Thanks to all of you, the Paris Art and Movie Awards is going towards its 4th edition, set for June 2018 in Paris.
To all our partners, we thank you for your support and for believing in what we do at the PAMA.
To all the filmmakers, directors, producers, cast and crew of the films submitted… : YOU make the festival. We wanted to add a small stuff to your Christmas presents.
Please find below the e-book “193 Casting Directors on Twitter”, by Amy Jo Berman. You may have heard of it, here it is…
Steve, you won at the PAMA the Best Director in 2016 for KITCHEN, then you got 4 nominations en 2017 for INSEPARABLE, and the film took home the Best DOP Award. What do you feel is your relation with the festival ?
I think that the Pama really has its place in the industry of film festivals in France. There are always films of quality. The atmosphere is friendly. I was honored to receive the award for best director for KITCHEN last year. It was normal for the production and myself to present my last film INSEPARABLE in different categories. We are so happy to have won a prize and have been nominated 4 times.
Tetsuo Nagata is an established Director of Photography. He worked with Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Mic Macs), Vincenzo Natali (Splice), and Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose). How did you convince him to work on a short film ?
I have a very important attachment to photography. It’s what characterizes a film although the sound has a complementary power.
“I love watching movies when the lighting makes sense.”
I love the work of Tetsuo because he has a very atypical vision and that I like above all is that it brings novelty. I sent him my script and he contacted me. We met at my office and I showed him my mood, my technical breakdown and floor plans of the scenery. He was immediately excited by the project. The same evening we had organized an aperitif with Olivier, the producer. At 7:30 pm it rang at the door. It was Tetsuo. He approaches me with a big smile and says: you and I is a matter of feeling. I immediately understood that he agreed to be the DOP of INSEPARABLE.
Did you have the chance to talk to him and give him his award after the festival ?
During the ceremony, when Tetsuo received the prize for the best Photo, we were so happy for him. I sent him a message for the good news. We met the next day at his home in Paris around a tea. I handed the prize to him in person. He was happy.
Can you tell us more about you, your background, and what moments and decisions made you become a director ?
I am a self-taught photographer. I gradually climbed the ladder. First assistant photographer, assistant director. I started working in the travel industry. This experience allowed me to enrich different stages that is related to cinema. If today I am practicing as a film director it is because all the trade interest me. It is for me an atypical form of expression but I need to discover things. Through the films I am interested and instructed… Ah ah it’s true !
KITCHEN, like INSEPARABLE have been shot in English. Why that choice, for international purposes ?
The history of KITCHEN takes place in the bayou house in Louisiana and INSEPARABLE takes place in a no man land of the USA. It was absolutely necessary to respect the codes. Also, there is more international exposure with English movies. Distributions and festivals.
Do you feel like you’re part of the same generation as Alexandre Aja for exemple ? Do you think there are some French directors that can keep going that fine internationally ?
The french touch is incredible il internationally. Yes sure. Of course. The French have always been incredibly received. Regardless of the area of expertise. Cook, engineering, medicine, etc. You have to convince and persevere.
“Yes, definitely, French know-how still has its place and I hope for a long time in the cinema sector for example.”
INSEPARABLE was a very specific project, a partnership with a camera provider. And watching your films, there is a strong feeling you could express yourself way more with a feature film. What is going to be your next movie ?
It is true that when a group like Canon contacts you and asks you to express yourself through a film : it’s quite flattering, but when the other brands contacts you after seeing INSEPARABLE, one asks real questions. I have some projects of feature films indeed. I do not want to talk too much about it because nothing is signed. But believe it or not … I know that I will make a feature film, if it is not tomorrow it will be later… I never give up anything and I like to fight.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, élodie turned her suffering and fears into a creative fight against the disease and the debilitating effects of the treatments used. Her latest work, Iridescence, is the personal story of her fight with cancer and the way she found to deal with the disease in a creative and hopeful manner. It’s also a way of giving back and handing on the positive vibes that she’s received from friends, family and strangers during the course of her disease.
‘There are many of us (patients, friends or family) fighting cancer with creativity. Composing, drawing, painting, writing, body art-ing etc., to prevent it from stealing our souls. So let’s share ideas and creations in order to inspire people around us, who in turn will inspire others.’
Elodie M.
After her European baccalaureate at the European School Luxembourg, Eileen first studied theatre in Winchester (UK) and Munich before starting her film directing studies at the University of Television and Film Munich.
Since their childhood Eileen and Elodie have worked together on several theatre and film projects. They are currently developing their third feature film screenplay together. Iridescence is their first coproduction as director-dancer.
Frederick Butterfield has always been runner up to his twin brother Herman. When Herman becomes the world’s oldest man with a mere minute gap between them, Frederick finally sees an opportunity to be first place.
An animated film that talks about the issue of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and their struggle to survive as they try to protect the water source into their small nation. Narrated by The Standing Rock Chairman.
