PARIS — Ami Paris founder and artistic director Alexandre Mattiussi has signed on to companion with Cannes Critics’ Week, with the model becoming a member of as the principle sponsor of its prime prize.
The sidebar dedicated to discovering new expertise will now award the Ami Paris Grand Prize to its profitable movie, starting with this 12 months’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 ideal skilled perspective 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.
“Every year, Critics’ Week helps rising filmmakers from around the globe and celebrates their good debuts. Sharing this identical ardour for locating and supporting new expertise with Ami Paris and Alexandre Mattiussi is especially thrilling,” mentioned Critics’ Week govt director Ava Cahen.
The Critics’ Week is a sidebar to the official choice. It presents seven function movies and 10 quick movies in competitors, that are eligible for what’s now known as the Ami Paris Grand Prize, in addition to the SACD Prize for greatest screenplay, amongst others. First function movies on this part are additionally eligible for the cross-selection Digital camera d’Or, which is awarded by a particular jury.
Collaborating with Critics’ Week was “an apparent selection for the maison,” Mattiussi mentioned.
“It will possibly actually be the start of a profession. It’s actually to help the younger administrators, motion pictures and all of the younger skills to make that dream potential,” Mattiussi mentioned of the award. “It’s a stupendous partnership to help 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 will likely be ongoing help.
“It’s not only one 12 months,” 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 stupendous collaboration. I’m actually blissful so as to add this to the Ami story.”
The model will host a dinner for filmmakers in the course of 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 in regards to the Critics’ Week and the flicks.”
Ami Paris can even open its doorways to a red-carpet dressing suite on the Majestic resort.
Mattiussi has already had a profitable streak on the Cannes pink carpet, dressing Viola Davis, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Catherine Deneuve and Omar Sy, amongst others during the last 4 years.
Viola Davis in Ami Paris on the Cannes pink carpet.
Getty Photos
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 12 months. The latter movie was in Cannes’ Un Sure Regard part.
This 12 months 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 believe it’s not the suitable place to do it,” he added. “I simply attempt to give attention to my job, which is being a designer and making issues lovely for the model, for the home. On the identical time, for those who may also help as a humble and really supportive [partner] producing and serving to individuals to make [a film] potential, it’s incredible.”
Mattiussi just lately returned from South Korea, the place he made a brief movie with “Parasite” star and good friend of the home Choi Woo Shik to launch a capsule assortment for the Korean market.
That brings the largest query for the designer, who typically creates intricate situations and grand units for his vogue exhibits: will he step behind the digital camera?
“One in all my goals is to direct my correct story, like a movie that I’ve truly [been] writing since years and perhaps I will probably be at some point prepared for it,” he mentioned. “I realized quite a bit with all these individuals. I’m listening, I’m watching, and perhaps at some point when I’ll really feel able to do it, I’ll do it, however no stress.”
The 2025 Critics’ Week will happen from Could 14 to 21, on the Espace Miramar in Cannes.
The jury and collection of movies is anticipated to be introduced mid-April.
