French film producer Juliette Favreul Renaud, a former committee member of France’s Collectif 50/50 gender equality group, was acquitted by a Paris court on Tuesday of charges of sexually assaulting an actress.
Nadège Beausson-Diagne (Plus Belle La Vie) accused Favreul Renaud of trying to touch her intimately under her skirt while drunk during a dinner party organized on the fringes of a Collectif 50/50 board meeting in March 2022.
There were no witnesses to Beausson-Diagne’s accusation but other guests at the dinner reported seeing the actress in a state of shock.
Favreul-Renaud, whose credits include Virginie Despentes series Vernon Subutex, was tried in mid-March of this year on charges of “sexual assault while intoxicated.”
The accusations against her led to the near implosion of the Le Collectif 50/50 in April 2022, after the entire administrative board quit amid infighting over the best way to deal with the incident.
The organization, which has played...
Nadège Beausson-Diagne (Plus Belle La Vie) accused Favreul Renaud of trying to touch her intimately under her skirt while drunk during a dinner party organized on the fringes of a Collectif 50/50 board meeting in March 2022.
There were no witnesses to Beausson-Diagne’s accusation but other guests at the dinner reported seeing the actress in a state of shock.
Favreul-Renaud, whose credits include Virginie Despentes series Vernon Subutex, was tried in mid-March of this year on charges of “sexual assault while intoxicated.”
The accusations against her led to the near implosion of the Le Collectif 50/50 in April 2022, after the entire administrative board quit amid infighting over the best way to deal with the incident.
The organization, which has played...
- 5/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
A century from publication, Virginia Woolf’s Orlando: A Biography is still in vogue. Just before the pandemic, Tilda Swinton––who played Orlando in Sally Potter’s landmark film 30 years ago––curated a photography exhibition for Aperture inspired by the novel. Early last year, Megan Fernandes had Woolf’s text in mind when she wrote her eulogy for Roe vs Wade. More recently, theater director Neil Bartlett took a new adaptation to the West End, casting non-binary performer Emma Corrin in the title role. For a while, Potter’s adaptation seemed like the last word on Orlando, but Woolf’s story only grows more relevant (and more malleable) as each generation claims it for themselves.
In her review of Bartlett’s play, the theater critic Helen Shaw wrote that the novel “slots into the current gender discourse with a nearly audible click.” Enter Paul B. Preciado, the celebrated French author...
In her review of Bartlett’s play, the theater critic Helen Shaw wrote that the novel “slots into the current gender discourse with a nearly audible click.” Enter Paul B. Preciado, the celebrated French author...
- 3/23/2023
- by Rory O'Connor
- The Film Stage
Wild Bunch co-founders Vincent Maraval and Brahim Chioua bid farewell to the legendary company name they created in 2002 at a characteristically rebel-rousing party in Paris bannered “Forever Wild Whatever The Name!” on Thursday night, but have yet to confirm their new name.
Taking place during Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, local and international collaborators flocked to the Annette K barge on the banks of the Seine for the event, featuring a Céline Dion tribute act and a set by DJ Kiddy Smile who appeared in Gaspar Noé’s Climax.
The dropping of the name marks the final act in their departure from the pan-European Wild Bunch Ag film group, which was created in 2015 out of the merger of their original French company Wild Bunch and Germany’s Senator and is now majority owned by German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst.
Maraval and Chioua and their 15-person-strong team struck out as a standalone...
Taking place during Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, local and international collaborators flocked to the Annette K barge on the banks of the Seine for the event, featuring a Céline Dion tribute act and a set by DJ Kiddy Smile who appeared in Gaspar Noé’s Climax.
The dropping of the name marks the final act in their departure from the pan-European Wild Bunch Ag film group, which was created in 2015 out of the merger of their original French company Wild Bunch and Germany’s Senator and is now majority owned by German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst.
Maraval and Chioua and their 15-person-strong team struck out as a standalone...
- 1/13/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
France’s César Academy has withdrawn actor Sofiane Bennacer from its recently announced annual Revelations list, following his indictment on allegations of rape and violence by four women.
Bennacer was among 32 rising stars on the list showcasing emerging talent, the latest edition of which was announced on November 16.
The Academy said its board, in agreement with the Revelations selection committee, had decided to remove Bennacer from the list following media reports he was undergoing investigation and had been placed under judicial control.
The academy said the move had been made “without prejudice for the presumption of innocence and out of respect for the alleged victims.”
The body added that it had decided to launch a deeper reflection as soon as possible on whether rules around the organization of the César ceremony needed to be modified to set an automatic protocol for what should be done when a César candidate becomes...
Bennacer was among 32 rising stars on the list showcasing emerging talent, the latest edition of which was announced on November 16.
The Academy said its board, in agreement with the Revelations selection committee, had decided to remove Bennacer from the list following media reports he was undergoing investigation and had been placed under judicial control.
The academy said the move had been made “without prejudice for the presumption of innocence and out of respect for the alleged victims.”
The body added that it had decided to launch a deeper reflection as soon as possible on whether rules around the organization of the César ceremony needed to be modified to set an automatic protocol for what should be done when a César candidate becomes...
- 11/23/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Veronique Cayla, the well-respected film and TV executive who recently stepped down from the leadership of Franco-German public culture channel Arte France, will preside the Cesar Academy, which distributes France’s equivalent to the Oscars. Eric Toledano, the popular co-director of smash-hit “The Intouchables” and a key member of the film guild Arp, will be vice-president of the Cesar Academy.
Both Cayla and Toledano were elected for a two-year mandate by the new administration board of the Academy, which includes 42 reps from 21 different fields within the film industry, from actors to crew members, screenwriters, directors and producers. Gender parity has been applied with a man and a woman representing each branch.
The new administration board includes the actors Marina Fois and Antoine Reinartz, the directors Pascale Ferran and Cédric Klapisch, the screenwriters Olivier Gorce and Julier Peyr, the producers Alain Attal and Marie-Ange Luciani, the agents Sébastien Cauchon and Elisabeth Tanner,...
Both Cayla and Toledano were elected for a two-year mandate by the new administration board of the Academy, which includes 42 reps from 21 different fields within the film industry, from actors to crew members, screenwriters, directors and producers. Gender parity has been applied with a man and a woman representing each branch.
The new administration board includes the actors Marina Fois and Antoine Reinartz, the directors Pascale Ferran and Cédric Klapisch, the screenwriters Olivier Gorce and Julier Peyr, the producers Alain Attal and Marie-Ange Luciani, the agents Sébastien Cauchon and Elisabeth Tanner,...
- 9/29/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Anger over return of old guard to revamped general assembly.
A promised reform drive by France’s troubled Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques has gotten off to a rocky start after the body moved to allow historic members back into its revamped general assembly including disgraced director Roman Polanski.
The 4,313 members of the body, which oversees the prestigious national César awards, elected the new general assembly earlier this month. This assembly will now vote in a gender-balanced governing board on September 29 as well as male and female presidents who will work in tandem over a two-year period.
However it...
A promised reform drive by France’s troubled Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques has gotten off to a rocky start after the body moved to allow historic members back into its revamped general assembly including disgraced director Roman Polanski.
