PARIS — Ami Paris founder and inventive director Alexandre Mattiussi has signed on to companion with Cannes Critics’ Week, with the model becoming a member of as the primary sponsor of its prime prize.
The sidebar dedicated to discovering new expertise will now award the Ami Paris Grand Prize to its successful movie, starting with this yr’s sixty fourth version.
“I’m very respectful and grateful about what Critics’ Week represents. It’s a really particular prize, as a result of it provides an excellent skilled standpoint on motion pictures,” Mattiussi mentioned.
The part solely selects director’s first or second movies, and a prize right here generally is a profession game-changer for a younger filmmaker.
“Annually, Critics’ Week helps rising filmmakers from world wide and celebrates their good debuts. Sharing this similar ardour for locating and supporting new expertise with Ami Paris and Alexandre Mattiussi is especially thrilling,” mentioned Critics’ Week government director Ava Cahen.
The Critics’ Week is a sidebar to the official choice. It presents seven characteristic movies and 10 brief movies in competitors, that are eligible for what’s now referred to as the Ami Paris Grand Prize, in addition to the SACD Prize for greatest screenplay, amongst others. First characteristic movies on this part are additionally eligible for the cross-selection Digicam d’Or, which is awarded by a particular jury.
Collaborating with Critics’ Week was “an apparent selection for the maison,” Mattiussi mentioned.
“It could actually be the start of a profession. It’s actually to assist the younger administrators, motion pictures and all of the younger skills to make that dream potential,” Mattiussi mentioned of the award. “It’s a good looking partnership to assist the younger administrators. So I really like being a part of this.”
Talking to WWD, Mattiussii framed the tie-up as a “long-term partnership” with out particular parameters however indicated it is going to be ongoing assist.
“It’s not only one yr,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be one thing that lasts a very long time. It’s not contractual. It’s the very starting of a good looking collaboration. I’m actually completely satisfied so as to add this to the Ami story.”
The model will host a dinner for filmmakers throughout the Critics’ Week to “have fun cinema,” he mentioned.
“We will probably be there as a supporter and a sponsor of the Critics’ Week, however it’s not about us. It’s concerning the Critics’ Week and the films.”
Ami Paris may also open its doorways to a red-carpet dressing suite on the Majestic lodge.
Mattiussi has already had a successful streak on the Cannes purple carpet, dressing Viola Davis, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Catherine Deneuve and Omar Sy, amongst others over the past 4 years.
Viola Davis in Ami Paris on the Cannes purple carpet.
Getty Photographs
The Critics’ Week sponsorship happened by a mutual love of cinema, he mentioned, because the designer has been dipping his toes into the manufacturing pool lately.
He coproduced Bertrand Bonello’s “The Beast,” starring Léa Seydoux in 2023, and Céline Sallette’s “Niki,” starring Charlotte Le Bon final yr. The latter movie was in Cannes’ Un Sure Regard part.
This yr he’s on board “Enzo,” the latest movie from Cannes Grand Prize winner Robin Campillo. The director helmed “120 BPM (Beats Per Minute),” which received on the movie pageant in 2017, and went on to win a handful of César awards as nicely.
Mattiussi coproduced “Enzo” alongside Marie-Ange Luciani, and the movie is tipped for a berth within the official choice.
He was additionally the star of the documentary “Alexandre Mattiussi, Ami, Naissance d’une assortment,” directed by French filmmaker Dominique Miceli final June.
Nevertheless, Mattiussi mentioned he has no plans to launch an official manufacturing arm of the corporate.
“I don’t need to be a model producing cinema, as a result of I don’t need to serve my curiosity as a clothier, as a result of I feel it’s not the appropriate place to do it,” he added. “I simply attempt to deal with my job, which is being a designer and making issues stunning for the model, for the home. On the similar time, in case you might help as a humble and really supportive [partner] producing and serving to individuals to make [a film] potential, it’s improbable.”
Mattiussi lately returned from South Korea, the place he made a brief movie with “Parasite” star and pal of the home Choi Woo Shik to launch a capsule assortment for the Korean market.
That brings the most important query for the designer, who usually creates intricate eventualities and grand units for his style exhibits: will he step behind the digital camera?
“Considered one of my goals is to direct my correct story, like a movie that I’ve truly [been] writing since years and possibly I will probably be sooner or later prepared for it,” he mentioned. “I realized rather a lot with all these individuals. I’m listening, I’m watching, and possibly sooner or later when I’ll really feel able to do it, I’ll do it, however no strain.”
The 2025 Critics’ Week will happen from Could 14 to 21, on the Espace Miramar in Cannes.
The jury and choice of movies is predicted to be introduced mid-April.
