Boris Vian (1920-1959), one of the most important intellectuals of the French Arts, was an author, member of the literary “Collège de ‘Pataphysique”; translator, jazz-trumpeter, songwriter, critic, actor and inventor. After his untimely death at the age of thirty-nine, in an era of dissent of the 1960s, the youth of the time began to show obsession in his novels, poems and theatrical plays—listening to his songs, such as the famous anti-war “Le déserteur” ["The Deserter”]. In his song “Cinématographe” he proclaims his love for the art of cinema, which however, remained largely unfulfilled. Even though he penned more than twenty screenplays and acted in a plethora of supporting roles, he never managed to get behind the camera. In his diary he writes: “I will do it, when it is as easy to make a film, as it is to be a viewer”.

The 11th AAGFF, on occasion of the centenary of his birth, honours the mythical personality of Boris Vian, with a choice of documentaries, cinematic adaptions of his works and a series of short films. The recent documentary “Le cinéma de Boris Vian” tells us of his love for cinema. In 1968, Charles Belmont, dared to adapt his novel “Froth on the Daydream”, a fairytale love story that ends in tragedy, imprinting, not exactly faithfully but with love, the spirit of May ’68, as well as the fantastical universe of Boris Vian. In 2013, Michel Gondry, returns to this novel, with a more faithful yet postmodern and inventive adaption, whilst his love for Vian is reflected in an improvisational short animated film. In 2015, the anthology film “Rue des Ravissantes” [“Ladies Of The Night’s Street ”], is created, consisting of five remarkable short films—cinematic adaptions by new directors, from unpublished screenplays by Vian. Finally, the legendary film, by Roger Vadim “Dangerous Liaisons” in which Vian portrays a friend of the infamous couple, will be screened.

Film selection, programming: Olia Verriopoulou
Introduction: Youlia Mermigka