What are Golden Brindis?
The ambition of this Parisian gala evening, the first of its kind, is to offer a prestigious awards ceremony. It must also be a unique moment of meeting and mobilization, with major players in bullfighting, such as the sponsors of this first edition (Léa Vicens and Sébastien Castella), and personalities from the artistic, sporting and media world.
How was this idea born?
It's a desire that was born two years ago, when we were confronted with Aymeric Caron's bill to abolish bullfighting. This made it possible to unite Parisian aficionados and those from the South of France around the same passion. A synergy was born, with particularly strong dynamism in Paris, which has three bullfighting associations.
The idea that the bullfighting routes should pass through the capital imposed itself on us, with the organization of a rather special evening, like the Césars or the Oscars of bullfighting, which we have been thinking about for a year .
In what form are these Brindis attributed?
The first step was to constitute a jury, with 12 people of different sensibilities and regions. We then defined the three prize categories that we wanted to award. We thought about what we could do to stand out.
We did not want to limit ourselves to professionals only, but to open these golden Brindis to all those who, through their passion, make bullfighting more alive than ever. The list of nominees was then submitted to public voting for a month. But in order to balance the power that some may have with social networks, the choice was made that each member of the jury counts on a certain number of votes.
What prize will be awarded to the winners?
This is a blue mount, made with a 3D printer from Pulséo, in Dax. When going on stage to receive it, each winner will then be able to send a brindis to the audience, and will take it in hand.
Why organize this gala evening in Paris?
Bullfighting has the right to have a big gala evening in Paris. A large prestigious ceremony is organized in the capital and not elsewhere. We also wanted to differentiate ourselves from other bullfighting awards that already exist in France. With these Golden Brindis, it is about bringing something new, in the genre and in a place where it has never been done.
Is this a way of reclaiming this culture from the South of France to the capital?
Yes, totally. It is one of the founding acts of this evening. Since the psychological shock we experienced two years ago, when our culture was threatened, we have had great feedback in the arenas and the media. We also understood that there was a lot going on in Paris, in assemblies and in offices, and that it was important for bullfighting to be visible there, in a respectful and legal way, to continue to make people talk about it. .
Who are you expecting for this evening?
We obviously expected to bring together aficionados who live in the Paris region. But it will go much further, given the first registrations. What is encouraging is that we realize that this initiative seems to please many people who live in the bullfighting regions, in the South-West as well as the South-East. They must see it as an opportunity to make a return trip to this beautiful city that is Paris and have a great party there.
Do you fear opposition or a demonstration by animal rights and anti-bullfighting activists?
They have already shown up! From the first announcements, the theater hosting this evening was the victim of threats and insults. That almost derailed the thing. But the theater management ultimately stood firm. Hats off to her! Since then, we have taken full control of the ticketing, to know who buys a ticket and who will be present. Beyond the security service, the police also announced that they would be present to ensure that everything went well.
