Dijon Film Meetings get underway
The Dijon Film Meetings (October 9-12) organised by ARP (Civil Society of Writers-Directors-Producers) – one of the most important events for French and European film professionals – kicks off today. At this year’s edition, delegate general Michel Gomez will bid farewell before stepping down to make way for Florence Gastaud and join the Cinéma de la Ville de Paris team.
Presided by director Christophe Barratier, the 2008 edition of the Meetings will host four debates. These include "Analysis and perspectives of European audiovisual, film and cultural policy", "Analysis of the progress of the Club of 13: Revising the system of support and regulation of the film sector in a changing environment" (see news), "What place does film creation occupy in audiovisual reform?" and "Film and audiovisual production: what is their role and what policies should be used in territorial collectivities?".
Besides the participants announced in early September (see news), the following industry professionals will also attend: Véronique Cayla (director general of the National Film Centre (CNC)); Jacques Toubon (president of Eurimages); filmmakers Gilles Marchand and Jean-Paul Salomé; producers Denis Freyd (Archipel 35), Fabienne Vonier (Pyramide), Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre (Mact Productions) and Miléna Poylo (TS Productions); international seller François Yon (Films distribution); Thomas Valentin (director of programming at M6); and Philippe Reynaert (director of Wallimage).
European Commissioner Viviane Reding has decided not to attend, as she is anxious to avoid the controversy about the European Parliament’s recent decision which threatens to undermine the French graduated response system against illegal downloads on the Internet.
Several filmmakers will make the journey to Bourgogne, among them Costa Gavras, Cécile Telerman, Radu Mihaileanu, Djamel Bensalah, Philippe Muyl, Patrick Grandperret, Claude Lelouch, Véra Belmont, Christian Carion, Fabien Onteniente, Christian Vincent, Philippe Le Guay, Jean- François Stevenin, Souleymane Cissé and Poland’s Andrzej Jakimowski.
Actors Roschdy Zem and Jean Paul Rouve will put in an appearance. Many producers will also be in attendance, including PatrickSobelman (Agat Films & Ex Nihilo), Charles Gassot (Produire à Paris), Manuel Munz and Luxembourg’s Jani Thiltges (Liaison Cinématographique), as well as representatives from Pathé and Gaumont.
As for television networks, Canal + will be represented by Manuel Alduy and rival Orange by Pascal Delarue (Studio 37). The heads of TV network film sections will also take part, including Pierre Héros (France 2 Cinéma), Daniel Goudineau (France 3 Cinéma) and Philippe Bony (M6 Films).
Almost all the film sector’s professional organisations feature on the list of participants, including exhibitors (FNCF), producers (APC, SPI, UPF, API), directors (SRF) and the Union Guild of Screenwriters. Also participating are representatives of the regional funds (Rhône Alpes Cinéma, CRRAV, Centre Images, Ile-de-France…) and European associations: Europa Cinemas, Fera and the European Producers’ Club.
Finally, the technical industries will be out in force with Ficam, Thomson, Mikros Image, Eclair, Quinta Industries, Panavision, Kodak, Transpalux, Digimage, Titra Film, Doremi, Agfa, Mac Buf, Ymagis - Def 2 Shoot and Arts Alliance Media Digital.
(Translated from French)
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