The 4,313 members of the body, which oversees the prestigious national César awards, elected the new general assembly earlier this month. This assembly will now vote in a gender-balanced governing board on September 29 as well as male and female presidents who will work in tandem over a two-year period.
However it...
- 9/17/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The Cesar Academy, which distributes France’s equivalent to the Oscars, has unveiled new rules aimed at ramping up diversity and parity within its board.
The new guidelines were put together with the help of a mediator appointed by France’s National Film Board (Cnc) following an industry consultation. Under those new rules, the Cesar Academy will have two presidents, a man and a woman.
The Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc), the organization that oversees the Cesar Academy, will be increased from 45 to 170 members who will have to be elected by the Academy’s 4,313 members. The idea is to have a wider, more representative pool of members who will be voted on by professionals and artists from every field of the industry. The election is expected to take place in September.
Previously, the members of the Apc did not have to be elected, they were part of the...
The new guidelines were put together with the help of a mediator appointed by France’s National Film Board (Cnc) following an industry consultation. Under those new rules, the Cesar Academy will have two presidents, a man and a woman.
The Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc), the organization that oversees the Cesar Academy, will be increased from 45 to 170 members who will have to be elected by the Academy’s 4,313 members. The idea is to have a wider, more representative pool of members who will be voted on by professionals and artists from every field of the industry. The election is expected to take place in September.
Previously, the members of the Apc did not have to be elected, they were part of the...
- 7/9/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSBest known for iconic roles in The Seventh Seal and The Exorcist, Max von Sydow has died at the age of 90. In light of increasing reports on the Covid-19 outbreak, this year's edition of SXSW has been cancelled, bringing with it the heartbreaking layoffs of one third of its employees. Recommended VIEWINGFor the entire month of March, Leilah Weinraub's Shakedown is exclusively available on Pornhub, where Weinraub hopes to reach women audiences. A chat window will be open for users to discuss the film, and Weinraub will drop in once a week to join the conversation. Read Sarah-Tai Black's review of the film upon its 2018 theatrical release here. A new trailer for Eliza Hittman's Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which follows a young girl as she traverses to New York City for an abortion.
- 3/11/2020
- MUBI
The 45th César Awards ceremony took place on Friday, February 28, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris to honor the best in French cinema of 2019 — and at a fractious moment for the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma. The event was emceed by French comedian Florence Foresti, with actress Sandrine Kiberlain presiding. See the full list of winners below.
Earlier this month, the entire board of directors of the French academy announced their planned resignation after the publication of an open letter from hundreds of members calling for a complete overhaul of the organization. The announcement unspooled in the wake of allegedly dodgy financial practices, an overall lack of transparency, and the repeated omission of filmmakers Claire Denis and Virginie Despentes from the Academy’s annual Dîner des Révélations event, focused on emerging talent. The young guests are asked to nominate talent they’d like to see at the event,...
Earlier this month, the entire board of directors of the French academy announced their planned resignation after the publication of an open letter from hundreds of members calling for a complete overhaul of the organization. The announcement unspooled in the wake of allegedly dodgy financial practices, an overall lack of transparency, and the repeated omission of filmmakers Claire Denis and Virginie Despentes from the Academy’s annual Dîner des Révélations event, focused on emerging talent. The young guests are asked to nominate talent they’d like to see at the event,...
- 2/28/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
As a contentious edition of France’s Cesar awards wrapped, Roman Polanski won best director prompting numerous walkouts such as nominee Adele Haenel, star of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”
Ladj Ly’s “Les Miserables” won best picture as well as the people’s choice prize, best male newcomer (for Alexis Manenti) and best editing.
Neither Polanski nor the cast and crew of “An Officer And A Spy” (“J’accuse”) was on hand at the awards ceremony hosted at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Friday. Polanski said on Thursday that he would skip the celebration to avoid being “lynched,” but that didn’t prevent a protest by more than 100 people that was staged in front the venue by the advocacy group Osez le Feminisme.
Since bowing at Cannes Film Festival where it won the jury prize, “Les Miserables” went on to win a Goya Award, and was nominated for...
Ladj Ly’s “Les Miserables” won best picture as well as the people’s choice prize, best male newcomer (for Alexis Manenti) and best editing.
Neither Polanski nor the cast and crew of “An Officer And A Spy” (“J’accuse”) was on hand at the awards ceremony hosted at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Friday. Polanski said on Thursday that he would skip the celebration to avoid being “lynched,” but that didn’t prevent a protest by more than 100 people that was staged in front the venue by the advocacy group Osez le Feminisme.
Since bowing at Cannes Film Festival where it won the jury prize, “Les Miserables” went on to win a Goya Award, and was nominated for...
- 2/28/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Speculation swirls around Roman Polanski’s possible attendance of this week’s ceremony.
Veteran German-French producer Margaret Ménégoz has been appointed interim president of France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques which organises the national César awards. It follows the resignation of the whole board earlier this month amid mounting industry criticism of way the organisation was run.
Ménégoz’s official role is interim president of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc), the not-for-profit body which oversees the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which is also known as the César Academy. She was a board member...
Veteran German-French producer Margaret Ménégoz has been appointed interim president of France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques which organises the national César awards. It follows the resignation of the whole board earlier this month amid mounting industry criticism of way the organisation was run.
Ménégoz’s official role is interim president of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc), the not-for-profit body which oversees the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which is also known as the César Academy. She was a board member...
- 2/26/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The bombshell news about the resignation of the governing board of the Cesar Academy, which distributes France’s equivalent of the Oscars, was greeted with relief within the French film world on Friday.
On the heels of an industry-wide backlash, the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – revealed on Thursday evening that it will resign following the Cesar Awards ceremony on Feb. 28.
Among those resigning is Alain Terzian, a French producer who presides over both the Cesar Academy and the Association for the Promotion of Cinema, as well as former Cannes president Gilles Jacob.
“Their resignation is going to give us the opportunity to rewrite the status of the Cesar’s, which appear to be completely outdated,” “Polisse” actor Marina Fois told the French radio France Info on Friday. Fois is one of 400 film figures who signed a petition calling...
On the heels of an industry-wide backlash, the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – revealed on Thursday evening that it will resign following the Cesar Awards ceremony on Feb. 28.
Among those resigning is Alain Terzian, a French producer who presides over both the Cesar Academy and the Association for the Promotion of Cinema, as well as former Cannes president Gilles Jacob.
“Their resignation is going to give us the opportunity to rewrite the status of the Cesar’s, which appear to be completely outdated,” “Polisse” actor Marina Fois told the French radio France Info on Friday. Fois is one of 400 film figures who signed a petition calling...
- 2/14/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Collective resignation comes amid intense criticism of 45-year-old organisation over gender parity, diversity and transparency.
The entire governing board of France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which organises the country’s César awards, resigned on Thursday evening (Feb 13) following weeks of criticism about the way the body is run.
“To honour those who made films in 2019, and to re-establish some calm and ensure that party for cinema remains a party, the board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc) has taken the unanimous decision to resign,” the board announced in a statement put out by the César Academy on Thursday.
The entire governing board of France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which organises the country’s César awards, resigned on Thursday evening (Feb 13) following weeks of criticism about the way the body is run.
“To honour those who made films in 2019, and to re-establish some calm and ensure that party for cinema remains a party, the board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema (Apc) has taken the unanimous decision to resign,” the board announced in a statement put out by the César Academy on Thursday.
