Jamel Debbouze’s initiative that brings young people closer to their cinema dream

The 7th art initiation program reaches out to dozens of young people all over France. It is starting its fifth season.

A short 90-second film to get your foot in the door. This is what Filme l’avenir is offering to young people who want to make a career in cinema. The summer tour of the fifth edition started on Thursday, July 4 at Point Fort, a major cultural space in Aubervilliers. This training in the 7th art, organized by the association of comedian Jamel Debbouze and designed by Aurélie Cardin, is taking place in twenty-three other events throughout France until August 20. For two days, at each stopover, young people aged 16 to 30 can try their hand at their dreams : practice cinema professions as part of initial training or professional reorientation.

The training for the thirty participants consists of making a collective 90-second film with a mobile phone under the guidance of a professional. The common thread of this year : “Let’s get moving “. A leitmotif “in connection with the great national cause of sport”says Aurélie Cardin. More than a nod to the Paris Games, it is a hymn to movement in both art and everyday life. “It’s also a metaphor for what we do. We’re pushing the boundaries, we’re fighting stereotypes,” continues Aurélie Cardin. “Filme l’avenir” makes an industry known for being elitist more accessible in working-class neighborhoods and the countryside, from Mamoudzou (Mayotte) to Blaye (Gironde) via Marseille. “Lpolitical atmosphere [devenue plus électrique avec les élections législatives 2024] makes us want to do this tour even more.” This last one relies on the network of associations in each host locality.

The young people are supervised by personalities who, a few years ago, were neophytes like them. They were revealed by “Talents en court” by Jamel Debbouze’s Comedy Club. A “springboard”, which has existed since 2012, where talents come to pitch their 15-minute shorts on the Comedy Club stage. “They are self-taught, people who were not part of the establishment and who became cinema professionals”explains Aurélie Cardin, in charge of the initiative.

Among them, the filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré who won the César for short film for Mom(s) in 2017. Recently, the director of Cute was a member of the Un Certain Regard jury at the Cannes Film Festival. “Talents en court” also allowed us to discover Nora El Hourch who signed HLM Pussy or Steve Achiepo, the film’s director The Sandman. Josza Anjembe, who directed the short film The blue white red of my hair is also a revelation of this springboard. “Around twenty Talents en Court were selected for the Césars”notes Aurélie Cardin. Today, these seasoned professionals “are keen to pass on their knowledge”. “They have a pedagogical approach and are demanding in their cinematographic approach. They want to give their students the desire to go further”. Twenty four “nuggets” of “springboard” will join the tour.

For apprentices, the first day of training begins with testimonials from “Inspirational personalities” invited for the occasion. Shaima Kolli, European champion of qwankido (martial art), Ayoub Marceau, stand-up comedian of the Comedy Club and former high-level athlete, as well as the sociologist Akim Oualhaci, himself a boxer, accompany the first session in Aubervilliers.

The organizers hope that “the anecdotes and the journey of those who come to meet the young people” will provide material for their films. In Aubervilliers, “Students have access to the Zingaro space [théâtre équestre de Bartabas] where there are about fifty horses”a potential setting for their works. Just like the studio of the sculptor Rachid Kimoune“originally from Aubervilliers and known worldwide for his monumental works”.