Xavier Bettel meets professionals from the audiovisual sector at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival
15/05/2019 - 24/05/2019
Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister and Minister for Communications and Media, was in Cannes from 17 to 19 May to meet professionals from the audiovisual production sector and to take part in the traditional Luxembourg Day. He found out about developments in the sector and expressed his support for its development.
"I welcome this year's quadruple selection at Cannes and salute the commitment of all Luxembourg professionals. I am proud that our filmmakers are being recognised internationally, which demonstrates the know-how, professionalism and dynamism of our 7mm industry.e art".
The Minister also welcomed the fact that the sector was ready to diversify into new technologies, and in particular into virtual reality co-productions, which have a strong presence at Cannes (Cannes XR). He was able to discover the 3 works VR presented on the Luxembourg pavilion (Ayahuasca, 7 Lives and Fever**).
As part of the traditional French-language co-production breakfast attended by partners from 5 countries (Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Quebec), the Prime Minister spoke to the main representatives from France (CNC - Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée), Belgium (Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel - Fédération Wallonie - Bruxelles) and Switzerland (Office fédéral de la Culture) about future French-language co-production meetings to be held in Luxembourg in November.
A meeting had also been scheduled in the Luxembourg pavilion between Xavier Bettel and Nathalie Roy, Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communications, to discuss the good relations between the 2 countries in terms of culture, communications and the French language.
Guy Daleiden, Director of the National Fund to Support Audiovisual Production, and his Irish counterpart James Hickey (CEO Screen Ireland) signed a new agreement in the presence of the Minister and Patricia O'Brien, Ireland's Ambassador to Paris, to support the co-development of projects written and/or directed by women, with the aim of increasing female representation in the audiovisual industry.
Following the signing of the treaty, the Prime Minister presented the Officer of the Oak Crown medal to James Hickey, honouring the excellent bilateral relations he has developed with Luxembourg.
*Pm. 4 films have been selected for the 72nd Cannes Film Festival:
Un certain regard" Official Selection
- Room 212directed by Christophe Honoré and co-produced by Bidibul Productions.
- The swallows of Kabulan animated feature film by Zabou Breitman and Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec, a co-production of Melusine Productions.
- The fire will comedirected by Oliver Laxe and co-produced by Tarantula Luxembourg (film supported as part of the Cineworld).
Directors' Fortnight" selection:
- The Orphanagedirected by Shahrbanoo Sadat and co-produced by Samsa Film (film supported as part of the Cineworld).
**Pm. This year, 3 virtual reality projects will be presented in the pavilion on Luxembourg Day: Ayahuasca and 7 Lives directed by Jan Kounen and co-produced by a_BAHN and Fever directed and produced by Karolina Markiewicz and Pascal Piron (carte blanche project supported by the Fund), to be seen in its world premiere.
