09/06/2003

To make your first film is quite an undertaking in itself, but if you’re helped by already established professionals then it becomes a particularly thrilling experience. This is the opportunity provided for the participants of the international summer university, Emergence, now in its fifth edition and currently underway in the French city of Provenza (from May 26 to June 12). Seven young directors are being given the opportunity to film some scenes from their own script, with the help of named directors and actors.

Those supporting the 2003 event are: Olivier Assayas, Dominik Moll, Frédéric Fonteyne, Pascal Thomas, Catherine Breillat, Olivier Gourmet, Nathalie Baye and Charles Berling. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the fledgling directors, who beat hundreds of candidates to be chosen by a jury of professionals, led by Gérard Depardieu.

The training scheme was set up in 1999 by the former French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, and is based on the Sundance Institute model. Emergence has already produced excellent results: one of the 2001 candidates, Julie Bertucelli, won the Grand Prize at the Critics’ Week in Cannes 2003 with her film Depuis qu'Otar est parti. For more information: emergence.

(Translated from French)