End clap for the 25th edition of the Alpe d’Huez Festival ! Saturday January 22, 2022, after six days of screenings at the foot of the slopes, the closing ceremony was held. The jury finally made its choice among the ten films in competition. Deprived of skiing and raclette after having tested positive before the start, Michèle Laroque (the president of the jury this year) and her juror Malik Bentalha nevertheless followed the festival closely, helped from a distance by their comrades Mathilde Seigner, Josephine Japy and Ruben Alves.
The very first prize was awarded to Audrey Lamy, for her role in Squad : that of Cathy, 40, who has dreamed of running her own restaurant since she was little, but who finds herself a canteen in a home for young migrants. Very moved when going on stage, the actress reacted – of course – with humor: “This pleases me so much. I gave birth not long ago [à l’été 2021, de son deuxième enfant, NDLR] so my hormones are on fire and that’s why i’m crying so much too.” A little later, at the microphone of Purepeople.comthe 41-year-old actress added: “It’s my first acting award and I’m very honored that it’s happening here, in this comedy festival (…) and I’m even more touched to have this award for this film, with a message very strong.See you in theaters March 23!
As for her imposing trophy, Alexandra Lamy’s sister doesn’t care what she’s going to do with it, so happy is she to have it in her hands. “Everyone says to me: ‘Oh it’s heavy, oh it’s huge.’ But I don’t care!” An enthusiasm shared by the director of the film We smile for the picture, François Uzan, who leaves with the special jury prize. “It’s weird because I usually lose a lot, I’m a guy who loses at festivals so it’s very weird to win! To win for this film, which is very personal, to win with Pascale [Arbillot] and Agnes [Hurstel] by my side (…). It’s a bit much for one person, for a first time.”
The best actor award was a group award, since the actors in the film goodbye happiness were all rewarded! Antoine Bertrand is therefore delighted to return to Quebec “15 kilos heavier“: “It’s great for the film (…), it gives good visibility“, he commented, shortly after the closing ceremony.
“A thought from the heart” for Gaspard Ulliel
The surprise and happiness were also palpable on the side of the actors Ahmed Sylla and Bertrand Usclat, and the directors Olivier Ducray and Wilfried Meance, awarded the audience award for the comedy Jumeaux… but not too much!. “This is the start of something this price!“, announced Bertrand Usclat, delighted to win a prize for his first film. For his part, Ahmed Sylla recognizes that if he does “this profession, it is largely, largely, largely thanks to the public, who has carried (it) since (its) beginnings“: “I didn’t go to film school, theater school, I really learned on the job and with the love of people. So when they give it back to you like that, a hundredfold, you can only thank them and hope it continues.”
Finally, the grand prize was awarded to Jérôme Commandeur for Irreducible. The director and actor, accompanied in this victory by Pascale Arbillot (also on the bill), are only waiting for one thing: to celebrate this prize with the rest of the team, which notably includes Gérard Darmon, Valérie Lemercier, Esteban , Laetitia Dosch… Jérôme Commandeur also had “a thought from the heart” for Gaspard Ulliel, who died on the day of the film’s screening Irreducible at the festival.
Winners of the Alpe d’Huez Festival 2022 :
Best Actress Award: Audrey Lamy (Squad)
Best Actor Award: Antoine Bertrand, Patrice Robitaille, Louis Morissette and François Arnaud (goodbye happiness)
Audience award: Twins… but not too many!
Special Jury Prize: We smile for the picture
Grand Prize: Irreducible