Monday 22 June will see filming commence on L’Amour du prochain, which will be the second fiction feature film by Siegrid Alnoy who was revealed in Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2003 by way of She’s One of Us and who subsequently directed the TV films Nos familles (2007) and Miroir mon amour (screened in IFFR’s Spectrum line-up in 2013) for Arte.

The cast is led by Nicolas Maury (nominated for the Best Actor Lumière via My Best Part, renowned for his role in the series Call My Agent! and hitting screens next year in Le Trésor), Céline Sallette (nominated for the Best Newcomer César and Lumière awards thanks to House of Tolerance and returning to screens next year in Jupiter) and English-Nigerian actor Ladi Emeruwa (of the TV film Un autre père and The Diplomat series).

Written by the director together with the late Sophie Fillières (This Life of Mine) based on Dutch writer Arnon Grunberg’s novel, The Asylum Seeker, the story follows Beck and Marianne. When the former discovers that the latter – his partner - is sick, he finally decides to do right by her, having previously seen happiness as a curse. Marianne doesn’t have a problem with this. On the contrary, she announces her desire to get married. And she asks him to be her witness…

L’Amour du prochain is being produced by Xénia Maingot on behalf of Eaux Vives Productions, in co-production with Maltese firms Falkun Films and Arzella Films. Primarily backed by the Brittany and Occitanie regions, Procirep/Angoa and Media Development, the feature film will be shot over 20 days (15 in Brest and five in Malta) with Cyrille Hubert heading up photography. Distribution in French cinemas is entrusted to New Story.

Another two co-productions by Eaux Vives Productions are due to kick off filming in the summer:  Summer in Heat by Sweden’s Levan Akin (via Swedish outfit RMV and via Adomeit by way of its German and Danish subsidiaries) on 22 June and Another Journey Without Women by Denmark’s Illum Jacobi (steered by Adomeit and co-produced by Norway’s Alo Film) in August.