URBAN GUIDE

Cinema is an inestimable part of our cultural heritage. The Riviera’s long history of film-making began with the founding of Studios de la Victorine in Nice, in 1919. It was on the centenary of that event that the Cinéroman festival was born. Under director Nathalie Benoin, Cinéroman celebrates the ties between cinema and literature. “Danielle Thompson honours us this year by chairing the Cinéroman jury for this 4th edition. She also chaired the 2022 Césars jury,” says the festival director, who has invited Ana Girardot, Sabine Azema, Pascal Elbé, David Foenkinos and many others to take part. So from 5 to 9 October you can enjoy previews of films based on novels, plays and graphic novels but also films in competition and cult films. “We are holding a whole evening et Villa Masséna based around Simone, Le Voyage du siècle. It is one of Olivier Dahan’s most important films; Simone Veil herself wanted Elsa Zylberstein to play her role,” says Nathalie Benoin. At L’Artiste, there will be masterclasses, debates and readings, while almost 45 screenings are programmed at the Pathé cinema, Gare du Sud in Nice. Films that have marked the history of cinema are being screened at the Nice Cinémathèque. “Filmmakers, actors and screenwriters come the festival to meet each other and mingle with the public. Regulars include Yvan Attal and Jean Dujardin,” says Daniel Benoin, director of the Anthéa theatre in Antibes and chair of the festival. “Before World War Two,” he says, “it was mainly stage plays that were adapted for the cinema. And not just Sacha Guitry. Then novels took over; these days more than 40% of films are based on novels. Literature is such a great hunting ground for filmmakers! For our 2023 edition we mean to create a professional marketplace where publishers and producers can meet up.”

festival-cineroman.com

By Tanja Stojanov