04/06/2015 - The director’s feature debut, produced by Mezzanine Films, will be distributed by Shellac

Having turned heads with her short films, such as Courir (in competition at Clermont-Ferrand in 2012), Nice (selected in the Directors’ Fortnight in 2009) and Lucas sur terre (in competition at Clermont-Ferrand in 2008), Maud Alpi has been shooting her debut feature since 18 May, entitled Gorge Coeur Ventre [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (lit. “Throat Heart Stomach”). The filmmaker has chosen to call on the services of non-professional actors, including topliner Virgile Hanrot.

Written by the director together with Baptiste Boulba-Ghigna (a duo who already partnered up on the writing of Courir), the story of Gorge Coeur Ventre is summed up as follows: the animals arrive by night. They intuit. They resist. A young man leads them to their deaths before dawn. His dog discovers a terrifying world that seems certain never to end.

Produced by Mathieu Bompoint for Mezzanine Films, Gorge Coeur Ventre is co-produced by Shellac (which will be in charge of distribution in France), 1001 Productions, Aurora Films and Rhône-Alpes Cinéma. Backed by the CNC’s advance on receipts, the feature is also supported by the Paca (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) region. The 34-day shoot will take place in Isère (Grenoble), Savoy (Chambéry) and in Hautes-Alpes (Gap).

Mezzanine Films already has five feature films to its name: Free Hands [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Brigitte Sy (selected in the Berlinale Forum in 2011), Le paradis des bêtes [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Estelle Larrivaz (winner of the Audience Award at the Premiers Plans Festival in Angers in 2012), Lightning by Manuela Morgaine (presented at Rotterdam in 2013), The Good Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean Denizot
film profile] by Jean Denizot (Europa Cinemas Label in the Venice Days in 2013) and Les Rois du monde [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Laurent Laffargue (read the article – set to be released in France on 9 September, courtesy of Jour2Fête).

(Translated from French)