Last year at the 16. Film Festival the preliminaries were made for a film exchange programme between Lower Saxony and its partner region of Upper Normandy in France. While we were visiting them in connection with the Nordische Filmtage in Rouen at the beginning of March 2003 we were able to intensify our cooperation with the Northern French film promoters Pôle Image.

"Pôle Image" was founded in 2001. It works in close cooperation with the government of Upper Normandy and deals among other things with films and photographs, teaching plans at schools and photo archiving. Furthermore, it supports the work of directors in the region. In 2003 too Pôle Image is presenting artists from Upper Normandy. Director Claude Duty will be honoured with a programme of short films and one full-length film. Moreover, we will be presenting a programme of middle-length films, in which young talent Sophie Quinton plays the leading role. Claude Duty, Sophie Quinton and director Gérald Hustache-Mathieu will personally present their works; in addition, Richard Turco, manager of Pôle Image, will be present. Especially for their presentation at the Film Festival some films have been given German subtitles.




Portrait Claude Duty



Born in Tunis in 1946, Duty studied graphic design in Rouen. He worked at first in advertizing and later developed board games. On the side he began to make short films (up till now 21 altogether) which have been nominated and awarded at numerous film festivals.

Claude Duty has tried out every genre in his short films and always with a good sense of humour. From 1997 till 2001 he managed the short film section of the French television channel + before making his first full-length film ("Filles perdues, cheveux gras"). His second full-length film "Bienvenue au Gite" with Julie Dépardieu was released this autumn in France and was a great success. Duty can be seen in a minor role in Cédric Klapisch's A "Year in Barcelona", which can be seen in this year's Film Festival in the "New International Cinema" series.

Without doubt Claude Duty is a many-sided personality and is one of the most interesting directors from Upper Normandy.




Portrait Claude Duty: Filles perdues, cheveux gras
Director: Claude Duty, F 2002, 100 min, 35 mm, colour, ES, german premiere
Fr, October 31 22:15 Universum 2 Guest: Claude Duty
Sa, November 1 10:45 CinemaxX 1 Guest: Claude Duty



As the title suggests, this film is a mad comedy, or as the director himself puts it: "a musical melodrama". Three young women with different backgrounds meet and learn to greatly appreciate each other. They will have innumerable adventures together and will never give up showing the men's world what's what. They express their feelings in songs and unexpectedly animated cartoons even help them.




Portrait Claude Duty: Short films
Fr, October 31 15:15 CinemaxX 1 Guest: Claude Duty
Sa, November 1 15:30 CinemaxX 4 Guest: Claude Duty



1. Les énervés de Jumièges
Director: Claude Duty, F 1986, 20 min, 35 mm, colour, without dialogue

This film bears the name of the famous painting "Les énervés de Jumièges" by Èvariste Luminais. The legend tells of the rebellious sons of King Chlodwig II, who had the nerves in their legs cut as punishment.

2. Pierres et Claude
Director: Claude Duty, F 1995, 11 min, 35 mm, without dialogue

The famous cathedral in Rouen in Upper Normandy as the painter Claude Monet saw it. A play of light and times of day in fast motion.

3. Mourir en Macedoine
Director: Claude Duty, F 1988, 3 min, 35 mm, without dialogue

A short animated film about the tragic end of a suicidal fruit.

4. Passera-t-il?
Director: Claude Duty, F 1991, 10 min, 35 mm, ES, special prize 1987 in Oberhausen

A worried couple wonders "Will he come by"?

5. La pucelle des Zincs)
Director: Claude Duty/Alain Ade, F 1995, 21 min, 35 mm, ESU

An irresistible parody on the story of Joan of Arc. Young waitress Jeanne begins a crusade to save French cuisine from American fast food.

6. Poids et moi)
Director: Claude Duty, F 1998, 6 min, 35 mm, ES

A wearisome thriller about a relieved couple.

7. Retour de baton
Director: Claude Duty, F 1992, 7 min, 35 mm, colour, ESU

A group of French girls has an unusual idea to win the drum majorette competition. Unfortunately, it is discovered...




Portrait Sophie Quinton



The 26-year-old actress comes from Upper Normandy and is equally active on the screen and on the stage. She gained fame with the two Gérald Hustache-Mathieu short films: "Peau de Vache" won best actress in 2001 at the Clermont-Ferrand short film festival. In Gilles Marchand's psycho-thriller "Who killed Bambi?" she has participated in the Cannes festival this year.




Potrait Sophie Quinton: Short films
Fr, Oktober 31 19:45 Universum 2 Guests: Richard Turco, Sophie Quinton, Gérald Hustache-Mathieu
Sa, 1. November 17:30 CinemaxX 4 Guests: Richard Turco, Sophie Quinton, Gérald Hustache-Mathieu



1. Peau de vache
Director: Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, F 2001, 22 min, 35 mm, colour, ES, César for the best french short film 2003

Seventeen-year-old Claudine still lives in the country with her parents. She is the one who milks the cows every day. They are her only friends - because Claudine has a secret...

2. La chatte Andalouse
Director: Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, F 2002, 48 min, 35 mm, GS, german premiere

Sister Angèle sells honey from her cloister at the market. In the afternoon she makes her visits. She makes the acquaintance of a dying Spanish artist and meets a young man.

3. Mitterand est mort
Director: Hedi Sassi, F 2003, 28 min, 35 mm, colour, GS, german premiere

Lucy makes the acquaintance of M. Zerouane, an elderly religious gentleman she is supposed to take care of. In his eyes the time has come to leave this life. He refuses to let himself be looked after. A cat and mouse game starts between the two ...




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