AFC’s Conversations

"The Deal" is a series that recreates a recent historical event by showing the inner workings and behind-the-scenes of an international negotiation on the shores of Lake Geneva. Steeped in the atmosphere of realistic spy series and films (including "The Bureau"), where the plot is conveyed largely through the relationships between characters rather than through action per se, it is also a kind of closed-door drama set in a luxury Swiss hotel. The setting is reminiscent of Edward Berger’s recent film Conclave, in which other international negotiations were taking place within the Vatican. Adrien Bertolle is the director of photography for this six-episode series, directed by Jean-Stéphane Bron, co-produced by Arte & Gaumont, and in international competition at Séries Mania. (FR)

Directed by Laure de Butler ("Syndrome E" for TF1 or "Irrésistible" for Disney), the "37 secondes" series tackles an unsolved mystery dating back to January 15, 2004, the sudden sinking of the trawler "Bugaled Breizh" in international waters south of Lizard Cape. Solidly documented and filmed at the scene of the tragedy, this 6-episode series produced for the Arte Channel has been selected in French competition at this year’s Séries Mania. Benjamin Louet, who shot the images, talks to us about the filming process, where history and fiction coexist intimately. (FR)

For his first TV series in 20 years, British director Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice, Anna Karenina) has chosen a kind of first-person narrative to depict the rise of fascist power. Taking distances from the pure historical reconstitution seen in Darkest Hour, his previous biopic about Winston Churchill, Wright’s series "M" plays out almost like a hypnotic and relentless show, with Luca Marinelli, now bald headed, regularly addressing the camera (Best actor Prize in Lille 2025). Once again is cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, BSC, ISC, ASC, behind camera. A longtime friend and collaborator of the British filmmaker, for this series. (FR)

Shot over 80 days between November 2023 and April 2024, the new French mini-series on Apple TV+ recreates the Napoleonic era in a project that combines espionage, haute cuisine and politics. At the heart of the story, which evokes a pact with the devil, is an ambitious young chef who quickly achieves fame and success through his connection with Talleyrand. Matias Boucard, AFC, is the director of photography for this series - in association with Éric Dumont, AFC - directed by Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers). Laurent Héritier, as gaffer, took care of the many electrical setups on location around Paris and in the studio in Bry-sur-Marne. Premiering at the Séries Mania Festival, the series will be available on Apple TV+ in late April. (FR)

With La Tour de glace, Lucile Hadzihalilovic takes on the adaptation of a children’s story by Andersen (The Snow Queen), a version of which (although rather far removed from the original work) was popularized by Disney Studios in 2013. Of course, Disney kept the fantastic and fairytale elements of the original, which Jonathan Ricquebourg, AFC, worked hard to bring out. An original film that mixes several narrative layers and is set against the background of a film shoot... In official competition at the Berlinale 2025, this film won the Silver Bear for Best Artistic Contribution, which recognizes the work of an entire team. (FR)

After Jeune femme (Caméra d’or at Cannes in 2017) and Petit frère, French filmmaker Léonor Serraille now offers a portrait of a young man, portrayed by Andranic Manet, who plays the lead role. Ari is a character full of contradictions who is navigating between malaise and hope, and who suddenly discovers a role in his life that he hadn’t anticipated. Sébastien Buchmann, AFC, is responsible for the images in this film, produced by Arte as part of a series on youth. (FR)

Certainly one of the standout series of Series Mania 2025, "Querer", co-written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Alauda Ruíz de Azúa, gives voice to women facing domestic violence and paints a stark portrait of contemporary Spanish society and family dynamics. Told over four episodes (filmed in 11 weeks), each serving as a chapter in a long and painful struggle for this mother (portrayed brilliantly by actress Nagore Aramburu), the series is also a visual gem, where every frame and especially every camera movement seems meticulously composed and designed to serve the story. We spoke with Sergi Gallardo, the cinematographer of this series, which won the Grand prize in Lille. (FR)

Directed by Kasia Adamik and Olga Chajdas, the series "Kabul" is a European co-production between France, Belgium, Greece, Germany, and Italy. This ambitious project portrays the evacuation of the Afghan capital during the American withdrawal in 2021. In the great Anglo-Saxon tradition of films recreating major historical events, the series offers a detailed reconstruction of the fall of Kabul. The Polish cinematographer Matteusz Wichlacz, PSC, a long-time collaborator of the two directors, was in charge of filming the entire series. We spoke with him about this spectacular reconstruction of Afghanistan—shot entirely in the suburbs of Athens—and "Kabul"’s participation in the official international competition at Séries Mania. (FR)

With humor, know-how and a disturbing quality, the fake Porsche advertisement “The Pisanos” produced by the Hungarian colorist László Gaál has become in recent days one of the stars of the AI ​​film generation on YouTube. Made entirely on the Google Veo2 engine to which he was able to have early bird access, this little film is featuring almost all the clichés of advertising (Tuscany, smiles, speed, etc.) Disturbing by its quality and especially by its making-off, this second part takes eventually the viewer by surprise when we suddenly learn that everything was (almost) false. Laszlo, who gives himself the pleasure of talking to the camera - in the only shot actually filmed . lends also his voice to the commentary. He talks to us (with his lovely Claude Monet t-shirt) about creation with this new tool. (FR)

Teaming up with Michel Franco for the sixth time, Yves Cape, AFC, has brought Dreams to life, featuring Jessica Chastain, who previously starred in their last film, Memory. A dark study of passion between a powerful American woman and a charming young Mexican immigrant, the film mainly addresses the everyday racism in the United States. Dreams also gives star dancer Isaac Hernández the opportunity to play a tailor-made role, portraying a character navigating between passion and disappointment. The film is in the Official Competition at the 2025 Berlinale.

