The editorial staff of Cahiers du cinema announced Thursday, February 27 in a press release that it had decided to leave the magazine, due to a disagreement with the editorial line that the new shareholders wish to impose.
The magazine's 15 salaried editors have all opted for the cession clause, a starting device that journalists can activate in the event of a change of owner of a title.
A decision that follows the announcement, in early February, of the sale of the emblematic magazine of the 7th art, which notably played a key role in the birth of the New Wave. Richard Schlagman, ex-boss of Phaïdon editions, who bought the monthly from Le Monde in 2009, sold it to a collective of 20 businessmen and producers, including the founder of Free, Xavier Niel, and the boss of Altice France, Alain Weill.
“ The new shareholding structure is made up of eight producers, which poses an immediate conflict of interest problem in a critical review. Whatever the articles published on the films of these producers, they would be suspected of complacency ”, underlines the press release of the editorial staff. Journalists of the monthly had publicly expressed these fears, and they believe they were not heard by the buyers.
“ The independence charter first announced by shareholders has already been contradicted by brutal press announcements. We were told that the review should 'refocus on French cinema' ”, they underline, also pointing to the appointment as director general of the general delegate of the SRF (Society of Film Directors), which adds to the “ fears of an influence from the French cinema community ”.
They also criticize the new shareholders for wanting to make the Notebooks a " convivial " and " chic " review, which they believe would be contrary to its history. " The Notebooks have always been a critical review committed, taking clear positions ", and " it would be distorting the Notebooks to make a flashy showcase or a platform for promoting French auteur cinema ," they warn. .
