Grace seems to have fallen on Alice Diop. Ever since he has been in cinema, his films have garnered irresistible awards. Welaunched earlier this year, which took the beginning of Roissy-Express passengersa book by François Maspero, of the RER line B, had received the award for best documentary at the Berlinale in 2021.
But this is nothing in view of the distinctions attributed to his first fictional film, Sant Omer : the Jean-Vigo prize, and above all the Silver Lion and the prize for the first film of the Venice Film Festival. Maybe it’s not over: Sant Omer is in the running for the Louis-Delluc prize and, last but not leasthas been appointed to represent France in the next one Oscar ceremonywhich will take place on March 12, 2023.
Read our review > “Sainte-Ô-mère” Omer by Alice Diop: in the heart of the soul
It’s no wonder, then, that the filmmaker is now very popular with the media. Alice Diop answers the questions trying to be as accurate as possible in her comments, and with a keen awareness, high political value, the place it occupies and the reasons that led it there. In Venice, he launched: “We will not be silent any more! », the “we” that designates, with herself, her fellow black directors. There’s no doubt.
Do you consider yourself part of an avant-garde of black artists, with Aïssa Maïga, Maïmouna Doucouré, Amandine Gay, Mati Diop?
Alice Diop: No. I do not think so. What I can say is that I am happy that there are more and more of us, and I hope that there will be more. I need the films of the directors you mentioned, as well as other black filmmakers, to help formulate the missing narratives, to represent what hasn’t been.