Each in its own way, these two films illustrate an open, generous, curious France, whose colours they will defend magnificently during the prestigious Oscars ceremony.
I warmly congratulate the team of the two films who, through their talent, help to make known and radiate the singularity and diversity of French cinema.
First feature film by French-Turkish director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Mustang, produced by Charles Gillibert, will represent France in the “best foreign film” category. A Franco-Germano-Turkish co-production, this film, which tells the fate of five sisters in a village in Turkey, benefited from the World Cinema Aid, granted by the CNC and the French Institute.
In the “best short film” category, Ave Maria by Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont, produced by Incognito Films, is the second French film selected. It tells how three nuns experience the arrival of settlers in the West Bank.