Le Temps d’aimer triumphs at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival

Katel Quillévéré’s fourth feature film leaves with two trophies: the Valois for best film of this 2023 edition and the interpretation prize for Vincent Lacoste.

The years pass and the success of the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival does not deny. Quite the contrary! With for this 2023 vintage, complete screenings both for the previews (no less than 11 rooms of the CGR complex full to the brim for Abbot stone by Frederic Tellier New start with the duo Karin Viard-Franck Dubosc…) than for the competition, mainly composed of first and second feature films. And the visual impression that we were able to have throughout this week was confirmed by the attendance figures announced this evening: 58,000 spectators counted in six days against 52,000 last year.

To conclude this 16th edition in style, just before the screening of the closing film, Flothe biopic of navigator Florence Arthaud by Géraldine Danon, all that remained was to know the verdict of the jury chaired by Laetitia Casta who had a lot to do with a very tight competition of 11 feature films where any prediction proved to be complicated to make.

The Valois de Diamant for best film was awarded to time to love by Katell Quillévéré which succeeds the winners worst by Lise Akoka and Romane Guéret, crowned last year. A film inspired by the director by her own grandmother. A singular love story spanning more than 20 years between the waitress of a seaside hotel-restaurant (Anais Demoustier) and a rich and cultured student, both of them carrying buried secrets, which will gradually resurface. A romantic melody with an M and a capital R doubly rewarded with the prize for male interpretation received by Vincent Lacoste. A (beautiful) habit for Katell Quillévéré who had seen Sara Forestier triumph as best actress here in her Susannawhich marked his first appearance in competition at Angoulême in 2016.

Dubbed also for another film discovered as time to love on the Croisette last May (in the Un Certain Regard section): Rosalie by Stéphanie Di Giusto, freely inspired by the life of Clémentine Delait, a famous French bearded woman from the beginning of the 20th century. Impressive in the title role, Nadia TereszkiewiczCaesarized in February for The Almond Treescontinues its collection of trophies with the prize for female interpretation while the Polish Hania Rami has won the Valois de la musique.

The prize for directing went to another “Cannes” film in the Un Certain Regard section, Augur by Baloji. A deserved reward as the realization constitutes the strong point of this bewitching story which gives pride of place to witchcraft where we follow a Congolese returning to his country, left 18 years earlier, to present his Belgian companion pregnant with two twins his family.

But the two films of the competition having won throughout the week the biggest successes in the applause meter have not been forgotten. For the enchanter The Poet’s Brideher second feature film as a solo director, Yolande Moreau left with the screenplay prize (co-written by Frédérique Moreau, co-writer of Xavier Beauvois’ latest films).

And My Mother’s Lifea moving comedy by Julien Carpentier about the relationship between a son and his bipolar mother (brilliantly portrayed by Agnès Jaoui and William Lebghil), received the very popular audience award.

While the student jury chose to vote for another mother-son relationship story, Nothing to lose by Delphine Deloget where Virgine Efira plays a woman trying to recover her child placed in a home. A social drama of great accuracy.

Winners of the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival 2023:

Valois of diamond : time to love by Katell Quillévéré

Valois of the staging : Baloji for Augur

Valois of the actress : Nadia Tereszkiewicz in Rosalie

Valois of the actor : Vincent Lacoste in time to love

Worth of the scenario : Yolande Moreau and Frédérique Moreau for The Poet’s Bride

Value of music: Hania Rani, for Rosalie

Value of the public: My Mother’s Life by Julien Carpentier

Valois of French-speaking students: Nothing to lose by Delphine Deloget