The 5th edition of the Rencontres du 7e Art in Lausanne begins this weekend on the theme “Mirror, Mirror, cinema facing itself”. Its founder and president, Vincent Perez, talks about his passion for cinema and his enthusiasm for a festival without competition.
Until March 20, around fifty films which have “marked the history of cinema or the work of a filmmaker” are offered. “The cinema that I want to celebrate is that which is part of the work of an author, an actor or an actress, that which resembles them”, affirms to Keystone-ATS Vincent Perez.
The festival created in 2018 by the actor, director and screenwriter from Lausanne offers the opportunity to see or see again on the big screen masterpieces from the history of the 7th art and to meet directors and actors. “Without competition. We leave the circuit of sale and promotion. Just for the beauty and the importance of cinema as a memory of humanity”, he proclaims.
Reflection and eclecticism
“I like this concept of an educational and eventful festival. It’s exciting, it’s great and it feels good,” enthuses the filmmaker who lives in Paris. Screenings, meetings, round tables, conferences and masterclasses: “for the passion and pleasure of cinema”, he repeats at will.
For this 5th edition, the chosen theme is “Mirror, Mirror, cinema facing itself”. “It came to my mind when I realized that there are many films that tell stories of cinema. It is therefore cinema that tells cinema, cinema seen by those who do it”, explains the actor who played in “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, “Indochine” by Régis Wargnier, “La Reine Margot” by Patrice Chéreau, “Chacun sa vie” by Claude Lelouch or even “J’accuse” by Roman Polanski .
“It’s me who chooses the theme for each edition. It comes from an idea, then it becomes an obsession, I then discuss it around me, I test the theme with my team”, he continues. “I like the reflection that there is around a theme which also allows it to be very eclectic”.
Lausanne “treasure”
How does he see the future of these meetings? “We are here to stay, in Lausanne, and to last. We did the hardest part with these first five editions. It’s hard work every year, we sometimes suffer to find funds. But in the end, I the certainty that these meetings will continue for a long time. After five years, the financial situation of the festival is healthy”, he notes.
Vincent Perez likes to emphasize the particular setting of Lausanne. “Guests come out of passion but also for the beauty of the landscapes and the welcome. They love Switzerland”. The filmmaker also rents a “treasure” in the capital of Vaud: the Cinémathèque suisse. “Our festival also wants to be a sounding board to accompany the Swiss Cinémathèque, the sixth largest in the world”.
Willem Dafoe honored
This year, American actor Willem Dafoe is the guest of honour. He has acted in more than a hundred films, in Hollywood as well as in auteur cinema. In Lausanne, the actor and director will give a masterclass and present four films in public, including “The Last Temptation of Christ” by Martin Scorsese. The Think Cinema prize was to be presented to him on Saturday evening during a ceremony at Chaplin’s World in Vevey to celebrate his entire career.
Actors and directors Gilles Lellouche and Daniel Brühl, actors Jean Dujardin, Irène Jacob, Anne Brochet and Jean-Luc Bideau as well as filmmaker Roland Joffé will also be there. Without forgetting composers – Gabriel Yared and Jean-Benoît Dunckel – and writers like Anne Berest and Laurent Gaudé.
The festival takes place in several cinemas and schools (ECAL and EJMA) and at the Jan Michalski Foundation, in Montricher. But without the Capitole cinema, still under construction for two years. The meetings and masterclasses are broadcast on the site, the Youtube channel and the Facebook page of the meetings of the 7th Art.
Five favorites
Vincent Perez delivers his few favorites on the poster for this 2022 edition: “Sunset Boulevard” by Billy Wilder, “Huit et Demi” by Federico Fellini, “Bellissima” by Luchino Visconti, “Rêve de Mouette” by Anne Brochet (world premiere) and the documentary “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” by Alexandra Dean.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats