AFC’s Conversations

Interview with Grimm Vandekerckhove, winner of the 2024 Robby Müller Award

The Rotterdam International Film Festival, in association with the NSC (Netherlands Society of Cinematographers) celebrates the memory of great cinematographer Robby Müller every year by awarding the prize that bears his name to an up-and-coming filmmaker. In past years, recipients of the award have included Diego Garcia (a Mexican cinematographer who worked with Darius Khondji, AFC, ASC, on the series “Too Old to Die Young” in 2020, and Hélène Louvart, AFC, in 2023. This year, it is the turn of Belgian cinematographer Grimm Vandekerckhove to be recognized. We discuss this award with him, and particularly his work with Belgian director Bas Devos for whom he has shot two films (Ghost Tropic in 2019 and Here in 2023). (FR)

Pedro Luque, SCU, and director Juan Antonio Bayona look back on the stressful shooting of "The Society of the Snow"
"Alone in the world", by François Reumont for the AFC

In competition for the first time at Camerimage, Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and the Amazon series "Lord of the Rings") and his Uruguayan cinematographer Pedro Luque answered the audience’s questions after the screening of his new film, The Society of the Snow. (FR)

Marcel Zyskind, DFF, talks about his work on Viggo Mortensen’s "The Dead Don’t Hurt"
"The Little House in the Canyon", by François Reumont, for the AFC

For his second film as a director, actor Viggo Mortensen tells a love story hindered by the Civil War. He stars alongside Vicky Krieps, in an atmosphere that blends classic and modern Western elements. Enhanced by intertwining editing of different time lines, and stunning cinematography by Marcel Zyskind, DFF, the film was shot on locations across Mexico & Canada. It’s presented out of competition during a special screening at Camerimage. (FR)

Rémy Chevrin, AFC, looks back on the shooting of Christophe Honoré’s "Winter Boy"
"Mourning through Rose-Colored Glasses", by François Reumont

Christophe Honoré and Rémy Chevrin, AFC, are one of the most emblematic director/cinematographer couples in French "cinéma d’auteur". They have already shot nine films together and their faithful collaboration has been going strong since Seventeen Times Cécile Cassard, 24 years ago. Their next feature has already been wrapped and scheduled for release in spring 2024. Last year, they released Winter Boy, a film for which young actor Paul Kircher won the award for Best Actor at the San Sebastian Festival. A look back on the photographic challenges of this adolescent drama with the cinematographer who was selected out-of-competition at Camerimage 2023 in the Contemporary World Cinema section. (FR)

Salvatore Totino, ASC, AIC, talks about the shooting of the first six episodes of the series "The Offer"
The series you just couldn’t refuse, by François Reumont

Produced for the new Paramount+ platform launched in December 2022, the series "The Offer" is a recreation of a mythical moment in cinema history: the adaptation and production of Mario Puzo’s bestseller "The Godfather". The writer, the main character of the series – who is eventually promoted to co-writer-, is surrounded by an array of protagonists who make up the amazing success of the project. Top of the list, the incredible Matthew Goode, who plays Bob Evans, head of the Paramount studio. He seems to come straight out of the legendary documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture", originally devoted to him.
For the first time in his long career, Italian-American cinematographer Salvatore Totino (Davinci Code, Everest...) was in charge of this series, and photographed the first six episodes. Three directors follow one another around him (Dexter Fletcher, Adam Arkin and Collin Bucksey). "The Offer" is competing for the Golden Frog for Best Series at Camerimage 2023. (FR)

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)

Interview with cinematographer Ants Tammik about Anna Hints’s "Smoke Sauna Sisterhood"
"Blood, sweat and tears", by François Reumont

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood is a surprising film. Winner of several prizes at international festivals such as Sundance, filmmaker Anna Hints’ invitation to share the intimate confessions of Estonian women is a real success. Set in an extremely simple decor -traditional saunas heated by wood fires-, the documentary is a dance between of words, bodies, steam and light. Cinematographer Ants Tammik spent twenty days with the women of his country, in the heart of this magical place, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The humidity levels were close to 100%, with a temperature fluctuating between 60 and 80°. Welcome to the Smoke Sauna! (FR)

Interview with Constanza Sandoval, ADF, director of photography of "The Song of the Auricanturi", by Camila Rodríguez Triana
"Mother and Daughter", by François Reumont

Among the films selected in the "Directors’ Debuts Competition" category at Camerimage 2023, The Song of the Auricanturi (El canto del Auricanturi), by Colombian director Camila Rodriguez Triana, tells the story of a silent mother and her daughter. This contemporary artist, a graduate of the Fresnoy School (2019), directed her first feature film alongside argentinian cinematographer Constanza Sandoval, ADF. She talks to us about this film, whose directorial choices and screenplay are quite radical, inspired by the work of Alexander Sokourov and Bela Tarr... (FR)

Interview with cinematographer Curren Sheldon about Elaine McMillion Sheldon’s documentary "King Coal"
By François reumont for the AFC

American cinematographer Curren Sheldon brings to Camerimage his latest documentary film, "King Coal." Rooted in both reality and fable, this work presents the Appalachian region, exploring the economic and societal upheaval caused by the rise and fall of coal mines. Curren shares insights into how this project slowly developed and was crafted in collaboration with his wife, Elaine, who directed the film. (FR)

