Actors and directors often catch the spotlight. But cinema technicians, much less so. But it is nevertheless them that the Festival of Chefs Op’ en Lumière has decided to highlight. This has been going on for six years. This year, the organizers filed a file with the National Cinema Center, the highest authority of the 7e art in France. And the response received was particularly pleasing. “The experts underline the editorial quality of the event, unique of its kind on French territory. They believe that the planned conferences and workshops contribute to a mission of general interest for the technical image sectors,” they received as comments. Accompanied by a grant of €10,000. “For us, it is recognition of our festival. He is dubbed by professionals,” declares Janick Leconte, president of the organizing association.
The public will benefit from it
This is the sixth year that the festival has taken place. In 2019, when launching the project, the organizers had an idea in mind. “There is a big festival in Poland for cinematographers. This is the Camerimage. Our ambition was to do the same in France. We succeeded,” he smiles. With a program rich in conferences, screenings and guest appearances. “This year, we will have more than fifty (compared to around thirty last year). With cinematographers, this is not always easy because they can be called at the last moment for a film. It’s not like actors or directors,” he explains. Year after year, the programming therefore develops. Even if in Chalon, there is one obstacle: the lack of cinemas. Like previous editions, the heart of the festival will beat at the Espace des arts and of course the Megarama will also project. Waiting impatiently for the downtown cinema to finally see the light of day.
For the first time in France
Year after year, the public is more and more numerous. Last year, 11,000 entries were recorded and the festival hopes to have 2,000 more in 2025. “Today, we have production companies and distributors who send us their films to enter the selection. Certain films will be visible in France for the first time here,” indicates the president. This once again shows the establishment of the festival in the French cinematographic landscape.
Open to stars and internationally?
What would it take for the meeting to gain further momentum? “I was a little resistant to the idea of bringing in actors at first. I wanted to leave it to the cinematographers. But it is an avenue to develop it. Having more international presence is another lever to make it grow. But for this, more resources are needed. It’s not easy,” he finishes. Additional financial help from Chalon and Grand Chalon would bring us closer to this objective.
The Festival en chefs op’ en Lumière takes place from January 27 to February 2, 2025.
Alexandre Astier will be present
This year, Alexandre Astier returns to the festival after having already been present in 2022. “He will not be able to show us images of the second film he is filming. There is exclusivity. He will come to talk about his first film,” confides Janick Leconte, president of the Festival des chefs op’ en Lumière association. So, he will talk about his first film but from a very particular angle: what was missed. “He will show us images of what he failed to achieve and will explain how he changed for the second part,” he finishes. It will be the 1is FEBRUARY.
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