Following recent vote to designate the new European Film Academy Board the 1600 members have elected Humbert Balsan to replace Nick Powell as EFA chairman.

French producer will bring 'Gallic flavour' to Academy's operations, quotes Powell.

Beeing french myself I wondered what this could mean besides changing wine and champagne sponsors.
I finally decided to translate this as a recognition to creativty in the organistion process: a touch of stunning - chic improvisation, associated to attention to details.

more seriously, Balsan also brought us Le Cerf Volant (The Kite) winner of the Jury Grand Prix, Silver Lion of 60th MOSTRA

LE CERF-VOLANT written and directed by Randa Chahal Sabbag is based on the separation of villages in Syria’s Golan region, which began during the war with Israel in June 1967. It could easily be situated along the Greek-Turkish frontier, where 180 kilometres of barbed wire are called the “Attila Line”, in Korea, Palestine or… wherever borders transform the Other into a stranger, an enemy. Child of a Lebanese mother and Iraqi father, a life-long victim of conflict, never free from the feeling of permanent danger. I wanted to deal with war without being hostile. It was necessary to reconcile shadow and mobility, reject Faith, plunge into doubt and express it visually. A film about love on the frontier was needed, without shooting, no talk of peace. The Kite is first and foremost a love story, of desire and disaster.



See you next year in Spain Humbert, or in a couple of festivals.


Bruno Chatelin