Interview of cinematographer Joshua Zucker-Pluda about "Screaming Suicide", music video of the band Metallica
"Blurred Hard Metal", by François Reumont

The superstar Metal band Metallica asked director Tim Saccenti and American cinematographer Joshua Zucker Pluda to create a visually intricate yet classically structured music video, featuring various black and white blurs and textures. With slow-motion, image overlays, and sweeping flares, "Screaming Suicide" is competing for the Golden Frog for Best Music Video Cinematography at Camerimage 2023. (FR)

Kristoffer Engholm Aabo talks about his work on "Crooks - Heart of Vengeance", music video directed by Snorre Ruhe
"Vengeance 80", by François Reumont

Kristoffer Engholm Aabo is a cinematographer based in Copenhagen. He divides his time between Denmark and Norway, where he studied cinematography. He has worked on the visuals of over 80 music videos and has also worked on a number of advertising films (Porsche, Redbull, Carlsberg, etc.) as well as short fiction films. Selected for the first time in competition at Camerimage for the music video "Crooks - Heart of Vengeance" by the band Farveblind, we meet to talk about this strange fake trailer, created for a revenge film that could almost be real... (FR)

Interview with Robbie Ryan, ISC, BSC, about “Poor Things,” by Yorgos Lanthimos
"Bella’s rebellion", by François Reumont

After the highly acclaimed The Favorite (Audience Award at Camerimage 2018), Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos has teamed up once again with Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan, ISC, BSC, on Poor Things. This project was largely shared in its making with actress Emma Stone - Oscar winner for Best Actress in 2017 -. Stone was the centrepiece of this project, giving her a probable chance of receiving a second statuette in 2024. This resolutely feminist fable tells the story of the journey and liberation of a dead young woman, brought back to life by a mad scientist, who implants in her a little girl’s brain... (FR)

Manaki Brothers Conversation with Peter Biziou, BSC
By François Reumont, on the behalf of the AFC

Doubly honored in 2023 (at the Manaki Brothers Festival and soon at Camerimage), British cinematographer Peter Biziou, BSC, shares with us some memories from his long and prestigious career on commercial and fiction sets. Although Mississippi Burning (Oscar for Best Cinematography in 1989) was undoubtedly his highest distinction, his name has appeared in the credits of films such as Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, Richard Loncraine’s Richard III, or Peter Weir’s The Truman Show. (FR)

80th Venice Film Festival Yves Cape, AFC, discusses the cinematographic challenges on "Memory", by Michel Franco
"Brooklyn Love Story", by François Reumont for the AFC

Always catching his viewers by surprise, Michel Franco’s latest film is an authentic love story. This improbable romance between two people who have been wounded by life gives Jessica Chastain (Sylvia) and Peter Sarsgaard (Saul) the opportunity to explore two beautiful characters who must face their flaws and their courage. Yves Cape, AFC, has once again (for the fifth time) teamed up with the Mexican director to shoot this independent film in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Memory is in Official Competition for the Golden Lion at the 80th Annual Mostra de Venise. (FR)

Interview with Xavier Dolléans, AFC, about his work on two episodes of the series "Mrs. Davis"
By Jonathan Bensimhon, for the AFC

Created by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof, "Mrs. Davis" is an eight-episode series produced by Warner Bros TV released on its own streaming service Peacock in late April. Xavier Dolléans, AFC, was the cinematographer for episodes 3 and 4, directed by Alethea Jones and shot in Spain. Interviewed here by screenwriter and director Jonathan Bensimhon, he discusses the technical challenges he had to overcome and the artistic, organizational and human particularities of such a production.

Robert Yeoman, ASC, shares his choices on Wes Anderson’s "Asteroid City", Greg Fromentin adding to his words
"Cuando calienta el sol", by François Reumont for the AFC

After shooting The French Dispatch in France in Angoulême, Wes Anderson and his crew decided to set their new film in Spain’s desert. For Asteroid City is therefore a very brilliant hommage to 1950’s America and to stage play, as the prologue says. Robert Yeoman, ASC, whose long filmography notably includes William Friekin’s masterpiece To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) shares his lensing and lighting choices on this new nostalgic fable, where John Ford’s desert and SF imagery are sometimes meeting. (FR)

Simon Beaufils speaks about image and the directing of "Anatomy of a Fall", de Justine Triet
"Sun, snow, and a criminal court", by François Reumont

Justine Triet’s (Sybil, Victoria) new film is multidimensional, layer after layer being progressively peeled away as the film progresses. Starting as a family drama involving a Franco-German couple and their visually impaired son, the film evolves around a series of characters, in the context of a high-profile criminal trial. Simon Beaufils created the images for this closed doors thriller, with 2.5 hours divided between a high mountain chalet and a courtroom. Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d’une chute) was awarded the 76th Palme d’or. (FR)

The 2023 Cannes Festival interviews

During the 76th Cannes Film Festival, we have published 32 written interviews (13 are in English, others in French), in which directors of photography speak about their work on the selected movies. Here are the links allowing you to read each of them.