Tyler B. Cohen is a renowned Creative Director celebrated for his expertise in both physical and digital realms. At Tool, he co-leads AI initiatives, revolutionizing how some of the biggest brands in the world create and deliver narratives and experiences through bespoke generative AI systems. Tyler’s dynamic body of work includes collaborative projects helmed under his direction with globally recognized brands, chart-topping musicians, superstar athletes, major sports leagues, and all those brave marketers interested in embracing what’s next. Google gave him the opportunity to test his latest VEO2 text to video generator, and he made Roommate From Hell with it. This funny short movie is online since early january. (FR)

Co-produced by Haut et Court and directed by Franco-British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, the film Santosh is a poignant portrayal of women (much like the other Indian film of the summer, All We Imagine as Light, also directed by an Indian filmmaker and winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes). Set in a rural region of northern India (Uttar Pradesh), this debut feature revolves around a young woman, the widow of a police officer, who inherits her late husband’s job due to a peculiar local administrative policy. She faces her new colleagues and is soon confronted with the complex contradictions of Indian society. Sandhya Suri and her cinematographer Lennert Hillege, NSC, presented the film at Camerimage and answered audience questions. The film won the Golden Frog Award for Best First Feature Film. (FR)

With Small Things Like These, Belgian filmmaker Tim Mielants tells the story of the late 80s, in working-class Ireland, giving a new point of view on the Magdalene Sisters affair (adapted in the past from Peter Mullan in 2002). We follow the life of a peaceful father of six daughters (Irish star Cillian Murphy) whose scars from the past suddenly resurface when the discovery of one of the young girls staying at the convent. Dutch DoP Frank van den Eeden, SBC, NSC, lensed the film, which is in competition for the Golden frog of Camerimage 2024. (FR)

With Conclave, German filmmaker Edward Berger (All is calm on the Western Front, multiple Oscars winner including Best cinematography in 2023 for James Friend, BSC), radically change the universe and decide to adapt a novel which tells how the election of a new pope is held at the Vatican. Served by a dazzling cast (Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini...), the film navigates between investigation, alcove secrets and political campaign between cardinals. It’s Stéphane Fontaine, AFC (The Beat My Heart Has Stopped, A Prophet, Jackie...) who is behind the camera this time. He comes to talk to us about this rebuilt Vatican at Cinecittà, about faces and how to film them and about red color, which regularly cross the image. Conclave is presented in European preview at Camerimage and competition for the Golden frog in the Main competition (FR)

"Baby Reindeer" was undoubtedly one of the year’s most striking pieces in terms of writing, acting, and audience impact. In just a few months, it quickly became one of Netflix’s flagship series, largely due to its creator Richard Gadd, who also stars as the lead. Gadd bravely brings to the screen an extremely grave and personal episode from his own life in an unprecedented manner. This series is groundbreaking in its audacity, proving that even the boldest projects, initially seeming far from mainstream, can captivate the public. Here we reflect on the making of this series with Krzysztof Trojnar, who was the cinematographer for the first four episodes, directed by Weronika Tofilska. (FR)

For his first film as director (and co-operator with Nico Aguilar), Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC adapts for the 3^rd time for the screen a so called unadaptable classic of Mexican literature. An evocation of Mexico during the revolutionary period which takes place over several eras with the dual recreation of a village and its ruins after its abandonment.
A strange 130 min Netflix experience which deals with surrealism, dreams and the nostalgia of an era. As in Toruń to present his film to cinematographers from around the world, the filmmaker talks to us about it and his transition to directing. (FR)

Lucy Cohen’s first film is a summer portrait of a boy and a girl leaving childhood. Filmed in a village on the Cornish coast, with windswept cliffs, this very sensitive film is based on the relationships and unsaid things between adults and their children. British cinematographer Rachel Clark shot the film. It runs for the Golden Frog (Best image for a first film) at Camerimage 2024. (FR)

Telling the story of a kind of Amélie Poulain with sewing superpowers, Sew Torn is a bit of a UFO in this panorama selection of contemporary cinema. Coming from German-speaking Switzerland, where this film was shot in a peaceful town lost in an idyllic valley. Director of photography Sebastian Klinger comes to talk to us about this shoot where the actress is killed at least three times on screen, and where the influence of the Coen brothers sometimes hovers over the crazy situations and somewhat strange characters. (FR)