With Portrait of Lady on Fire French director Céline Sciamma established herself as one of the most exciting and prominent filmmakers working. For those who have followed her career they will know that she has developed to this position through a series of groundbreaking films: groundbreaking because they foreground female friendship and desire with a cinematic storytelling which is as refreshing as it is enthralling. She also captures the frailties, intensities and insecurities of youth particularly in her early films and writing for other directors. We've created Céline Sciamma - Portrait of a Filmmaker on Fire - a mini season of her work you can enjoy online.

"Cinema is the only art where you can share somebody’s loneliness in space and time", Celiné Sciamma

Celiné Sciamma is also an award-winning screen writer and her skills are clearly demonstrated in the beautiful animated film My Life as a Courgette. She also co-wrote the screenplay for André Téchiné's teenage rites of passage, Being 17 (sadly this title isn't available to stream at the moment). Finally spend a fascinating hour in the company of this super talented filmmaker, courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival, with a post-screening Q&A where Sciamma shares her craft of storytelling and filmmaking.

My Life as a Courgette PG (S)

Dir: Claude Barras
Voices: Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Ellen Page 1hr 5mins, English Version

Streaming now on Amazon Prime (for £3.49)

This beautiful animation written by Celiné Sciamma received an Oscar® nomination. After his mum’s sudden death, Courgette is befriended by Raymond, a police officer who takes him to his new foster home which is full of other orphans his age. Courgette eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own.

Celiné Sciamma Interview

Streaming now on YouTube (Free)

This Q&A, which took place after a screening of Portrait of a Lady on Fire at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival, gives a fascinating insight into the workings and intentions of one of the most talented and brilliant filmmakers and writers of our time.

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