- 2/13/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Update: Variety reports that while the board of directors has announced their collective resignation, the move will not take hold until after the February 28 ceremony.
After weeks of unrest following the announcement of this year’s César nominees, the French Film Academy is facing yet another upheaval, after protests over a dozen nominations for embattled filmmaker Roman Polanski and his latest film, a growing call to modernize the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, and an open letter to French newspaper Le Monde calling for a “complete overhaul” of the organization. Per the Agence France-Presse, the entire board of directors of the organization has opted to resign “to honor those who made the cinema in 2019, to regain serenity, and to make the cinema festival a celebration.”
The news comes just 15 days before the planned 2020 ceremony of France’s version of the Oscars.
Earlier this week, an open letter signed by...
After weeks of unrest following the announcement of this year’s César nominees, the French Film Academy is facing yet another upheaval, after protests over a dozen nominations for embattled filmmaker Roman Polanski and his latest film, a growing call to modernize the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, and an open letter to French newspaper Le Monde calling for a “complete overhaul” of the organization. Per the Agence France-Presse, the entire board of directors of the organization has opted to resign “to honor those who made the cinema in 2019, to regain serenity, and to make the cinema festival a celebration.”
The news comes just 15 days before the planned 2020 ceremony of France’s version of the Oscars.
Earlier this week, an open letter signed by...
- 2/13/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The board overseeing the Cesar Academy, which distributes France’s equivalent of the Oscars, has revealed that it will resign following the Cesar Awards ceremony on Feb. 28. As a result, Alain Terzian, a French producer who presides both the Association for the Promotion of Cinema and the Cesar Academy, is also expected to resign.
The shock announcement by the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – comes on the heels of industry-wide backlash following 12 Cesar nominations for Roman Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy.” The Cesar’s were also heavily criticised for shutting out feminist personalities such as director Claire Denis and author Virginie Despentes from one of recent gala events preceding the ceremony.
The decision also comes just days after the Cesar Academy vowed to reform its operating model and corporate leadership with the help of a mediator.
In recent weeks,...
The shock announcement by the 21-member board of the Association for the Promotion of Cinema – the organization overseeing the Cesar Academy – comes on the heels of industry-wide backlash following 12 Cesar nominations for Roman Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy.” The Cesar’s were also heavily criticised for shutting out feminist personalities such as director Claire Denis and author Virginie Despentes from one of recent gala events preceding the ceremony.
The decision also comes just days after the Cesar Academy vowed to reform its operating model and corporate leadership with the help of a mediator.
In recent weeks,...
- 2/13/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
America has the Oscars. The UK has the BAFTAs. And France has the Césars, which comes with at least one major difference from its international brethren: their members are unable to vote for their leadership. For many of its members — including big names like Céline Sciamma, Michel Hazanavicius, Arnaud Desplechin, Omar Sy, Chiara Mastroianni, Jacques Audiard, Laurent Cantet, Mati Diop, Léa Seydoux, Roschdy Zem, and Bérénice Bejo — that will no longer stand, especially in a changing culture in which the opinions of its unelected board of directors no longer seem to reflect the very creators that make up its membership.
After weeks of unrest following the announcement of this year’s César nominees, including a dozen nods for embattled filmmaker Roman Polanski and his latest film, “An Officer and a Spy” and a growing call to modernize the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, over 400 members posted an open letter...
After weeks of unrest following the announcement of this year’s César nominees, including a dozen nods for embattled filmmaker Roman Polanski and his latest film, “An Officer and a Spy” and a growing call to modernize the Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, over 400 members posted an open letter...
- 2/11/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
National Cinema Centre (Cnc) chief to mediate in growing crisis over criticism of body’s governance.
France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which organises the country’s César awards, has called for calm from the film industry after some 200 French stars and filmmakers put out an open letter on the website of Le Monde newspaper on Monday night calling for “a complete overhaul” of the body.
”We call for calm so that the smooth running of the 45th César ceremony is not put in danger,” the organisation, also known as the César Academy, said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
France’s Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques, which organises the country’s César awards, has called for calm from the film industry after some 200 French stars and filmmakers put out an open letter on the website of Le Monde newspaper on Monday night calling for “a complete overhaul” of the body.
”We call for calm so that the smooth running of the 45th César ceremony is not put in danger,” the organisation, also known as the César Academy, said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
- 2/11/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Claire Denis, Virginie Despentes snubs have triggered a new debate over how the French Academy is run.
France’s annual César awards ceremony is one of the most prestigious and glamorous nights of the year for the French film industry. But the 1,700 guests may well be dusting off their gowns and tuxes with a sense of trepidation for this year’s event on February 28.
The red carpet arrivals at the Salle Pleyel in central Paris are set to be a rowdy affair with women’s rights activists planning to picket the ceremony in protest against the fact that controversial director...
France’s annual César awards ceremony is one of the most prestigious and glamorous nights of the year for the French film industry. But the 1,700 guests may well be dusting off their gowns and tuxes with a sense of trepidation for this year’s event on February 28.
The red carpet arrivals at the Salle Pleyel in central Paris are set to be a rowdy affair with women’s rights activists planning to picket the ceremony in protest against the fact that controversial director...
- 2/6/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Cannes — Forging what could well be a fertile relationship, Studiocanal has sold North American Svod rights on Canal Plus Creation Original “Vernon Subutex,” and “Pros and Cons,” from Denmark’s Sam Productions, to First Look Media’s Topic.
Targeting “culture cravers,” “an audience deeply involved in social, political and cultural issues of today,” general manger Ryan Chanatry told Variety, Svod service Topic is scheduled to bow in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 21.
On those grounds, with series are right up Topic’s alley. One of Canal Plus’ biggest new French plays for 2019, as it moves ever more into larger scale event series. Opening the 2nd Canneseries in April, and showrun by Cathy Verney (“Hard”), “Vernon Subutex” adapts a celebrated novel trilogy, by Virginie Despentes. The series casts Romain Duris, one of France’s biggest stars, in the titular role, first appearing in opening scenes. set way back in the 1980s,...
Targeting “culture cravers,” “an audience deeply involved in social, political and cultural issues of today,” general manger Ryan Chanatry told Variety, Svod service Topic is scheduled to bow in the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 21.
On those grounds, with series are right up Topic’s alley. One of Canal Plus’ biggest new French plays for 2019, as it moves ever more into larger scale event series. Opening the 2nd Canneseries in April, and showrun by Cathy Verney (“Hard”), “Vernon Subutex” adapts a celebrated novel trilogy, by Virginie Despentes. The series casts Romain Duris, one of France’s biggest stars, in the titular role, first appearing in opening scenes. set way back in the 1980s,...
- 10/15/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes — The 2nd Canneseries festival ended Wednesday. Variety asks what this year’s second edition says about the current state of high-end drama series production.
1.Comedy Ruled, And Won
The 2nd Canneseries had no competition title with the profile of “Killing Eve,” its standout last year. A world premiere screened out of competition as the last series in the whole festival, where it met with some thunderous applause, “Years & Years,” a BBC-Canal Plus-HBO production showrun by U.K. industry heavyweight Russell T. Davies, does have that stature, and the potential to be one of the major drama series of 2019.
