L'atelier (The Workshop)
Curzon Film World
Distribution: Selective Scheme
England
2018
Total project grant (euros)
17,200
Programme
Creative Europe
Sub-programme
MEDIA
Funding scheme
Distribution: Selective Scheme
Call number
12/2017
Call publication date
5 Oct 2017
Application deadline
5 Dec 2017
Result publication date
4 May 2018
The Workshop, directed by Laurent Cantet, is a French contemporary drama that blends social commentary with a complex study of the modern world. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Set in La Ciotat, France, the film centres around Antoine, a teenager who attends a summer writing workshop. Alongside a group of similarly budding scribes, Antoine is tasked with writing a noirish crime thriller under the tutelage of celebrated novelist Olivia Dejazet, on the basis that the final piece is connected with the industrial past of their quiet hometown. Olivia is gradually captivated by Antoine’s growing indifferent and aggressive behaviour, as well as his anxieties about the modern world. This is reflected in his writing, which becomes more violent and disturbing in its depiction of a mass murderer whose politically radicalist leanings Antoine begins to sympathise with - a provocative streak Olivia is at once alarmed and fascinated by.
Louisa Dent, Managing Director of Curzon Artificial Eye, said:
"Creative Europe support makes a significant contribution to Curzon's ability to champion European film. It not only helps us take acquisition risks and mount ambitious releases of non-national European films, but also encourages collaboration with European partners such as sales agents and filmmakers."
Curzon has also received funding from Creative Europe to support the release of European films in the UK through the Automatic Distribution scheme.





