Humbert Balsan

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Humbert Balsan (born August 21, 1954 in Arcachon , † February 10, 2005 in Paris ) was a French film producer, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the French Cinematheque and Vice-President of the European Film Awards .

Life

The trained actor changed his subject after a few minor roles and has built a reputation as a producer since the late 1970s. Balsan discovered and promoted a number of French filmmakers. His recent successes include the film Divine Intervention by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman , which received the 2002 Cannes Festival Jury Prize.

In previous years (most recently in 2003) Balsan was a juror at the Berlinale , which held a special screening of his film Is there snow at Christmas on February 14 in his memory ? (Directed by Sandrine Veysset ). The director of the Cannes Film Festival , Gilles Jacob , publicly admitted: "We have lost a brother." He has made more than 60 films. He worked with filmmakers such as Youssef Chahine , Elia Suleiman , Gilles Portes and Yolande Moreau .

He killed himself by hanging in his Paris office on the evening of February 10, 2005 . His severe depression , which was the cause, he had not shown publicly. According to the obituary of the Paris newspaper Liberation , he had ongoing film projects with Claire Denis , Béla Tarr , Francis Girod and was full of plans almost to the end.

Lars von Trier dedicated his feature film Manderlay to him . The feature film The Father of My Children (French: Le père de mes enfants ) reconstructs the weeks before and after Balsan's suicide with different names and biographical details.

Filmography (selection)

As an actor

As a producer

  • 1989: Forever Alexandria (Iskanderija, kaman oue kaman)
  • 1990: love in the suburbs (L'amour)
  • 1993: Sabine
  • 1994: The light of the extinguished stars (La lumière des étoiles mortes)
  • 1994: The Emigrant (Al-mohager)
  • 1995: Muriel drives her parents to despair (Muriel fait le désespoir de ses parents)
  • 1996: is there snow at Christmas? (Y'aura t'il de la neige à Noël?)
  • 1997: Fate (Le destin)
  • 1997: The morning after (Post coïtum animal triste)
  • 1999: El Medina - The City (El Medina)
  • 1999: Rembrandt
  • 2002: Divine Intervention - A Chronicle of Love and Pain (Yadon ilaheyya)
  • 2004: When the tide comes (Quand la mer monte ...)
  • 2004: Le grand voyage
  • 2006: A perfect friend (Un ami parfait)
  • 2007: The Man from London

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Balsan, Humbert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French film producer
DATE OF BIRTH August 21, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Arcachon
DATE OF DEATH February 10, 2005
Place of death Paris