The Canneseries Competition ran a wide gamut – from genre (“Outbreak”) to drama (“Bauhaus”), drama-thrillers (“The Twelve”), near future low-fi (“The Feed”), dramedies and comedies, Canneseries artistic director Albin Levi pointed out.
As far as its competition goes, the festival’s major achievement this year was its bet on...
1.Comedy Ruled, And Won
The 2nd Canneseries had no competition title with the profile of “Killing Eve,” its standout last year. A world premiere screened out of competition as the last series in the whole festival, where it met with some thunderous applause, “Years & Years,” a BBC-Canal Plus-HBO production showrun by U.K. industry heavyweight Russell T. Davies, does have that stature, and the potential to be one of the major drama series of 2019.
The Canneseries Competition ran a wide gamut – from genre (“Outbreak”) to drama (“Bauhaus”), drama-thrillers (“The Twelve”), near future low-fi (“The Feed”), dramedies and comedies, Canneseries artistic director Albin Levi pointed out.
As far as its competition goes, the festival’s major achievement this year was its bet on...
- 4/11/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Cannes — Few recent novels have impacted more in France than the “Vernon Subutex,” from Virginie Despentes (“Baisse Moi”), published as a trilogy from 2015 to 2017.
A Canal Plus Création Originale – Original Series – sold abroad by Studiocanal, starring Romain Duris (“The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and opening 2019’s 2nd Canneseries this Friday, “Vernon Subutex”, which bows on Canal Plus on Monday, is one of the most anticipated French premium of the year. Whether it is at all a faithful adaptation of the novel is another question.
The plots still there.In the 1980s, young Vernon Subutex was a living legend, owner of a record shop worshipped for its tastes its partying. 20, 30 years later, after his shop went bust, he’s getting evicted from his flat.
Reaches out to former contacts still involved in the music industry. After a night with rock star Alex Bleach, Vernon becomes a wanted man when Bleach...
A Canal Plus Création Originale – Original Series – sold abroad by Studiocanal, starring Romain Duris (“The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and opening 2019’s 2nd Canneseries this Friday, “Vernon Subutex”, which bows on Canal Plus on Monday, is one of the most anticipated French premium of the year. Whether it is at all a faithful adaptation of the novel is another question.
The plots still there.In the 1980s, young Vernon Subutex was a living legend, owner of a record shop worshipped for its tastes its partying. 20, 30 years later, after his shop went bust, he’s getting evicted from his flat.
Reaches out to former contacts still involved in the music industry. After a night with rock star Alex Bleach, Vernon becomes a wanted man when Bleach...
- 4/8/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The line-up includes new TV projects from Hirokazu Kore-eda, Gurinder Chadha and Gregg Araki.
Canneseries, the annual TV festival running alongside the Miptv content market in Cannes, has unveiled the competition line-up for its second edition (April 5-10).
The first two epsidoes from 10 new international series will screen in the main competition.
Titles include Channing Powell’s London-set psychological thriller The Feed for Amazon and Liberty Global. David Thewlis stars in the dystopian tale as the inventor of a brain implant that allows people to share thoughts and emotions alongside Guy Burnet, Michelle Fairley and Nina Toussaint-White as his family members.
Canneseries, the annual TV festival running alongside the Miptv content market in Cannes, has unveiled the competition line-up for its second edition (April 5-10).
The first two epsidoes from 10 new international series will screen in the main competition.
Titles include Channing Powell’s London-set psychological thriller The Feed for Amazon and Liberty Global. David Thewlis stars in the dystopian tale as the inventor of a brain implant that allows people to share thoughts and emotions alongside Guy Burnet, Michelle Fairley and Nina Toussaint-White as his family members.
- 3/13/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix movies may still be question mark in terms of being allowed in competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in May, but the streaming giant will be present at Cannes Series. The Cannes television festival will mark its second year next month with Netflix going up against rival Amazon in the competition section. The full lineup includes series from Israel, Norway, Spain, and Belgium.
Netflix’s competition entry is the German series “How to Sell Drugs Online Fast,” from writers Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann. Amazon is heading to Cannes Series with “The Feed,” a London-set drama created by Channing Powell and based on the novel Nick Clark Windo. “The Feed” stars “Game of Thrones” favorite Michelle Fairley opposite David Thewlis in a story about a piece of technology that allows people to instantly share thoughts and emotions. The tech falls into the wrong hands and becomes a murderous weapon.
Netflix’s competition entry is the German series “How to Sell Drugs Online Fast,” from writers Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann. Amazon is heading to Cannes Series with “The Feed,” a London-set drama created by Channing Powell and based on the novel Nick Clark Windo. “The Feed” stars “Game of Thrones” favorite Michelle Fairley opposite David Thewlis in a story about a piece of technology that allows people to instantly share thoughts and emotions. The tech falls into the wrong hands and becomes a murderous weapon.
- 3/13/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Cannes Series has revealed the lineup, jury and masterclasses for its second edition, which takes place alongside the Mip TV market on the French Riviera.
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
- 3/13/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“Vernon Subutex,” one of Canal Plus’ banner Original Series, will world premiere at the opening night of this year’s Canneseries.
Directed by Cathy Verney and starring Romain Duris (“The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and Céline Sallette (“House of Tolerance”), the Canal Plus Création Originale will premiere three episodes, out of competition, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on April 5. International sales are handled by Studiocanal.
The premier and opening night slot will give a high-profile at this year’s event to Canal Plus, a partner of Canneseries, as the French pay TV giant attempts to mark itself apart in France as a quality but still edgy and Ya-appealing original series producer.
The series is inspired by a popular pair of novels from author Virginie Despentes, a bestseller in France which was crying out for a small screen adaptation.
The series’ nine, half-hour episodes track the titular main character,...
Directed by Cathy Verney and starring Romain Duris (“The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) and Céline Sallette (“House of Tolerance”), the Canal Plus Création Originale will premiere three episodes, out of competition, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on April 5. International sales are handled by Studiocanal.
The premier and opening night slot will give a high-profile at this year’s event to Canal Plus, a partner of Canneseries, as the French pay TV giant attempts to mark itself apart in France as a quality but still edgy and Ya-appealing original series producer.
The series is inspired by a popular pair of novels from author Virginie Despentes, a bestseller in France which was crying out for a small screen adaptation.
The series’ nine, half-hour episodes track the titular main character,...
- 2/6/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Art of Crime (season 2)
Created by Pierre-Yves Mora, Angele Herry
Broadcaster: France 2
Production: Gaumont
A detective teams with an art historian on mysteries of French heritage.
Sales: Gaumont
Balthazar
Written by Clothilde Jamin, Clelia Constantine
Cast: Tomer Sisley, Helene de Fougerolles
Broadcaster: TF1
Production: Beaubourg Audiovisuel
The cop series follows a handsome and cheeky forensic physician working with a policewoman to solve complex crimes.
Eden
Directed by Dominique Moll, created by Edward Berger, Nele Mueller-Stoefen, Marianne Wendt
Cast: Sylvie Testud
Broadcasters: Arte , Ard
Production: Atlantique Productions, Lupa Film
A small ship carrying refugees goes ashore on a Greek beach causing chaos among tourists, but also transforming some lives.
