From our special correspondent in Angoulême
From 5:15 p.m., a queue forms in front of the Angoulême Theater to attend the opening ceremony of the thirteenth Angoulême Francophone Film Festival (FFA). Jean Castex is expected at 7 p.m. The street was closed to traffic, a dozen gendarmerie vans and police cars were parked nearby.
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Once identified, the bag searched and hands disinfected, one can enter and occupy one of the “438 Covid places” against the 720 allocated in normal times. "The cinema is not dead, the proof we have a new room, the Spur," said Dominique Besnehard, one of the two general delegates and founders of this event with Marie-France Brière. "Thank you for coming to talk about important things that interest the whole profession," breathed the little lady in black by opening this event for which the stars have responded. Isabelle Huppert, Gérard Depardieu, Virginie Efira and Kad Merad will make the trip to present their film.
The speakers removed their masks to express themselves on the stage and of course respected the rules of distancing. “We had not yet received a prime minister (…). There was the appeal of June 18, there will be the Prime Minister's speech in Angoulême! » , Joked the former agent of the stars. Laughs in the room where were among others Vincent Dedienne, present in four films of the program, Patrick Timsit and the team of Erase History , the film of Kervern-Delépine which opened the FFA.
"I wanted to talk about the intermittents of the show, I do not remove my mask, I'm afraid of being recognized ... I have a friend who is with a intermittent who looks like Jean Castex ..." , joked Benoît Delépine also president with his Grolandais companion of this edition. The arrival of the Prime Minister was preceded by an army of photographers, officials and some applause. He was surrounded by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister for La Francophonie and Roselyne Bachelot. "What is Anne Hidalgo doing here?" " Was surprised a spectator. Good question.
Only Jean Castex has spoken. Proposing to take up several challenges: "Restoring the taste of cinemas to young audiences , strengthening our cultural sovereignty, content distributors have funding obligations" , he recalled, and support for creation by providing businesses cultural “necessary means” .
Jean Castex took the opportunity to announce that the CNC (national cinema center) would receive 165 million euros. "By investing in cinema, the State is investing in cultural outreach" , assured the Prime Minister who will present "next week" other measures for his recovery plan. "Culture will benefit from 2 billion Euros, which is more than double what is usually spent on it," said Jean Castex, who is still awaiting proposals from his "excellent" Minister of Culture . “We must fight, communities, the State, elected officials and professionals so that cinemas regain their pre-crisis attendance or even see it increase… I have come to tell you that the State will continue to support and accompany the cinema. " He got to more applause.