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PRODUCTION / FUNDING France

Five young, promising filmmakers are singled out by Emergence

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- The 24th edition of the film direction residency will support first films by Louise Hémon, Zoé Labasse, Pierre Le Gall, Jonathan Millet and Marie Rémond

Five young, promising filmmakers are singled out by Emergence

Five young filmmakers have been chosen by a jury presided over by Charles Tesson (notably flanked by Michèle Halberstadt, Frédéric Niedermayer and Samuel Theis) to take part in the 24th edition of the Emergence film direction residency, a unique provision in Europe which will provide these newcomers with an opportunity to film two sequences from their first feature films in March, with sponsorship from an established director, artistic support and professional production resources to boot.

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Louise Hémon has been selected thanks to her project L’engloutie. The story, which she wrote alongside Anaïs Telenne, takes us back to 1899 in the Hautes-Alpes region. "Soudain" is a hamlet surrounded by snowy, mountainous peaks. One stormy night, Aimée arrives, a young, dark-eyed teacher who is staying for the winter to teach a handful of children. But shortly after her arrival, an avalanche claims its first local victim… Production is entrusted to Margaux Juvénal on behalf of Take Shelter.

Zoé Labasse has also been selected via Les danseurs de Strasbourg, which kicks off in July 1518. When Strasbourg is overcome by a strange dance epidemic, Hilde, an old surgeon’s assistant, seeks the support of the town’s Ammeister for the right to work in her own name. As the epidemic spreads, the streets of Strasbourg record their first deaths. Within this chaos, Hilde finally finds an unhoped-for opportunity to practice dissection. But a troubling feeling overcomes her whenever she touches inert bodies… Production is steered by Caroline Bonmarchand on behalf of Avenue B Productions and by Tristan Bergé for Kalpa Films. 

The list of the lucky few likewise features Pierre Le Gall with Du fioul dans les artères. A product of la Fémis’ Screenplay Workshop, the filmmaker has written a story revolving around Étienne who criss-crosses France aboard his 44-tonne truck with one aim in mind: loading and unloading in a timely fashion. But when he crosses paths with Polish lorry driver Józef, his routine goes off track. Speedometers go crazy, kilomètres go by and, far from the eyes of others, the two loners long for one another to the point of exhaustion… Production is entrusted to Nicolas Blanc on behalf of Agat Film & Ex Nihilo.

Jonathan Millet has similarly been selected for his film Les Fantômes, which he wrote alongside Florence Rochat. Read our interview with Pauline Seigland who’s overseeing production together with Lionel Massol on behalf of Films Grand Huit

Films Grand Huit are also helming another selected project: Les chèvres aussi s’évanouissent by Marie Rémond. Written by the neo-director, the story of this project (which already benefits from a CNC advance on receipts) revolves around Jeanne. Everything is going wrong in her life: bogged down in a toxic relationship, she finds herself thrust into the role of film director following the sudden death of the famous filmmaker Groutchov for whom she worked as an assistant. A strange feeling, a kind of panic disorder, washes over her. Jeanne tries to put on a brave face, but it totally changes her relationship with the world. Could this be an opportunity for her to look at life differently?

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(Translated from French)

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