29/05/2009

Nine feature film projects are included in the second 2009 selection by the Ile-de-France Regional Support Fund for Technical Film and Audiovisual Industries.

Among them is Philippe Ramos’ Jeanne Captive (“Captive Joan”), which will receive €352,000. This is the director’s third feature, after Farewell Homeland (2003) and Capitain Ahab [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Best Director at Locarno 2007).

Starring Clémence Poésy and Mathieu Amalric, the film recounts the last year in the life of Joan of Arc, through the eyes of an enlightened preacher. Having already obtained a pledge of an advance on receipts from the National Film Centre (CNC), the project, piloted by Sophie Dulac Productions, is expected to start shooting in March 2010.

The Ile-de-France region also chose to grant €448,000 to Abdellatif Kechiche’s Black Venus (see news - production MK2), whose shoot will kick off next week.

Meanwhile, €384,000 will go to Happy Few by Anthony Cordier, who attracted attention with his debut feature Cold Showers [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2005 and Louis Delluc Award for Best Debut Film). Produced by Why Not Productions, his new title, starring Marina Foïs, Jalil Lespert and Elodie Bouchez, will start shooting in July.

Other projects selected at this session are Benjamin de Lajarte’s Les jeux des nuages et de la pluie (“The Games of Clouds and Rain”, €192,000 - TS Productions); Géraldine Bajard’s La lisière (“The Edge”, €228,000 - Cinéma De Facto); Stéphane Robelin’s Et si on vivait tous ensemble (“And What If We All Lived Together”, €448,000 - Les Films de la Butte); Michel Leclerc’s Le nom des gens (“People’s Names”, €384,000 - Delante Films); Gilles Paquet-Brenner’s Elle s’appelait Sarah (“Her Name Was Sarah”, €384,000 - Beaubourg Productions); and Pascale Lamache’s French/Swiss documentary Black Diamond (€72,000 - Roche Productions).

(Translated from French)