Hyères Festival: The Alternative to Cannes That Shaped French Cinema

A documentary by Yves-Marie Mahé, 'Jeune Cinéma' (France, 2023, DCP, 23′), presented out of competition at the 41st Torino Film Festival, reconstructs the history of the Festival international du jeune cinéma in Hyères. Founded in 1965 by writer Maurice Périsset, the festival aimed to promote auteur cinema and serve as a launchpad for young filmmakers, with the prize being a three-week screening in a Parisian cinema. Running until 1983, it became an alternative to Cannes, focusing on experimental and underground films and foreign productions without French distribution. Despite avoiding glamour, it attracted figures like Claude Chabrol (jury president), Antonioni, Agnès Varda, Emmanuelle Riva, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Michel Simon, Chantal Akerman, and Henri Langlois. In 1968, Philippe Garrel won the prize; in 1970, Guy Gilles' 'Clair de terre' won, starring Patrick Jouané, Annie Girardot, and Micheline Presle. Michel Piccoli and Marguerite Duras also appeared. After moving to Toulon from 1972 to 1976 due to political interest, the festival returned to Hyères in 1977 with a new structure: two sections, 'Cinéma d'aujourd'hui' (traditional) curated by Rui Nogueira, and 'Cinéma différent' (experimental). This inspired Marcel Mazé to found the Collectif Jeune Cinéma in Paris in 1970 and a distribution cooperative in 1971. The festival ended in 1983 when a right-wing local government cut funding.