Sales: Lagardere Studios Distribution
Hippocrates
Written, created by Thomas Lilti, Anais Carpita, Claude Le Pape et Julien Liti, and inspired by Lilti’s movie “Hippocrates,” which played at Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2014.
Cast: Louise Bourgoin, Alice Belaidi
Broadcaster: Canal Plus
Production:...
Created by Pierre-Yves Mora, Angele Herry
Broadcaster: France 2
Production: Gaumont
A detective teams with an art historian on mysteries of French heritage.
Sales: Gaumont
Balthazar
Written by Clothilde Jamin, Clelia Constantine
Cast: Tomer Sisley, Helene de Fougerolles
Broadcaster: TF1
Production: Beaubourg Audiovisuel
The cop series follows a handsome and cheeky forensic physician working with a policewoman to solve complex crimes.
Eden
Directed by Dominique Moll, created by Edward Berger, Nele Mueller-Stoefen, Marianne Wendt
Cast: Sylvie Testud
Broadcasters: Arte , Ard
Production: Atlantique Productions, Lupa Film
A small ship carrying refugees goes ashore on a Greek beach causing chaos among tourists, but also transforming some lives.
Sales: Lagardere Studios Distribution
Hippocrates
Written, created by Thomas Lilti, Anais Carpita, Claude Le Pape et Julien Liti, and inspired by Lilti’s movie “Hippocrates,” which played at Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2014.
Cast: Louise Bourgoin, Alice Belaidi
Broadcaster: Canal Plus
Production:...
- 10/13/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The wild child author of Baise-Moi and former sex worker has completed a trilogy, Vernon Subutex, which has secured her renown as a ‘rock’n’roll Zola’
In her living room in northern Paris, Virginie Despentes, a former punk and wild child of French literature, sits on her sofa with coffee in a Motörhead mug, rolling a cigarette and reflecting on the passing of time. “I’ve changed a lot as a person – the anger and anxiety isn’t the same,” she says.
It is almost 25 years since Despentes burst on to the French literary scene with her debut novel Baise-Moi, a rape revenge story that she began writing aged 23 while she was also occasionally a sex worker. In 2000, when she directed the film version, working with female pornography actors, it was banned in France for a time, and became a cult hit across Europe. Despentes, who took her pen...
In her living room in northern Paris, Virginie Despentes, a former punk and wild child of French literature, sits on her sofa with coffee in a Motörhead mug, rolling a cigarette and reflecting on the passing of time. “I’ve changed a lot as a person – the anger and anxiety isn’t the same,” she says.
It is almost 25 years since Despentes burst on to the French literary scene with her debut novel Baise-Moi, a rape revenge story that she began writing aged 23 while she was also occasionally a sex worker. In 2000, when she directed the film version, working with female pornography actors, it was banned in France for a time, and became a cult hit across Europe. Despentes, who took her pen...
- 8/31/2018
- by Angelique Chrisafis
- The Guardian - Film News
Coralie Fargeat’s blood-soaked thriller is a wild ride but fails as a feminist genre-buster
Full marks for courage to the French director Coralie Fargeat who, for her feature debut, plunges into the murkiest territory imaginable and tackles the rape revenge genre. But unlike the subversive art-house ordeal of Baise-Moi by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, or the showily sadistic pyrotechnics of Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible, Fargeat favours a camp, heightened, almost cartoonish approach. Revenge is part trashy exploitation flick, part Looney Tunes romp.
Italian actor Matilda Lutz stars as Jen, a resourceful young woman who, after a trip with her boyfriend goes wrong, finds herself forced to slaughter her lover and his hunting buddies one by one. She does so with a great deal of flair, despite first having been pushed off a cliff, impaled on a tree and self-medicated with industrial-strength peyote.
Full marks for courage to the French director Coralie Fargeat who, for her feature debut, plunges into the murkiest territory imaginable and tackles the rape revenge genre. But unlike the subversive art-house ordeal of Baise-Moi by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, or the showily sadistic pyrotechnics of Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible, Fargeat favours a camp, heightened, almost cartoonish approach. Revenge is part trashy exploitation flick, part Looney Tunes romp.
Italian actor Matilda Lutz stars as Jen, a resourceful young woman who, after a trip with her boyfriend goes wrong, finds herself forced to slaughter her lover and his hunting buddies one by one. She does so with a great deal of flair, despite first having been pushed off a cliff, impaled on a tree and self-medicated with industrial-strength peyote.
- 5/13/2018
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
Isabelle Adjani, the Oscar-nominated star of François Truffaut’s “The Story of Adele H.” and Bruno Nuytten’s “Camille Claudel,” presided over the Cannes jury in 1997, the year of the festival’s 50th anniversary.
Heading the panel is “a very intense experience and at times a difficult mission when it comes to judging the work of other artists, and defending your emotions and ideas against those of other jury members,” says Adjani, who is a fan of incoming president Cate Blanchett. Adjani reportedly clashed with directors Mike Leigh and Nanni Moretti in choosing the winner of the 1997 Palme d’Or, with the jury eventually deciding to give the award to two films, Shohei Imamura’s “The Eel” and Abbas Kiarostami’s “Taste of Cherry.”
“The film world continues to be dominated by men,” says Adjani, one of the first and few French stars to have publicly voiced her support for the #MeToo movement.
Heading the panel is “a very intense experience and at times a difficult mission when it comes to judging the work of other artists, and defending your emotions and ideas against those of other jury members,” says Adjani, who is a fan of incoming president Cate Blanchett. Adjani reportedly clashed with directors Mike Leigh and Nanni Moretti in choosing the winner of the 1997 Palme d’Or, with the jury eventually deciding to give the award to two films, Shohei Imamura’s “The Eel” and Abbas Kiarostami’s “Taste of Cherry.”
“The film world continues to be dominated by men,” says Adjani, one of the first and few French stars to have publicly voiced her support for the #MeToo movement.
- 5/2/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Signatories to the initiative, called Collectif 5050x2020, include Léa Seydoux, Lily-Rose Depp.
Some 300 professionals from across the French cinema world have signed up to a new movement called the Collectif 5050x2020 demanding more gender equality and diversity in the country’s film industry.
The aim of the initiative, launched on the eve of the country’s prestigious César film awards this evening, is to put in place concrete steps to bring about equality across the business, says film sales executive Bérénice Vincent, co-founder and spokesperson for the collective.
The initiative is among a raft of gender equality campaigns to have...
Some 300 professionals from across the French cinema world have signed up to a new movement called the Collectif 5050x2020 demanding more gender equality and diversity in the country’s film industry.
The aim of the initiative, launched on the eve of the country’s prestigious César film awards this evening, is to put in place concrete steps to bring about equality across the business, says film sales executive Bérénice Vincent, co-founder and spokesperson for the collective.
The initiative is among a raft of gender equality campaigns to have...
- 3/2/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Ruling over Palme d’Or winner fuels growing fears of conservative backlash in France.
A French court has cancelled the under-12 classification of Cannes d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Colour following pressure from a Catholic pressure group, fuelling growing fears of a conservative backlash in France.
The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal ruling published on Wednesday (Dec 9) said the picture’s “realistic sex scenes” were are “of a nature that could impact the sensitivity of a young public” and ordered French Minister of Culture and Communications Fleur Pellerin to re-examine the classification within a two-month period.
