French film Cream de la Cream and American stars such as Kristen Stewart and Zoe Deucci attended the Deauville American Film Festival on Friday evening to attend a flashy dinner hosted by Canal+ Group and Chanel. Hosted at a historic landmark called Les Franciscaine, a former monastery dating back to 1875, Bash celebrated the talents of both France and America, as well as the commitment of Canal+ and Chanel, two major sponsors of the festival.
Alongside Stewart, who won the Revelation Award for his directorial debut in Deauville, “The Chronology of Water,” and attended the masterclass, Deutch was recognized at the New Hollywood Awards at the festival, and presented “Nouvelle Vage” with director Richard Linklater. Other guests included French Iranian actor and filmmaker Zar Amir Ebrahimi. Directed by Bertrand Bonero, Cedric Crapisch, Claude Lelouch, Alex Lutz and Mia Hansen Lube. Actors Sandrine Kiberen, Damien Bonnade, Jonathan Cohen, Anna Girard, Lina Coudri, Vincent McCoin, Benaud Masimel and Cado Melado. Ju-deans Golsife Farahani, Thomas Kylie, Ai Haidara, Philippines Leroy Beulieu, Benjamin Milpedo, Catel Kylevere, Emily Tlanke, Jean Pascal Zadi, Susie Bemba, Bilal Hasani, Julien Colon and Anaideni.
During dinner that began with a classic concert, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada highlighted the role of the television group as a major partner in French and European films. Since being created in 1984, he has traded with Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., and US streamers such as Netflix, Apple+, HBO, Paramount+.
Operating in theater with direct operations in major regions such as France, the UK, Germany, Australia/New Zealand, Canal+ is currently in exclusive negotiations to buy a 34% stake in UGC, a film studio in the Paris Head Quarter that was founded in 1971 and runs one of France’s leading cinema chains.
Last March, Banner signed a deal with the local film guild, investing at least 480 million euros in French and European films over the next three years (120 million euros less than the past three years). At Deauville dinner, Saada said the group still had the ambition to fund their debut film, citing the example of Stewart’s “The Chronology of Water” as a film Canal+ pre-purchased.
“Around a third of the films we raise annually are debut films. We also support the second film as the second film can be even more difficult. “The icing of the cake is when the film is directed by women. Like many areas, it’s much harder for women to find funds, so Canal+ pays particular attention to films directed by women. Over 40% of the first films are directed by women.
Deauville is one of several festivals defended by Chanel and is extremely involved in the film world through diverse initiatives led by Elsa Heizmann, global director of film affairs. During the festival, Fashion House helped organize a master class with Stewart, one of the ambassadors who discussed French films that influenced her as an actor and filmmaker. Chanel was also involved in “Nouvel Verge,” where she dressed Duichi and contributed to the production of Alice Winocourt’s “Couture,” starring Angelina Jolie, and set it during Paris Fashion Week.
Maxime Saada and Claude Lelouch
François Guys
