On Tuesday, the Gerardmer Tourist Office didn’t skimp on the scenery, offering a beautiful azure sky, a magnificent lake, and fields dotted with daffodils as the 28th edition of the Cinema Meetings opened. Filmmakers and journalists from as far as the west and south of France reunited in the Pearl of the Vosges for the traditional spring film rendezvous.
In front of the first spectators gathered at the Casino cinema, Denis Blum, the event programmer co-organized with the Image’Est association, kicked off this edition with enthusiasm and confidence. He launched a packed schedule of previews that will continue until Friday morning. Cinephiles eagerly awaited the opportunity to discover the first films.
Three screenings marked the first day, leading into a particularly busy Wednesday with four films on the schedule, accompanied by three teams. Highlights include the presence of Japanese director Ryota Nakano for “My Big Brother and Me,” as well as Leo Grandperret and Manu Payet for “Become Awesome.”
Another intense moment awaits on Wednesday at 9:30 am with the preview of the documentary “The Blue Line,” in the presence of director Marie Dumora. Filmed in Natzwiller, near the former Struthof camp, the film explores a still vivid memory. “Today, men and mountains still bear the traces of these wounds,” she says, recalling “a humanity where in every house, a story sleeps.”
Through a sensitive exploration of landscapes and testimonies, the filmmaker offers a true mapping of memories, scrutinizing every slope of the mountain. A strong start for the Meetings that promise once again to be rich in emotions and discoveries.