The ruling, some two years after Abdellatif Kechiche’s passionate lesbian love story was released theatrically in France, has sparked consternation in cinema circles and beyond.
France’s under-18 rating was originally created in 2001 in response to the controversy surrounding the classification of Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi’s Baisse- Moi.
It is aimed...
A French court has cancelled the under-12 classification of Cannes d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Colour following pressure from a Catholic pressure group, fuelling growing fears of a conservative backlash in France.
The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal ruling published on Wednesday (Dec 9) said the picture’s “realistic sex scenes” were are “of a nature that could impact the sensitivity of a young public” and ordered French Minister of Culture and Communications Fleur Pellerin to re-examine the classification within a two-month period.
The ruling, some two years after Abdellatif Kechiche’s passionate lesbian love story was released theatrically in France, has sparked consternation in cinema circles and beyond.
France’s under-18 rating was originally created in 2001 in response to the controversy surrounding the classification of Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi’s Baisse- Moi.
It is aimed...
- 12/10/2015
- ScreenDaily
Gaspar Noé’s bid to shock us into submission with 3D sex is let down by two-dimensional performances
“I want to film that which cinema has rarely allowed itself, either for commercial or legal reasons,” says Gaspar Noé, writer/director of cause celebre Cannes favourites Seul Contre Tous, Irréversible and Enter the Void. For his fourth feature, Noé sets out “to film the organic dimension of being in love”, free from “the ridiculous division that dictates no normal film can contain overly erotic scenes”. Thus we have a Last Tango in Paris-tinged tale of amour fou in which a disconsolate young American in Paris drifts from the responsibilities of fatherhood back into memories of lost love, Noé taking us on a lurid three-way tour of appendages and orifices, physical and psychological.
This of course is nothing new. Since the post-Deep Throat days of Nagisa Oshima’s Ai No Corrida...
“I want to film that which cinema has rarely allowed itself, either for commercial or legal reasons,” says Gaspar Noé, writer/director of cause celebre Cannes favourites Seul Contre Tous, Irréversible and Enter the Void. For his fourth feature, Noé sets out “to film the organic dimension of being in love”, free from “the ridiculous division that dictates no normal film can contain overly erotic scenes”. Thus we have a Last Tango in Paris-tinged tale of amour fou in which a disconsolate young American in Paris drifts from the responsibilities of fatherhood back into memories of lost love, Noé taking us on a lurid three-way tour of appendages and orifices, physical and psychological.
This of course is nothing new. Since the post-Deep Throat days of Nagisa Oshima’s Ai No Corrida...
- 11/22/2015
- by Mark Kermode, Observer film critic
- The Guardian - Film News
Former Palme d'Or winner to take prestigious role as jury president for this year's edition of the premier European film festival
• Jane Campion wanted a bleaker ending for The Piano
• Jane Campion: this much I know
The Oscar-winning director of The Piano, Jane Campion, is to lead the jury at this year's Cannes film festival.
Campion, who is also the only female film-maker to have ever taken home the French event's top prize, the Palme d'Or, described her passion for the world's most famous film festival in a statement.
"Since I first went to Cannes with my short films in 1986 I have had the opportunity to see the festival from many sides and my admiration for this Queen of film festivals has only grown larger," she said. "At the Cannes film festival they manage to combine and celebrate the glamour of the industry, the stars, the parties, the beaches,...
• Jane Campion wanted a bleaker ending for The Piano
• Jane Campion: this much I know
The Oscar-winning director of The Piano, Jane Campion, is to lead the jury at this year's Cannes film festival.
Campion, who is also the only female film-maker to have ever taken home the French event's top prize, the Palme d'Or, described her passion for the world's most famous film festival in a statement.
"Since I first went to Cannes with my short films in 1986 I have had the opportunity to see the festival from many sides and my admiration for this Queen of film festivals has only grown larger," she said. "At the Cannes film festival they manage to combine and celebrate the glamour of the industry, the stars, the parties, the beaches,...
- 1/7/2014
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Starring: Karen Bach, Raffaëla Anderson | Written and Directed by Virginie Despentes, Coralie Trinh Thi | Based on the novel by Virginie Despentes
Baise-Moi is not an easy film to watch for a great many reasons, the foremost of which, after all the controversy surrounding the film’s dealt with, is that it’s really quite dull. Based on co-writer/director Virginie Despentes’ novel of the same name, the story follows two victimised, harried young women – occasional porn star Manu and prostitute Nadine – as they escape the misogyny and casual violence of their lives by screwing and killing their way across France.
…And that’s about it. The sex scenes are real (stars Bach and Anderson were both porn actresses up to the time of shooting) but not particularly insightful or revealing (apart from the obvious) but the violence is utterly unconvincing, showcasing lumpy blood effects and removing any sense of verisimilitude we might have previously gained.
Baise-Moi is not an easy film to watch for a great many reasons, the foremost of which, after all the controversy surrounding the film’s dealt with, is that it’s really quite dull. Based on co-writer/director Virginie Despentes’ novel of the same name, the story follows two victimised, harried young women – occasional porn star Manu and prostitute Nadine – as they escape the misogyny and casual violence of their lives by screwing and killing their way across France.
…And that’s about it. The sex scenes are real (stars Bach and Anderson were both porn actresses up to the time of shooting) but not particularly insightful or revealing (apart from the obvious) but the violence is utterly unconvincing, showcasing lumpy blood effects and removing any sense of verisimilitude we might have previously gained.
- 4/23/2013
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
The young singer turned actress in Xavier Giannoli’s In the Beginning, Virginie Despentes’ Bye Bye Blondie and specifically last year’s Critics’ Week selected Alice Winocour’s debut film Augustine will be a popular face on the Croisette this year as the section have have made the official poster of the 52nd edition public. The fest added, “by discovering first features, the section in charge of talent scouting also showcases new actors, often performing their first roles on the big screen. Maggie Cheung, Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Gael García Bernal, Alice de Lencquesaing, all these actors whose early and promising years are reflected in Soko’s luminescent and serene beauty, which radiates the pleasure and sensuality of performance.”...
- 4/2/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
★☆☆☆☆ Infamous for its scenes of graphic real sex juxtaposed with acts of brutal violence (the latter thankfully simulated), Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi's Baise-moi (2000) is released this week on DVD in its original uncut form, courtesy of cult film specialists Arrow Video. Sadly, thirteen years on from its initial, muted rallying cry, this sleazy exercise in neo-exploitation feels just as vapid and nihilistic now as it did then. Crudely shot on digital with little or no aesthetic consideration, the best that can be said of Despentes and Thi's female-led revenge thriller is that its soundtrack will stay with you - for all the wrong reasons.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 3/26/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Arrow Video's outrageous and completely uncut version of Baise-moi (2000) will be released on DVD for the very first time this Monday (25 March). One of the most controversial French films ever made, this highly anticipated release also marks the first time that Virginie Despentes and Coralie's cult classic will be available in widescreen format. To celebrate this new Baise-moi rerelease, we've kindly been provided with Three DVD copies of the film to offer our readership, courtesy of the hardworking guys and gals at Arrow. This is an exclusive competition for our Facebook and Twitter fans, so if you haven't already, 'Like' us at facebook.com/CineVueUK or follow us @CineVue before answering the question below.
