Fresh Talent Revives Gallic Cinema
variety.comBen Croll Exploring Paris’ working-class suburbs with a fresh set of eyes while reframing the immigrant experience under a more incisive lens, a dynamic generation is blazing new trails in French cinema.
And if artists like “Saint Omer” filmmaker Alice Diop, “Athena” co-writer Ladj Ly, and “The Gravity” writer/director Cedric Ido share little in common but age – interestingly enough, all were born within one or two years of one another – the group’s shared spotlight in Venice and Toronto certainly reflects a rise in opportunity for diverse perspectives. “Today, we do see renewal,” says Unifrance managing director Daniela Elstner. “There’s an altogether new breath, a young generation looking to change, to dare, and to propose new kinds of films, [and with that] a willingness on the part of festival programmers to welcome these filmmakers into main competitions a little bit faster than before.” Of course, opportunities tend to compound and build, so before something like Ly’s “Les Miserables” could launch to international heights (and robust international sales) out of a Cannes competition slot, the French industry had to take the chance on a little-known director with a first-time feature.
Producers Toufik Ayadi and Christophe Barral were more than willing to place that bet. “The industry has to accept that we need constant renewal, today and always,” says Ayadi, who produced both Ly’s “Les Miserables” and Diop’s “Saint Omer” through his Srab Films banner. “We need fresh blood and young voices, and that can be a challenge, because renewal takes time and effort.” Barral and Ayadi got their start in short film, producing more than 30 award-winning titles including breakthrough non-fiction works from Ly and Diop.
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