AFC’s Conversations

Antonio Paladino

Antonio Paladino looks back on his first experience with fiction film and shooting in black and white for James Marsh’s "Dance First"
By François Reumont for the AFC

Dance First is Antonio Paladino’s first venture into feature films. This Berlin-based cinematographer had been, until now, accustomed to shooting commercials. He was fortunate to have been chosen by British director James Marsh, Oscar winner in the Documentary category in 2009 for "Man on a Wire". The film, competing for Best First Cinematography, portrays the life of Samuel Beckett, the renowned Irish playwright who spent most of his life in France. The black and white biopic’s cast features Gabriel Byrne, Sandrine Bonnaire and the excellent Irish actor Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger in "Game of Thrones"). (FR)
Phedon Papamichael

In his own words: A Conversation with Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC
By Madelyn Most

After Cannes in May and Camerimage in November, Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, photographed by Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC, was honored at the American Society of Cinematographers Awards in February where many attending delighted in the rumor that Nebraska would upset Gravity and steal the top prize. Afterall, cinematographers were voting for what they recognize to be the year’s greatest achievement in lighting and photography, not visual effects. The rich black and white imagery has a raw and simple beauty that is unique today; it defiantly counterpoints the glossy, artificial, commercial-advertising look found in most other Hollywood Studio movies.
Claire Pijman

Interview with director and cinematographer Claire Pijman, NSC, about "Living the Light - Robby Müller"
"An artist diary", by François Reumont for the AFC

Dutch cinematographer and director Claire Pijman’s touching and original documentary paints a portrait of cinematographer Robby Müller, NSC, the legendary partner of Wim Wender, Jim Jarmush, and Lars von Trier. The film was constructed from personal archival footage provided to the director by Robby Müller himself during the last years of his life. Because he was unable to express himself as a result of his illness, his testament to us is given via this filmed diary, shot with a Super 8. Many filmmakers share their memories of Müller during the film.
Aymerick Pilarski

Aymerick Pilarski discusses his work on “Öndög”, shot in Mongolia, and directed by Quan’an Wang

Aymerick Pilarski has had an unusual career. Because he was passionate about the cinema and he wanted to discover other cultures, he decided to study in Beijing rather than in France. This young cinematographer decided to leave for Asia nearly 15 years ago, where he learned Chinese and has been following in the footsteps of Christopher Doyle, a legend in cinematography. (FR)
Gilles Porte

Watts in the Wadding
Interview with cinematographer Gilles Porte, AFC, about his work on Safy Nebbou’s film "Who Do You Think I Am"

Gilles Porte, AFC is an operator who likes changing visual universes on each project. For example, in 2017, on The Royal Exchange [1], by Marc Dugain, a film set in the French royal court during the 18th century, or the following year on Budapest [2], by Xavier Gens, a much more festive contemporary comedy. For this 2019 edition of Camerimage, he is presenting Who Do You Think I Am? [3], the latest film by Safy Nebbou, starring Juliette Binoche (released in Paris in February 2019). This is a film about the lies and the dangers of social networks which has been a hit abroad [4] since its release (ranked 3rd-highest French film by ticket sales abroad). (FR)
Julien Poupard

Julien Poupard, AFC, discusses his cinematographic work on "Les Amandiers", by Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

The film is set in the 1980s and tells Valeria’s personal experience from her time at the Théâtre des Amandiers school, but with contemporary actors. I wanted that to be reflected in the image. The memory of images is more important than the image itself. When you see the film, you must feel the both 1980s and the 2020s. Because the film is a meeting between the past and the present.
Julien Poupard
Julien Poupard

A Look on Montfermeil
Interview with cinematographer Julien Poupard, AFC, about his work on Ladj Ly’s film "Les Misérables"

Two films shot by Julien Poupard, AFC, have already won the Caméra d’or at Cannes: Party Girl, by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis in 2014, and Divines, by Houda Benyamina, in 2016. Last year, he was with Pierre Salvadori’s film En liberté! at the Directors’ Fortnight. This year, he’s back with a first film, Ladj Ly’s Les Misérables, in Official Competition at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. (BB)
Julien Poupard

Cinematographer Julien Poupard, AFC, discusses his work on Houda Benyamina’s film “Divines”

Upon graduating from La fémis in 2006 Julien Poupard designed the lighting on a number of short films and was noticed for his work on Party Girl, awarded a Golden Camera at Cannes in 2014. He is a faithful collaborator on first films and for young directors – for example 40-Love by Stéphane Demoustier, or Les Ogres, by Léa Fehner – now he is back with Divines, the first feature-length film by director Houda Benyamina, in selection at the Directors’ Fortnight.
Rodrigo Prieto