Spotlight on comedy films at the Alpe d’Huez Festival under the leadership of Valérie Bonneton

Like every year for 27 years, the Isère station is transformed into a huge cinema hall. The president of the jury Valérie Bonneton kicked off this new edition in front of a host of actors and comedians. Screened in preview, the sequel to “Retirement Home” set the tone: relaxation and simplicity.

It’s an unmissable event for fans of comedy films: the 27th edition of the Alpe d’Huez Festival (Isère) started on Monday January 15. The president of the jury Valérie Bonneton, surrounded by Guillaume de Tonquédec, Marylou Berry, Eye Haïdara and Finnegan Odfield, will have to choose between ten films in competition.

Open to the general public and completely free, the Alpe d’Huez Festival is one of the only ones dedicated to comedy in Europe. All During the week, the jury will watch and debate the selected films. “There is a lot of excitement for this year. This selection is how I see comedy, with a lot of society, social background and emotions“, rejoices Valérie Bonneton. Guillaume de Tonquédec views his role as juror with great humanity and delicacy. “I will be kind because I myself know that it is very difficult to make people laugh, I will speak from the heart”, he assures.

On the program for this new meeting, stars, but also new talents. The programming always gives pride of place to first films. “When we make first films, we have this need for urgency. It’s always fragile and at the same time very sincere. Me, I believe that comedy works when it is very sincere“, estimates Eye Haïdara, member of the jury. Thus, the public will have the opportunity to discover Repeat by Émilie Noblet. A feature film directed by Louise Bourgoin, Xavier Lacaille and Noémie Lvovsky which tells the story of a disillusioned literature professor and her hardly more motivated students who find themselves propelled to the World Latin Championship in Naples. Another comedy fresh out of the edit, We, the Leroys by Florent Bernard, with Charlotte Gainsbourg and José Garcia. The story of a couple who seeks by all means to rebuild their lives thanks to a journey that takes in key places in their family’s history.

Maxime Gasteuil, Zabou Breitman, Victor Belmondo, Isabelle Carré, Bernard Campan, Fabrice Eboué, Audrey Lamy and Anouk Grinberg are also expected in the Isère ski resort in varied works, ranging from arthouse films to more commercial comedies.

“Retirement home: a real choral film”

Before getting to the heart of the matter, the atmosphere was relaxed. Screened out of competition at the opening of the festival, the second part of Retirement home by Claude Zidi Jr., co-written by Kev Adams, delighted the spectators. On the bill for this new opus, Firmine Richard, Jarry and Chantal Ladesou were able to communicate easily with the public. “Comedy is serious, you have to do it seriously, but we had fun doing it together,” confides Chantal Ladesou. After attracting more than two million spectators in 2022, the comedy takes the intrepid retirees from the Lino Vartan home to an idyllic villa by the sea. A vacation far from their retirement home, but which they will have to share with the regular residents. Cohabitation ultimately turns into a senior war. “We find ourselves in a retirement home of the rich even though we come from a home of the poor. So, inevitably, a little squabble sets in“, says Firmine Richard.

Directed by Claude Zidi Jr., the film will be released in theaters on February 14, 2024. Already co-writer of the first part, Kev Adams returns for this second comedy. “It’s a real ensemble film. There are no main roles, no secondary roles. All the actors have a score. Everyone is on screen all the time. And personally, these are films that I love to see“, confides Kev Adams. After presenting its first part at Alpe d’Huez in 2022, Kev Adams and the film team hope that the festival will allow them to experience the same success.

The Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival runs until January 21, 2024. The results and the various prizes will be awarded at the end of the competition during the closing evening of the festival on Saturday January 20.