Ducastel and Martineau scoop Jean Vigo Award

by Fabien Lemercier

08/05/2009 - Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau’s fifth narrative feature L’Arbre et la Forêt (“The Tree and the Forest”) has won the Jean Vigo Award 2009.

Presented by a jury composed of former winners, critics and exhibitors, the Jean Vigo Award honours independence of spirit and originality of style. Created in 1951, the prize commends "works that may have weaknesses, awkward parts and overlong passages", but which demonstrate "a passion and a gift".

Previous winners include Claude Chabrol, Maurice Pialat, Alain Resnais, Jean-Luc Godard, and more recently Olivier Assayas, Claire Devers, Cédric Kahn and Bruno Dumont.

Having first come to attention with their debut feature Jeanne and the Perfect Guy (in competition at Berlin in 1998), Ducastel and Martineau went on to direct Funny Felix (Berlinale Panorama in 2000), The True Story of My Life in Rouen (selected at Locarno and Toronto in 2002) and Mariscos Beach (Berlinale Panorama 2005 - Europa Cinemas Label Award), as well as last year’s TV drama Born in 68 [trailer], which had a theatrical release.

Produced by Maïa Films and Les Films du lendemain, L'Arbre et la Forêt (see news) stars Guy Marchand and Françoise Fabian. The film will be released domestically by Ad Vitam (date yet to be confirmed) and is being sold internationally by Films Distribution.

(Translated from French)