There are a handful of them gathered in front of the Théâtre du Gymnase Marie-Bell, in thee district of Paris, this Monday, December 2. The CRAC, the French anti-corrida association, welcomes aficionados with cries of “assassins”. Inside, the contrast is striking. The auditorium is packed. More than six hundred bullfighting lovers, matadors, ganaderos and aficionados came from the south of France and Spain to attend the first edition of the Brindis d’or. Their ambition? Create an annual event, on a national scale, to highlight and reward actors in the bullfighting world, in the style of the César ceremony for French cinema.
To open the evening, the master of ceremonies, Arnaud Agniel, recalled the context in which the Brindis were born. While the Senators overwhelmingly rejected the ban on bullfighting for under-16s, on November 14, two years ago, MP Aymeric Caron’s bill sparked an outcry from the world of bullfighting. Forced to defend itself, an entire economic, social and cultural ecosystem stood up to promote a tradition deeply rooted in the French landscape. The EELV deputy finally withdrew his bill before it was put to the vote.
Sponsors of this first edition of the Brindis, the bullfighter on horseback Lea Vicens and the figura Sebastien Castella received an honorary Brindis. In evening dress, they are almost unrecognizable without their light clothes. The matador, whom those close to him describe as discreet, paid a vibrant tribute to bullfighting, regretting the necessity of “ defend » and emphasizing the need to “ make her known ». “Bullfighting is an age-old dance that speaks to us of courage, harmony and sincerity », declared the Nîmes resident.
« Beyond life and death, everything is heart, everything is love »
Sebastian Castella
All the winners were crowned after their names were submitted to a vote by 4,000 participants and a jury of 12 people chaired by retired bullfighter Julien Lescarret.
The first category, that of the Collective, rewarded Marc Serrano, for the organization of his charity festival “A Toro for a Child’s Dream”, organized in Méjanes for three seasons. The Brindis transmission was attributed to the Tyrois Bullfighting Circle for the free novillada. And the Coup de cœur, put the spotlight on the French Association of Taurine Surgery, chaired by Doctor Olivier Chambres – behind the scenes actors who are nevertheless necessary to the running of bullfights.
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In the Aficion category, the Brindis Jeunesse was awarded to Mathieu Vangelisti, for his association Happycionado, intended to introduce children to the world of bullfighting by offering inflatable arenas for children during ferias. The Brindis Communication was awarded to Samuel Soto, for his website Torista de Francia, dedicated to brave cattle. And the Brindis Culture, given as a surprise to the master of ceremonies, Arnaud Agnel, for his theatrical adaptation of Letters to Juan Bautista by Yves Charnier.
Finally, the Profession category honored four personalities. The Brindis Ganadero rewarded Robert Margé, that of the Novillero Nino Julian, that of the Cuadrilla Tomas Ubeda, and that of the matador crowned Clemente.
So happy to be united to defend their art, the participants forgot the clock. Despite the clock being well exceeded, the warm and family atmosphere of the evening won over the audience, determined to do it again next year. Because as Maestro Castella recalled, “ beyond life and death, everything is heart, everything is love “. In this lies the best response to the opponents of bullfighting: nnot in the intellectual and technical arguments, but in the heart that everyone puts into sharing their passion.
The winners
BRINDIS OF HONOR
Given to the sponsors of this first edition, the bullfighters Léa Vicens and Sebastien Castella.
BRINDIS D’OR COLLECTIVE
- Brindis Organisation : Marc Serrano 1 toro for a childhood dream
- Brindis Transmission : the organization of the Novillada Sans Picador of Saint-Vincent de Tyrosse
- Brindis Favorite : The bullfighting surgeons of France
GOLDEN TOAST OF THE FANS
- Brindis Youth : Happycionado
- Brindis Communication : Torist from France
- Brindis Culture : Arnaud Agnel (theatrical adaptation of Letters to Juan Bautista)
GOLDEN TOAST OF THE PROFESSION
- Livestock Toast : Robert Margé for his bullfights in Dax, Nîmes and Béziers
- Novilleros Toast : Nino Julian
- Toast Squad : Tomas Ubeda
- Matador Toast : Clemente
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