A new Artistic Director for the Directors' Fortnight
Created in 1969 by the SRF in a spirit of freedom and rebellion, the Directors’ Fortnight has steadfastly reinvented itself and revealed talents from all over the world.
During its Annual General Meeting which was held last Saturday, June 25th at the Fémis, the SRF voted for a new French designation, wishing to be more inclusive and turned towards film and filmmakers in a decisive and firmly political way : the “Quinzaine des Cinéastes”.
In this new momentum, the SRF is particularly delighted to welcome its new Artistic Director, Julien Rejl.
His sheer, communicative, structured and versatile passion is exactly what arthouse cinema will need in the coming years. The SRF has been drawn to his firm belief that the Directors’ Fortnight needs to remain a space for discovery, boldness, debate and new forms, and that whether it is made by a first-timer or a cinema legend, a film stands out first and foremost through its mise-en-scène.
Today, the SRF expresses its full confidence in him for his new missions.
---
Julien Rejl, Artistic Director of the Directors’ Fortnight:
« The SRF has chosen to entrust me with the task of implementing the project of a new Directors' Fortnight. I am very honored and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
First of all, I would like to salute the work and dedication that Paolo Moretti and his team have shown in recent years, despite the constraints imposed by the health crisis. I would like to thank them for the rigorous programming choices they have made, which have contributed to maintaining the international standing of the selection.
"La Quinzaine des Cinéastes". This new identity is first and foremost an opportunity to reaffirm the role and commitment of a selection created by and for filmmakers in 1969: The Fortnight is the label that celebrates the vitality of world cinephilia and places the act of mise-en-scène as the invention of a singular language at the heart of the programming process. A home for filmmakers from all over the world, the Fortnight is a privileged space for boldness and risk-taking, in fiction as well as in documentary, open to all genres, in a convivial and non-competitive spirit.
The selection is also a reflection, a resonance chamber of contemporary political, economic, social and ecological crises and struggles. In this perspective, the Fortnight shows its unwavering support for all filmmakers whose creative freedom is threatened, hindered or simply not supported. We are more than ever mindful of all the works that will see the light of day, having succeeded in overcoming the obstacles.
The Fortnight also wishes to rally around producers, distributors and exhibitors to support the cinema theater as an indispensable venue to discover films. All year round, the Fortnight will promote the selected films in order to re-establish a relationship of trust with the public in theaters, and may host professional meetings on the issues of distribution. Similarly, the Fortnight in Action program will continue to improve access to culture and film education. This is an opportunity to carry out a common and cohesive project with all the professionals in the industry, supported by a determined and united team. »
