The Nouvelles Vagues Festival in Biarritz ends this weekend, after 5 days of films and encounters. The winners of this first edition were unveiled this Saturday evening, notably crowning How To Have Sex and the Chinese film A song sung blue.
The first edition of the Festival Nouvelles Vagues delivered its prize list. On the eve of a 5th day of films and meetings, tomorrow Sunday July 2, 2023, the closing ceremony was held at the Théâtre de la Gare du Midi in Biarritz.
“You, the public, you were there, you filled the halls, with thirst and curiosity“, underlined Sandrine Brauer. In front of a full house of 1,400 people, the winners received their trophy, designed by the students of the Boulle school.
Echoing the current situation, before awarding its prizes, the jury, through the voice of actress Lyna Khoudri, read an extract from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo:
“Savages. Let us explain this word. These bristling men who, in the Genesiac days of revolutionary chaos, ragged, howling, fierce, puzzles raised, pike held high, rushed into the upset old Paris, what did they want? They wanted the end of oppression, the end of tyranny, the end of the sword, work for men, education for children, social comfort for women, freedom, equality, fraternity, bread for all, the idea for all, the Edenization of the world, Progress; and this holy, good and sweet thing, progress, pushed to the limit, beside themselves, they claimed it terrible, half-naked, club in hand, roar in mouth. They were the savages, yes; but the savages of civilization. They furiously proclaimed the right; they wanted, were it through trembling and terror, to force the human race into paradise. They looked like barbarians and they were saviors. They demanded light with the mask of night. (…) As for us, if we were forced to choose between the barbarians of civilization and the civilized of barbarism, we would choose the barbarians. But, thank heaven, another choice is possible. No steep fall is necessary, neither forward nor backward. Neither despotism nor terrorism. We want gradual progress.”
The jury was chaired by Saeed Roustaee, surrounded by Lyna Khoudri, Dali Benssalah, Camila Morrone, Noah Centineo, Francesca Scorsese, Léo Walk.
Discover the complete winners of this first edition of Nouvelles Vagues:
GRAND PRIZE: A Song Sung Blue by Xiao Bai Chuan
JURY AWARD: How To Have Sex by Molly Manning Walker
INTERPRETATION AWARD: Benedetta Porcaroli in Amanda
STUDENT JURY AWARD: Banel & Adama by Ramata-Toulaye Sy and a Special Mention for the film Paula
CULTURE PASS JURY PRIZE: Banel & Adama from Ramata-Toulaye Sy
PUBLIC AWARD: How To Have Sex by Molly Manning Walker
For the record, the bias of the International Film Festival of Biarritz – Nouvelles vague is to tell the story of youth and to rely on its vision through a unique proposal: films presenting stories of youth, judged by a jury of artists under 35 and an international jury of students from major film schools.
Nouvelles vague aims to highlight the young generation, its vision and its power, where the future takes root. Youth is the future that is written in the present, and during the festival, the present will combine with the future. Stories featuring characters between the ages of 12 and 35 were at the heart of the program and the professional aspects of the festival. The trophy, given to the winners, is designed by the students of the Ecole Boulle.
Enlightening young people so that they in turn enlighten us through the works of both recognized and emerging directors and revealing the faces of tomorrow, this is the challenge of the Biarritz International Film Festival, its raison d’être .
The film Le Théorème de Marguerite by Anna Novion was screened during the closing session.
A second edition of Nouvelles vague is already announced with new dates, from June 17 to 23, 2024