PARIS — Ami Paris founder and inventive director Alexandre Mattiussi has signed on to accomplice with Cannes Critics’ Week, with the model becoming a member of as the principle sponsor of its high prize.
The sidebar dedicated to discovering new expertise will now award the Ami Paris Grand Prize to its profitable movie, starting with this 12 months’s sixty fourth version.
“I’m very respectful and grateful about what Critics’ Week represents. It’s a really particular prize, as a result of it provides an excellent skilled viewpoint on films,” Mattiussi stated.
The part solely selects director’s first or second movies, and a prize right here is usually a profession game-changer for a younger filmmaker.
“Annually, Critics’ Week helps rising filmmakers from world wide and celebrates their good debuts. Sharing this similar ardour for locating and supporting new expertise with Ami Paris and Alexandre Mattiussi is especially thrilling,” stated Critics’ Week government director Ava Cahen.
The Critics’ Week is a sidebar to the official choice. It presents seven function movies in competitors, that are eligible for what’s now known as the Ami Paris Grand Prize, in addition to the SACD Prize for greatest screenplay, amongst others. First function movies on this part are additionally eligible for the cross-selection Digital camera d’Or, which is awarded by a particular jury.
Collaborating with Critics’ Week was “an apparent selection for the maison,” Mattiussi stated.
“It will possibly actually be the start of a profession. It’s actually to assist the younger administrators, films and all of the younger abilities to make that dream attainable,” Mattiussi stated of the award. “It’s a fantastic partnership to assist the younger administrators. So I like being a part of this.”
Chatting with WWD, Mattiussii framed the tie-up as a “long-term partnership” with out particular parameters however indicated it will likely be ongoing assist.
“It’s not only one 12 months,” he stated. “It’s going to be one thing that lasts a very long time. It’s not contractual. It’s the very starting of a fantastic collaboration. I’m actually completely satisfied so as to add this to the Ami story.”
The model will host a dinner for filmmakers in the course of the Critics’ Week to “have a good time cinema,” he stated.
“We might be there as a supporter and a sponsor of the Critics’ Week, however it’s not about us. It’s concerning the Critics’ Week and the flicks.”
Ami Paris may also open its doorways to a red-carpet dressing suite on the Majestic resort.
Mattiussi has already had a profitable streak on the Cannes purple carpet, dressing Viola Davis, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Catherine Deneuve and Omar Sy, amongst others during the last 4 years.
Viola Davis in Ami Paris on the Cannes purple carpet.
Getty Photographs
The Critics’ Week sponsorship happened by a mutual love of cinema, he stated, because the designer has been dipping his toes into the manufacturing pool lately.
He coproduced Bertrand Bonello’s “The Beast,” starring Léa Seydoux in 2023, and Céline Sallette’s “Niki,” starring Charlotte Le Bon final 12 months. The latter movie was in Cannes’ Un Sure Regard part.
This 12 months he’s on board “Enzo,” the newest movie from Cannes Grand Prize winner Robin Campillo. The director helmed “120 BPM (Beats Per Minute),” which received on the movie pageant in 2017, and went on to win a handful of César awards as effectively.
Mattiussi coproduced “Enzo” alongside Marie-Ange Luciani, and the movie is tipped for a berth within the official choice.
He was additionally the star of the documentary “Alexandre Mattiussi, Ami, Naissance d’une assortment,” directed by French filmmaker Dominique Miceli final June.
Nevertheless, Mattiussi stated he has no plans to launch an official manufacturing arm of the corporate.
“I don’t wish to be a model producing cinema, as a result of I don’t wish to serve my curiosity as a dressmaker, as a result of I believe it’s not the suitable place to do it,” he added. “I simply attempt to give attention to my job, which is being a designer and making issues stunning for the model, for the home. On the similar time, for those who might help as a humble and really supportive [partner] producing and serving to folks to make [a film] attainable, it’s implausible.”
Mattiussi just lately returned from South Korea, the place he made a brief movie with “Parasite” star and pal of the home Choi Woo Shik to launch a capsule assortment for the Korean market.
That brings the most important query for the designer, who typically creates intricate eventualities and grand units for his trend reveals: will he step behind the digicam?
“Considered one of my desires is to direct my correct story, like a movie that I’ve truly [been] writing since years and possibly I might be in the future prepared for it,” he stated. “I discovered lots with all these folks. I’m listening, I’m watching, and possibly in the future when I’ll really feel able to do it, I’ll do it, however no stress.”
The 2025 Critics’ Week will happen from Could 14 to 21, on the Espace Miramar in Cannes.
The jury and choice of movies is anticipated to be introduced mid-April.