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- 3/25/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Sofia Djama's award-winning short film examines women's rights in a sexist society
Sofia Djama does not consider herself a feminist. It's not because she doesn't believe in equal rights for women – as a 33-year-old female director in Algeria, she is already a trailblazer. It's more that, as she puts it: "The rights of women in Algeria are such that you can't be feminist in the traditional sense. There are things you can't even discuss or negotiate."
The main problem, as Djama sees it, lies in the interstices between legal and social morality in her country.
"On one hand, I consider myself totally free," she says, speaking over the phone from Paris, where she spends some of her time. "I have a right to wear a skirt, to go to the beach – the law doesn't ban me from doing so. If I don't want to fast during Ramadan, the law doesn't oblige me to.
Sofia Djama does not consider herself a feminist. It's not because she doesn't believe in equal rights for women – as a 33-year-old female director in Algeria, she is already a trailblazer. It's more that, as she puts it: "The rights of women in Algeria are such that you can't be feminist in the traditional sense. There are things you can't even discuss or negotiate."
The main problem, as Djama sees it, lies in the interstices between legal and social morality in her country.
"On one hand, I consider myself totally free," she says, speaking over the phone from Paris, where she spends some of her time. "I have a right to wear a skirt, to go to the beach – the law doesn't ban me from doing so. If I don't want to fast during Ramadan, the law doesn't oblige me to.
- 8/28/2012
- by Elizabeth Day
- The Guardian - Film News
Sofia Djama's award-winning short film examines women's rights in a sexist society
Sofia Djama does not consider herself a feminist. It's not because she doesn't believe in equal rights for women – as a 33-year-old female director in Algeria, she is already a trailblazer. It's more that, as she puts it: "The rights of women in Algeria are such that you can't be feminist in the traditional sense. There are things you can't even discuss or negotiate."
The main problem, as Djama sees it, lies in the interstices between legal and social morality in her country.
"On one hand, I consider myself totally free," she says, speaking over the phone from Paris, where she spends some of her time. "I have a right to wear a skirt, to go to the beach – the law doesn't ban me from doing so. If I don't want to fast during Ramadan, the law doesn't oblige me to.
Sofia Djama does not consider herself a feminist. It's not because she doesn't believe in equal rights for women – as a 33-year-old female director in Algeria, she is already a trailblazer. It's more that, as she puts it: "The rights of women in Algeria are such that you can't be feminist in the traditional sense. There are things you can't even discuss or negotiate."
The main problem, as Djama sees it, lies in the interstices between legal and social morality in her country.
"On one hand, I consider myself totally free," she says, speaking over the phone from Paris, where she spends some of her time. "I have a right to wear a skirt, to go to the beach – the law doesn't ban me from doing so. If I don't want to fast during Ramadan, the law doesn't oblige me to.
- 8/24/2012
- by Elizabeth Day
- The Guardian - Film News
Bye Bye Blondie
Written and directed by Virginie Despentes
France, 2011
Perhaps a paean to the 1960 stage musical and its 1963 film adaptation, Bye Bye Birdie, Virginie Despentes’ Bye Bye Blondie tries to be the social satire its American counterpart was. But with a protagonist suffused with libertine barbarism and a narrative of moral ambivalence, the film, quite ironically, presents the characters as malevolent, not society.
In the northeastern French city of Nancy, Gloria (Béatrice Dalle) lives a decidedly involuntary bohemian lifestyle, spending her time drifting from record shops and bars. Meanwhile, Frances (Emmanuelle Béart), her once childhood summer romance, is a successful television host in Paris.
Her life unfulfilled, Frances plays a beard in a lavender marriage to a writer, Claude (Pascal Greggory), and in order to regain passion in her life, she attempts to reconnect with Gloria. Drastically different from when they last met, the two women must try to...
Written and directed by Virginie Despentes
France, 2011
Perhaps a paean to the 1960 stage musical and its 1963 film adaptation, Bye Bye Birdie, Virginie Despentes’ Bye Bye Blondie tries to be the social satire its American counterpart was. But with a protagonist suffused with libertine barbarism and a narrative of moral ambivalence, the film, quite ironically, presents the characters as malevolent, not society.
In the northeastern French city of Nancy, Gloria (Béatrice Dalle) lives a decidedly involuntary bohemian lifestyle, spending her time drifting from record shops and bars. Meanwhile, Frances (Emmanuelle Béart), her once childhood summer romance, is a successful television host in Paris.
Her life unfulfilled, Frances plays a beard in a lavender marriage to a writer, Claude (Pascal Greggory), and in order to regain passion in her life, she attempts to reconnect with Gloria. Drastically different from when they last met, the two women must try to...
- 5/27/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
Of the 22 films in contention for the prestigious Palme d'Or, not one has a female director. And while women's lives are getting more attention on screen, the struggle to break in to the rough and tough old boys' club of directing appears as hard as ever
Cannes' fabled Croisette promenade was dotted with the customary festival starlets in high heels and glamorous dresses yesterday afternoon.
But just behind them, a feminist uprising of sorts was in full swing. Inside a landmark hotel on the seafront strip in the South of France, loud calls for positive discrimination in favour of women's films were being voiced. The impact of British director Andrea Arnold's public anger about the failure to include a female director in the prestigious Palme D'Or line-up continues to stir controversy at the annual celebration of world cinema.
Speakers at a Beyond Borders diversity symposium echoed Arnold's complaint that...
Cannes' fabled Croisette promenade was dotted with the customary festival starlets in high heels and glamorous dresses yesterday afternoon.
But just behind them, a feminist uprising of sorts was in full swing. Inside a landmark hotel on the seafront strip in the South of France, loud calls for positive discrimination in favour of women's films were being voiced. The impact of British director Andrea Arnold's public anger about the failure to include a female director in the prestigious Palme D'Or line-up continues to stir controversy at the annual celebration of world cinema.
Speakers at a Beyond Borders diversity symposium echoed Arnold's complaint that...
- 5/19/2012
- by Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
The French feminist collective known as La Barbe (French for “The Beard”) printed an open letter in France’s daily newspaper Le Monde earlier this week addressing the complete absence of films directed by women in the Competition section at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. La Barbe is made up of actress Fanny Cottençon, writer/director Virginie Despentes and director Coline Serreau, who have also set up an online petition which has been signed by numerous luminaries, including feminist icon Gloria Steinem and filmmakers such as Ry Russo-Young, Gillian Armstrong and Ava DuVernay.
The British newspaper The Guardian ran a translation of the open letter, which reads as follows:
“What has changed in cinema? Everything has changed!” exclaimed Gilles Jacob, president of the Cannes film festival, during the presentation of the 65th Cannes festival film nominations. Everything?! For one second, we trembled. But for no reason, it turned out,...
The British newspaper The Guardian ran a translation of the open letter, which reads as follows:
“What has changed in cinema? Everything has changed!” exclaimed Gilles Jacob, president of the Cannes film festival, during the presentation of the 65th Cannes festival film nominations. Everything?! For one second, we trembled. But for no reason, it turned out,...
