28/10/2002 - The president of the “Beaune Meetings” sums up the current state of European cinema. An overview of relations with the industry and with the new generation of filmmakers

The recent “Beaune Meetings” was an opportunity for France’s directors, producers and industry operators to meet and discuss issues of special interest to the film production world today. These include the fragile nature of the current film financing system, new forms of investment, the future of cable digital television and the defence and preservation of cultural diversity in light of the forthcoming expansion of the European Union. Cineuropa.org interviewed this year’s “Beaune Meetings” President, the film director and producer Claude Lelouch.

M. Lelouch, do you believe any progress was made here regarding the problems specific to film industry operators?
“I do. Progress is made every year. I think that if the “Beaune Meetings” did not exist, progress would be much slower. The last twelve editions of Beaune have added something like five or six years to the history of cinema. That is why I consider them to be of fundamental importance and intend to take part for as long as my health will allow.”

The subject of funding for French cinema was illustrated in two distinct ways: reasonable optimism from the institutions whilst industry operators painted a more dramatic picture. What is your opinion?
“I think there is an enormous amount of work to be done with exhibitors. We really have to sit down and talk with them. We need to win back the right to “word-of-mouth”, something we lost. There are also other methods of funding waiting to be sourced. During the “Meetings” we spoke of the methods we know, but did not touch on the issue of new investors. A pity because everyone is interested in cinema, everyone is passionate about films and today we can look for funding in areas that have not entered this arena as yet, or maybe, weren’t asked to get involved.”

Do you believe that European co-productions are a potential that should be developed or a threat, for example, to the location of film sets?
“There is no threat. In the film world there are only specific cases. You can embark upon a major production if that will help the dramatic development of the film. You must never, however lose sight of the potential benefits to the story. If a film necessitates a co-production then that is the direction you must take. If that is a constriction, then don’t. Every time you are faced with a specific case, you have to ask yourself whether the film deserves this or that type of intervention. Today we can call on an incredible number of alternatives and they are what we need to study carefully. Cinema is a question of “case-by-case”. I have been in the business for forty years and made 38 films and not one of them ever served as an example for the successive film. “

You were invited to the Festival of Florence on the anniversary of the “Nouvelle Vague”. Will you accept?
“I cannot go. I chose not to. I will not go precisely because of the “Nouvelle Vague” since it is a movement that I never supported. I consider it retrograde and believe it never contributed anything at all to the advancement and evolution of cinema. “Nouvelle Vague” films were no better than those made during the “Vague” that preceded them.”

Which of Europe’s young filmmakers do you think is able to stand up to the standardisation of Hollywood?
“The situation at the present is not very clear. What we need is a generation of new filmmakers who know how to make the best use of new technology. Without forgetting about the actors. We must not let new technology to obscure the essential things like the laughs, tears and the actors. Jeunet, for example, made the best and most respectful use of new technology without ever forgetting about his actors.”

What are your forthcoming projects? Are you working on a new film?
“I’m working on something big, very, very big. But it’s so important that I almost daren’t speak about it. In all likelihood it won’t be with my usual “family” of actors but I can’t say any more right now.”