Originality, depth and harmony, key elements of a successful cinematographic work (Camille Cottin) – Media7

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 1:24 p.m.

ES: Kawtar TIJARI

Marrakech- “The originality, the depth, the emotion as well as the way in which the subject interweaves harmoniously with the form of the film or documentary constitute key elements for the success of the cinematographic work”, indicated the actress Frenchwoman and member of the jury of the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival, Camille Cottin.

Asked about the essential characteristics that a film must possess in order to stand out in this type of Festival, during a round table with national and foreign journalists held on the sidelines of the Festival, the French actress explained that the originality of the project, as well as the depth and emotion it exudes are crucial elements that count in the evaluation of a cinematographic work.

“However, comparing films, messages and perspectives is often tricky, due to their great diversity,” she added, believing that “putting two people on an equal footing different stories is sometimes very complex, especially since we have documentaries, fiction, Drama, as well as several other genres.

According to this actress, known for embodying each of her characters with accuracy and splendor, it is not a question of judging, but rather of capturing the essence and cinematographic ambition of the works of these young participating filmmakers who present their first or second feature film.

Regarding her role as a member of the jury at this Festival, Camille Cottin said she was proud to be part of it, indicating that having the opportunity to watch 14 films in one week and discover new ‘other thanks to the work of the Festival’s artistic director, Rémi Bonhomme, and his selection committee, who viewed more than 800 films and traveled to several festivals around the world, constitutes an enriching experience.

“It is also an extraordinary opportunity to be surrounded in this jury by remarkable personalities, whose cinematographic careers are a true source of inspiration for me. Listening to these personalities discuss cinema is a true blessing,” she said enthusiastically.

She also indicated that during their debates on the films, the members of the jury can spend hours discussing and delving into the different subjects, while respecting each person’s speaking time, noting that “sometimes opinions on films can be so divergent that one could wonder if they are the same work”.

In relation to the criteria guiding her choices in terms of cinematographic projects, the actress who has starred in numerous international blockbusters, said that when she first reads a script, her first reaction is to know if she had the instinctive desire to watch the film or series in question.

“Subsequently, I question my ability to bring a captivating and intriguing dimension to the character,” explained this versatile artist, noting that it sometimes happens that a character is intriguing, but that I feel a certain perplexity as to how I could grasp it. “It’s times like these that I just trust my instincts,” she added.

“As I evolve in my career, I discover a growing pleasure in taking part in projects that are meaningful to me. This goes beyond the professional aspect and the simple pleasure linked to the profession,” she confided, believing that it is also a question of being involved in a project capable of positively influencing a perception.

Speaking about her latest film “Toni, en famille”, written and directed by Nathan Ambrosioni, the French actress indicated that the role of Toni was a particularly striking new experience, explaining that “Toni embodies a strong woman, whose strength lies in his ability to listen and react. She constantly questions herself, acting with authenticity without wearing a mask.”

“I was also very excited about the idea of ​​collaborating with a young 23-year-old director. It’s truly stimulating to work alongside a young, very mature filmmaker,” she said.

The interpreter of Andréa Martel in the internationally successful series “Dix Pour Cent” also informed journalists that it was unlikely that a fifth season of the series would see the light of day. “We are instead considering the option of a film adapted for a platform, with longer episodes or in the classic format of a film. Whether it comes to fruition or not, we are working on it,” she said.

Camille Cottin started in the theater by joining the Théâtre du Voyageur troupe. In 2013, she met Eloïse Lang and Noémie Saglio at the birth of the Connasse series project and obtained the title role. They filmed the feature film “Connasse, princesse des cœurs” (2015), which earned her a nomination for best female hopeful at the Césars.

She then multiplies the projects including “Iris” (2016, Jalil Lespert), “Like mother, like daughter” (2017, Noémie Saglio), “Larguées” (2018, Éloïse Lang), “Les Fauves” (2019, Vincent Mariette) or even “Les Éblouis” (2019, Sarah Suco). At the same time, Camille Cottin leads an international career, which began in 2016 with “Allied” by Robert Zemeckis and which includes “Stillwater” (2021, Tom McCarthy), “Mon légionnaire” (2021, Rachel Lang), “House of Gucci” (2021, Ridley Scott) and in 2023, “Mystery in Venice” by Kenneth Branagh and “Golda” by Guy Nattiv.