on a Patricia Highsmith novel about a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life and falls for an older,...
Michael Fassbender plays the troubled Scottish king and Marion Cotillard is Lady Macbeth in the Shakespearian drama produced by See-Saw Films. Iain Canning and Emile Sherman.
The UK production financed by Studiocanal and Film4 will be released in Oz by Transmission Films, probably in October.. Kurzel's Snowtown screened during Critics Week in Cannes in 2011, where it got a special mention and he was nominated for the Golden Camera award for best first feature.
Also among the 17 titles competing for the Palme d'Or is Carol, Todd Haynes. lesbian romance set in 1950s New York, which stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Sarah Paulson.
Based on a Patricia Highsmith novel about a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life and falls for an older,...
- 4/16/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The Official Selection of the 68th Festival de Cannes was announced this Thursday, 16 April during the press conference held by Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux in Paris. Opening film : Emmanuelle Bercot La TÊTE Haute (Standing Tall) Out of Comp. 2h00 *** Jacques Audiard Dheepan (Temporary Title) 1h49 Stéphane BRIZÉ La Loi Du MARCHÉ (A Simple Man) 1h32 Valérie Donzelli Marguerite Et Julien (Marguerite And Julien) 1h50 Matteo Garrone Il Racconto Dei Racconti (The Tale Of Tales) 2h05 Todd Haynes Carol 1h58 Hou Hsiao Hsien Nie Yinniang (The Assassin) 2h00 Jia Zhang-Ke Shan He Gu Ren (Moutains May Depart) 2h00 Kore-eda Hirokazu Umimachi Diary (Our Little Sister) 2h03 Justin Kurzel MacBeth 1h53 Yorgos Lanthimos The Lobster 1h58 MAÏWENN Mon Roi 2h10 Nanni Moretti Mia Madre 1h42 László Nemes Saul Fia (Son Of Saul) 1 er film 1h47 Paolo Sorrentino Youth 1h58 Joachim Trier Louder Than Bombs 1h45 Gus Van Sant The Sea Of Trees...
- 4/16/2015
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
The 68th Cannes Film Festival is now little under a month away, and Variety has the skinny on the event’s impressive line-up, which includes Carol and French comedy-drama La Tete Haute – itself set to open the festival on May 13 – not to mention the likes of Pixar’s emotional animation Inside Out and Mad Max: Fury Road screening out of competition.
For a full rundown of those candidates in question, you can consult the list down below. Due to take place from May 13 to May 25, it’s expected that more films will be added to the cinematic selection in the coming days, but already the billing is chock full of eye-catching releases. Interestingly, the aforementioned La Tete Haute will be the first festival opener since 1987 to be directed by a female filmmaker, in this case, Emmanuelle Bercot.
The 68th Cannes Film Festival will begin on May 13 and run right through...
For a full rundown of those candidates in question, you can consult the list down below. Due to take place from May 13 to May 25, it’s expected that more films will be added to the cinematic selection in the coming days, but already the billing is chock full of eye-catching releases. Interestingly, the aforementioned La Tete Haute will be the first festival opener since 1987 to be directed by a female filmmaker, in this case, Emmanuelle Bercot.
The 68th Cannes Film Festival will begin on May 13 and run right through...
- 4/16/2015
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
The 2015 Cannes Film Festival lineup was announced this morning and it's quite impressive as it includes several titles I'd be rushing to line up for, which makes my not going for the second year in a row all the more frustrating. Titles I'd be most excited to see including the new Jacques Audiard movie Dheepan, the new film from Yorgos Lanthimos The Lobster and Denis Villeneuve's Sicario. Matteo Garrone's The Tale of Tales is obviously an exciting title as are Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, Carol from Todd Haynes and Youth from Paolo Sorrentino. Gus Van Sant will arrive on the Croisette with The Sea of Trees starring Matthew McConaughey, Pixar will arrive with Inside Out, Woody Allen's Irrational Man will screen and we already knew Mad Max: Fury Road would screen. I won't lie, seeing the lineup had me considering looking at the bank...
- 4/16/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Returnee former Palme d’Or winners and their latest in Nanni Moretti (Mia Madre), Gus Van Sant (Sea Of Trees) are joined by several Main Comp first timers in Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster), Joachim Trier (Louder Than Bombs), Justin Kurzel (Macbeth), Valerie Donzelli (Marguerite et Julien) (see pic above), Denis Villeneuve (Sicario), Stephane Brize (A Simple Man) and feature directing debut and Bela Tarr assistant Laszlo Nemes (Son Of Saul).
The remaining films in the Main Comp are made by former Grand Prix (2nd place) and Jury Prize (3rd place) winning filmmakers in Hou Hsiao-Hsien (The Assassin), Jacques Audiard (soon to be retitled Dheepan), Maiwenn (My King), Hirokazu Kore-eda (Our Little Sister), Matteo Garrone (The Tale Of Tales) and Paolo Sorrentino (Youth). This leaves us with a a pack of eighteen films when you also include two filmmakers who have yet to win any of the three major film...
The remaining films in the Main Comp are made by former Grand Prix (2nd place) and Jury Prize (3rd place) winning filmmakers in Hou Hsiao-Hsien (The Assassin), Jacques Audiard (soon to be retitled Dheepan), Maiwenn (My King), Hirokazu Kore-eda (Our Little Sister), Matteo Garrone (The Tale Of Tales) and Paolo Sorrentino (Youth). This leaves us with a a pack of eighteen films when you also include two filmmakers who have yet to win any of the three major film...
- 4/16/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Once again, the world is coming to Cannes and with it some of the more anticipated films of the year. Festival du Cannes President Pierre Lescure and General Delgate (aka Festival Director) Thierry Fremaux revealed this year's main competition and Un Certain Regard slates during a long and rambling press conference early this morning and a number of American auteurs are once again in the mix. Todd Haynes' "Carol" with Cate Blancehtt, Gus Van Sant's "Sea of Trees" with Matthew McConaughey, Woody Allen's "Irrational Man" with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, Pixar's "Inside Out," Denis Villeneuve's "Sicario" with Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin, Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth" with Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman's "A Tale of Love and Darkness" are some of the initial highlights from today's announcement that will perk the ears of American audiences. The festival previously announced that George Miller...
- 4/16/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
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