He has become a minor star, recognized in the street, sought after on social networks. Midi Libre met this week with Sofian Ribes from Béziers, who played in Artus’ film “Un p’tit truc en plus.” He looks back on the great adventure that allowed him to transcend his disability to rub shoulders with the stars.
Impeccable green Adidas T-shirt. Radiant and infectious smile. This Friday morning, Sofian Ribes, 20, leaves his wheelchair to sit on a chair on the terrace, opposite the town hall of Béziers. In a few minutes, he will be received by the mayor. But before that, at the end of June, he agrees to look back, alongside his mother, Virginie Ribes, on the crazy year he has just experienced…
“It was incredible, the film, the Olympic flame, the steps of Cannes, the penalty shootout with Zidane in Aix-en-Provence (as part of Universe football Editor’s note)”, he sums up a little quickly. The Biterrois suffers from a rare and incurable neurological disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, which paralyzes his muscles and forces him to use a wheelchair. He also went through chemotherapy, from the age of 10 to 13, due to cancers on his eye. But a taste for light and a daring, which will propel him on. center stage, like a lovely gift of life, finally.
“I love being the center of the world”
It all started in 2020, with Covid. “He was no longer in school, he was bored, we thought that social networks were a good idea to publicize his illness”explains Virginie, her mother. “It started out as medical stuff, but people get bored with it so he started posting funnier videos.” Les followers affluent.
Today, Sofian is at the head of a community of 900,000 people, between TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. And it is on these networks that he meets the comedian and actor Artus. One day, the latter publishes an ad, looking for different profiles for his film. “Soso had already made a small appearance in Toulouse Lautrec with Rayane Bensetti”relates the mother. “I love being the center of the world”, Sofian confirms with a smile. Virginie responds to the casting but remains unanswered even though the casting date is imminent. “I contacted Artus again: there had been an error, an oversight. Sofian did a video call and he was taken…” Taken to participate in the film “A little thing in addition” released in 2024 and a hit in theaters. Filming lasts a month and a half in late summer 2023. “There was a lot of kindness. I couldn’t have imagined anything better.”, confides the mother. A real bond is forged between the young Biterrois and Artus. Sofian shows his forearm and this tattoo: “A little extra thing” with Artus’ writing.
“On the carpet, we only saw them”
Everything is happening very quickly, until the Cannes Film Festival 2024. And this very strong and moving image of Artus carrying Sofian on the steps and the red carpet. Result: the Cannes Film Festival should in the future install a ramp to facilitate access to the Palais des Festivals for people with reduced mobility. Furthermore, Artus, by revealing that no brand had agreed to dress disabled actors, threw a spanner in the works. “For the brands, it seemed nicer to dress Brad Pitt. But it’s stupid because on the carpet, we only saw them!” “Finally it was Mr. Pinault who offered them all of the costumes with the couture alterations.” For Sofian: a Gucci jacket, Yves Saint-Laurent pants. And stars in his eyes. “The closing of a success”Virginie continues to testify.
Meeting with the Biterrois Sofian Ribes this Friday morning, in Béziers! Suffering from a rare disease, he filmed with Artus, climbed the steps of the Cannes festival, carried the Olympic flame! pic.twitter.com/GSjDhB2zJ9
— Midi Libre Béziers (@MLBeziers) https://twitter.com/MLBeziers/status/1806633589108306426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Like what, “You should never give up and always believe in your dreams”says Sofian who still has many projects. “He would like to collaborate with a sports brand to represent disability and continue in cinema. He had a casting call for a short film.” Today, calm has returned to his daily life, punctuated by physiotherapy sessions. If it is not stable, the disease progresses slowly. “Because having goals is your primary energy and it fights illness.” Sofian, who currently lives in Espondeilhan, aspires to find the excitement and the spotlight again. We wish him well.
Looking for an apartment at Polygone
Sofian and his mother now live in Espondeilhan. But for these Biterrois (Sofian grew up in Béziers, went to the Tamaris school, to the Lucie-Aubrac college), today is the time to return to the city. Sofian would particularly like to live in one of the apartments located in the Polygone shopping center. “It’s that or a city like Toulouse”explains Virginie, who hopes to meet her son’s urban thirst. This Friday morning, this is the request that both of them made to the mayor of Béziers. The latter received them at the town hall to salute Sofian’s career and give him a small gift. He immediately used his network to try to move this project forward. Virginie Ribes is indeed encountering difficulties in this project, due to the fact that she stopped working to take care of Sofian. Anyone who can help them find an apartment at the Polygone can contact them by email [email protected]
