It is a festival of the seventh art like no other. In the program from 12 to 26 November, a fortnight of films distributed for the first time on the public channel european. In the clear and visible also on the site of Arte. The fifth edition of the event reserve many surprises, with a program of films praised by the critics, and in particular that of the Figaro , a partner of this event, of which Toni Erdmann Maren Ade and the feature-length animated film The Turtle red by Michael Dudok de Wit. Olivier Père, director of film d’arte, told the Figaro behind the scenes of his selections.
» READ ALSO – Toni Erdmann to Mia Madre , Arte cinema television
LE FIGARO. – A festival of films on television, it may seem confusing. Is it that the idea was to offer a session of catch-up to your viewers?
Olivier FATHER. – No. It is the idea to emphasize the value of our policy of support for the author’s film and, through our co-productions. It was the group together once every two years. One is obliged to wait for these films to be available after their release in cinemas. But as we produce more than twenty films per year, and there are also the contributions of our German partners, we gets enough to submit. We wanted to create our own festival. This is not a festival of classic cinema, in the sense that we do not give rewards, and it doesn’t show unique films. Our programming involves headliners. Movie titles very holders who have been rewarded in the festival, that have had success in the room or which are supported by great actors. Those allow you to put the other in value, the less the winning, which will have an additional chance to reach a much wider audience.
what is it that has guided your choice to the selection? What are the criteria that determine your editorial line?
Several factors have to be taken into account. First, there is the availability of movies. They need to be in a window of a law that enables them to be shown. After that, it tries to distribute along the year for strong films. For example, we try not to all show at the time of the Cannes film festival. And then, we still at heart to show films that are representative of our greatest achievements and of what we want to sustain and in terms of cinema. This year, we wanted to highlight the diversity of european cinema. There are Toni Erdmann Maren Ade or the international co-production of the beautiful animated film The Turtle red by Michael Dudok de Wit. We wanted to show the whole palette of talents in Europe with directors, who are sometimes very well known, but also those of the new generation.
Peter Simonischek, wonderful in Toni Erdmann Maren Ade. Komplizen Film
How do you find these young talents?
It’s been years prior to the broadcast to the antenna. Most of the films that we support are selected on the script reading. We are working with the French producers who support new filmmakers, and who participate in the radiation of international cinema. It is a work of passion, of lovers, of exploration. In the world of cinema, it is very attentive to the films that are shown in festivals. We made sure not to go
next to projects with scenarios that we think are exciting and promising. It also looks at the prior work of the filmmakers. When they are very young people, meeting them and talking with them, we can see if there is a high potential of talent and originality.
Is it that your choices are guided by the desire to present your films in major film festivals?
No. We can not choose a project because you think he’s going to go to Cannes. It is quite the opposite most of the time. Except when they are great film-makers who already have a career in festival. But when one agrees on a first film, it is often very difficult to forecast an official selection. For example, one could not guess that the film Maren Ade would be in competition at Cannes. His previous feature films were successful but had not had a strong impact in France. There are also counter-examples of very good films that have had a successful career in the theatres, and a fortiori on our antenna, but which are not necessarily passed through the festivals. I think Mademoiselle de Joncquières , Emmanuel Mouret, a film we co-produced and which is one of the most beautiful public success and critical of the new school year.
When one of your films is selected in a festival, is that you look in your choice?
Yes, of course. It is a reward for everyone. It shows that the film has been well received by its first audience. In Arte, we don’t have much to complain about the selections of the big festivals because it is very often represented. After that, it is going well. This is not always the case, therefore, it is sometimes better not to be there. Today, it is the destiny of the films being dependent on a presentation at a festival. It has consequences on the critical reception of the film, his career, but it also has economic stakes because we know that the great festivals are markets.
What is your » coup de coeur this year in the selection of Arte cinema?
Margherita Buy and Nanni Moretti, in Mia Madre , co-produced by Arte. Alberto Novelli
I love The Future of Mia Hansen-Love, a film which took the award for the best director at the Berlin festival. With a beautiful role for Isabelle Huppert. There is also Tortoise red , an animated film beautiful and poetic. It is important for us to claim the place of animation in our productions. Stefan Sweig, farewell Europe of Maria Schrader is also a nice surprise. It is a film that has had great success in Germany. We are happy to also show that the young German cinema we reserve discoveries each year. Finally, Mia Madre Nanni Moretti, co-produced and I also find it very successful. It is a film that asks the relevant questions about the place of culture in our societies today. I think it was a good year for this festival at the antenna. It has several films which have been successful, expected, or more surprising, but the success of which was hailed at the time of their exit. We are very pleased with the show and hope that it will impact on the choice of the viewers. It is also preparing the third edition of the festival ArteKino, offers digital film and european. Ten feature films are presented on the website in the month of December and people can watch them for free. Our goal is to bring forward young and new filmmakers from all over Europe.