06/05/2005

For the first time in 2005, a group of authors will be represented in Cannes by the magazine 101 scénaristes en herbe. Cannes Cinema's partner, supported by the director Bob Swain and the web site www.screenplay-europe.com, this group, created by a team of Belgian screenwriters, gathers new writers from France, Belgium, Canada, great-Britain, USA, Australia, New-Zealand, Ireland and China.

In order to create a more active bridge between history and cinema, "101 scénaristes" proposes more than a hundred schemes in 2 languages (French and English) that covers a mix of talents, genre and screen format. The magazine, which will be available in Cannes as from May, 9, "is not so much a catalogue as a comprehensive buffet," declares co-founder, Dominique Knecht. Each story will be presented by a pitch, a small synopsis and an extract. "The idea" explains founder Jacques Gumbau, "is to give producers, directors and agents a glimpse of the authors' possibilities. Rather than staggering under letters and scripts, they can have a rapid idea – and taste screenwriting. In less than five minutes they know if it is worth phoning."

A group of active screenwriters who rapidly found people like them all over the world created the project: "Differences exist between French, Canadian et Irish cinemas," declares the Irish-Belgian Michael Leahy. But scriptwriters often find themselves in the same situation: alone." But eventually, thanks to the Producers and Equinoxe's initiatives, 2005 will probably be the year when they will emerge from obscurity and enjoy Cannes' sunshine.

(Translated from French)