- 5/18/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Criticism over the absence of women in the main competition at Cannes continues to be an issue at the festival, with a scathing open letter decrying the situation and a couple of notable filmmakers discussing the issue as well. Before the festival began, an open letter ran in the French newspaper Le Monde. "Men are fond of depth in women," read one line of the letter, "but only in their cleavage." The letter, which was signed by the feminist action group La Barbe ("The Beard"), including directors Fanny Cottencon and Virginie Despentes,...
- 5/17/2012
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Open letter: Women may adorn the awards ceremony and prettify the posters, but, mon dieu, don't let them behind the camera
"What has changed in cinema? Everything has changed!" exclaimed Gilles Jacob, president of the Cannes film festival, during the presentation of the 65th Cannes festival film nominations. Everything?! For one second, we trembled. But for no reason, it turned out, as the 22 officially selected movies – happy coincidence – were directed by 22 men. This 65th festival will end up giving the precious award to a male director for the 63rd time, defending the masculine values that give the seventh art its nobility.
Only once did the Cannes film festival lose heart. In 1993, the Palme d'Or was indeed awarded to Jane Campion. And last year, doubtless due to a lack of vigilance, four women somehow sneaked in among the 20 people nominated in the official competition. Thierry Frémeaux, the festival's director general, correctly...
"What has changed in cinema? Everything has changed!" exclaimed Gilles Jacob, president of the Cannes film festival, during the presentation of the 65th Cannes festival film nominations. Everything?! For one second, we trembled. But for no reason, it turned out, as the 22 officially selected movies – happy coincidence – were directed by 22 men. This 65th festival will end up giving the precious award to a male director for the 63rd time, defending the masculine values that give the seventh art its nobility.
Only once did the Cannes film festival lose heart. In 1993, the Palme d'Or was indeed awarded to Jane Campion. And last year, doubtless due to a lack of vigilance, four women somehow sneaked in among the 20 people nominated in the official competition. Thierry Frémeaux, the festival's director general, correctly...
- 5/15/2012
- by La Barbe
- The Guardian - Film News
We complete our look at the key players in the Cannes market with the sales agent that has the most number of highly anticipated film projects. Wild Bunch came to the fest with popular items such as Polisse, The Artist and The Kid With a Bike, and it looks like they might outfit Venice and Tiff with some premium titles with Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmasters being one of the most sought after titles this coming August/September. Here's their lengthy list of auteur film projects. Bye Bye Blondie by Virginie Despentes - Post-Production In Turmoil (Dans La Tourmente) by Christophe Ruggia - Post-Production That Summer (Un Ete Brulant) by Philippe Garrel - Post-Production Bollywood - Completed Declaration Of War by Valerie Donzelli - Completed Hideaways by Agnes Merlet - Completed Leila by Audrey Estrougo - Completed Michel Petrucciani/ Body And Soul by Michael Radford - Completed Polisse by Maïwenn...
- 5/31/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
We're about 36 hours away from Cannes Film Festival's big unveiling of the 2011 line-up and while the Main Comp should bare very little surprises (see the math below), the one title whose status is still a mystery and could break into the 20 or so titles is Carlos Reygadas' Post Tenebras Lux. Literally translated as "Light After Darkness", Reygadas' semi-autobiographical feature was filmed in cities where the helmer has spent portions of his life: Mexico, England, Spain and Belgium. What this amount to be is the type of film that no pre-festival synopsis will do it justice. If included, I can't wait for that 8:00 in the morning press screening. Earlier this week, Variety threw in Naomi Kawase's name into the mix. Titled Hanezu no Tsuki, her film is set in the Asuka period which was known for its significant artistic, social, and political transformations - we're talking only 500 years A.
- 4/13/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Unlike Cannes 2010, this year's expected Main Competition will be so rich and textured that a film such as Virginie Despentes' Bye Bye Blondie might actually be shown elsewhere on the Croisette. Here are a pair of pics which depict different eras in one relationship -- the teenage years will see actress Soko take on a young Béatrice Dalle. I look forward in seeing what kind of soundtrack will accompany the film, especially the punk years. Adapted by the director from her eponymous novel, Gloria (Béatrice Dalle) is 40. With no job, no family, no fixed address, she spends her time boozing in her local bar in Nancy. Frances (Emmanuelle Béart) is 40. A prime time TV presenter living in Paris, she’s married to successful novelist, Claude. Behind closed doors, Frances sleeps with women, and Claude with men. In public, they are the perfect couple. Back in the 80s, Gloria and...
- 2/4/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Surprise! A Woody Allen film set in Paris is set to open the world’s most prestigious film festival in that respective country. The 64th Cannes Film Festival has selected Allen’s Midnight in Paris to be the opening night film (via OnTheCroisette), following after Ridley Scott‘s Robin Hood last year.
Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy featuring a large ensemble cast of Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen, Adrien Brody, Nina Arianda, Corey Stoll, Mimi Kennedy, Kurt Fullerby, Carla Bruni, and Léa Seydoux. The film follows “a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.” Check out Festival director Thierry Frémaux’s statement below:
“Midnight in Paris is a wonderful love letter to Paris. It’s a film in which Woody Allen...
Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy featuring a large ensemble cast of Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen, Adrien Brody, Nina Arianda, Corey Stoll, Mimi Kennedy, Kurt Fullerby, Carla Bruni, and Léa Seydoux. The film follows “a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.” Check out Festival director Thierry Frémaux’s statement below:
“Midnight in Paris is a wonderful love letter to Paris. It’s a film in which Woody Allen...
- 2/2/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
#96. Bye Bye Blondie Director/Writer: Virginie DespentesProducers: Sébastien de Fonseca and Cédric WalterDistributor: Rights Available. The Gist: Adapted by the director from her eponymous novel, Gloria (Dalle) lives in Nancy. Unemployed, without a family, and with no permanent address, she wastes her days at a local watering hole. Frances (Béart) lives in Paris - she is a popular figure in television and is married to a novelist. While in the public eye they form the ideal couple, in their private lives, she prefers women and her husband is into boys. ....(more) Cast: Emmanuelle Béart, Béatrice Dalle and Pascal Greggory List Worthy Reasons...: It's been a decade since Rape Me, the road-trip fueled with sex and violence which stirred up controversy on at least one side of the Atlantic (it was pulled after one week in the U.S), but the reason why we're curious about this specimen hasn't got...
- 1/10/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
It would be fitting that the announcement over Cannes Film Festival 2011 jury president would come the day I watched last year’s Palme d’Or winner, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. In 2010, Tim Burton headed the jury that picked Apichatpong Weerasethakul‘s film as our top winner. The official Cannes site reports that Robert De Niro will help decide the winner this year. His duty is to oversee eight other chosen film artists, whether it be actors, directors, etc., as they all choose who and what will win the awards, which include:
The Palm d’OrGrand PrixPrix du JuryBest Actress, Actor, Screenplay, and Director.
You may read De Niro’s statement below:
As co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival I have an increased appreciation for the jury, who serve, undertaking an important role in choosing films that are represented in the...
The Palm d’OrGrand PrixPrix du JuryBest Actress, Actor, Screenplay, and Director.
You may read De Niro’s statement below:
As co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and the Doha Tribeca Film Festival I have an increased appreciation for the jury, who serve, undertaking an important role in choosing films that are represented in the...
- 1/6/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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