Menton is a French town bordering Italy. It is usually known for the citrus themed structures with its lemon festival. The 4th Menton International Fantastic Film Festival 2020 reinforces the notoriety of this village called "The Pearl of France".
The event took place from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2020 despite the complicated period of pandemic related to the Covid-19 crisis.
The program of the Menton festival
20 short films by independent creators chosen from 2500 were presented to a professional jury and a public jury. The 5 screenings are spread over 2 days. In addition, a professional speed dating allowed young audiovisual and comedy talents to meet professionals in the sector. Everyone is masked and we respect the barrier gestures against the coronavirus in this fourth edition of the Fantasy Film Festival of Menton. In the lobby of the Barrière casino, just take the first right. But first of all, we meet the director of the festival, Fabrice Ceccherini, who is on all fronts. He makes it a point of honor to welcome all guests as it should be with his staff composed of about ten people.
Marie Barrouillet: Portrait of a young actress
In the "Halloweenesque" entrance of the casino barrière which hosts the 4th International Fantastic Film Festival of Menton 2020, we jump in front of a Howling Joker holding a caged doll, we see one of the first to arrive on the scene. On this morning of Friday, October 15, 2020, Marie Barrouillet, original with her sequined pink jacket, catches our eye.
Some notable appearances
The young actress has to her credit an appearance as an extra in the science fiction film Valerian, also played one of Mimie Mathy's clients in the series Joséphine Ange Gardien, and appeared in the police series Section De Recherches. Over a glass of cool water, we then start the conversation with a relaxed young person who puts us directly at ease. 
Who is Marie Barrouillet?
I am a young actress a little geek on the edges and member of the official jury of the festival. Basically, I came to Paris to do a Japanese university because I am a big fan of Japan. But I'm not at all made for the college system.
With Joséphine Ange Gardien, I had to do figuration at the base.
I loved the atmosphere of the set and as I had done theater when I was younger, I said to myself "yes I want to be an actress". I went home and said, "Daddy Mom, I've changed my mind I want to be an actress!" So, my father offered me a deal: "I pay you your first year of theater classes, but if at the end of the year the teachers are not happy or you have not worked, it will be over." He also didn't ask me to play in big productions, but even if they were student shorts, I could at least do some small roles. If I couldn't, I had to go back to school. So I did the Florent course which is the most famous and as the first year worked well, I continued on a second year and I continued my career as an actress.
Do you think despite your youth that you have achieved a goal today?
A goal, yes and no, in the sense that I have already managed to turn. As an actress, it's already a goal in itself because I have a lot of friends who can't shoot. In a way, I managed to stand out but there is still a long way to go and I have not yet achieved the goals I have set for myself.
How does it feel to work with a star like Mimie Mathy? Similarities between her character and her?
It was very impressive because Mimie mathy I discovered when I was little while watching the episodes of Josephine. When I knew that I had the lead role and that I was going to tour a lot with her, I was delighted and a little nervous at the same time because it's Mimie Mathy anyway. She is a person who puts people very at ease. Yes, I think that we necessarily look a little like his character when we play because we put his person. But Mimie Mathy is a person who likes to joke and I would say even more than Joséphine.
So you participated in the Halloween episode in 2019?
Yes, I was his client. I had the role of the young singer who had lost her mother a few years ago. At home, things are a little strange and Josephine will come to elucidate a little all this.
How did it feel to play in a blockbuster like Valerian? What about playing with internationally renowned actors?
It was very impressive. I couldn't believe it because one of my favorite movies is Leon. I was really happy to find myself on it and at the base it was gone for figuration. It was a time when they were looking for a little mouths, models, or even people with disabilities with a very human approach for the moment. For my part, I was doing a little photos, I had a template page and that's why they contacted me. At that time, I hesitated to make "fig" again. You shouldn't overdo it when you're an actor, because then you're labeled an extra, and it becomes complicated.
So I hesitated to say yes
Then I said to myself "well it's Luc Besson anyway, so it doesn't matter. Too bad, I'm doing the fig." Afterwards, they called me to shoot a small role, and there I was delighted.
I was able to meet Dane DeHann
But I didn't have a lot of interaction with the actors on set. It was impressive to see all that anyway, especially when I got my role and I was able to go up in the dressing rooms and see the name of Rihanna or Cara Delevingne knowing that my dressing room was right next to theirs.
Working with Luc Besson, what does it do?
I could not have a very long interview with Luc Besson but he is a person who is very empathetic. He helps his actors a lot, he speaks softly and he takes the time to accompany them. For example, there was a scene where a character had to cry and as he could not do it, Luc Besson did not hesitate to share what he knew about managing emotions.
In the movie Valerian, you play a CG character.
Yes, I was playing a CG character. I have friends who have recognized me, but it is true that I am not necessarily recognized. Watching the film with my grandmother, she managed to recognize me during an extra shot.I said to him "Oh well, you manage to recognize me as an extra, but not as an Alien? " she laughed.
In short, what is the experience that has marked you the most as an actress?
Valerian which is a great production even if I was only there 3 days, immersed in American cinema with blue screens everywhere. Josephine then, because it was my first big role. We were a bunch of four teenagers and we were always together. What's great is this really very family atmosphere that settles, because we see each other every day.
Do you use a method of acting such as the "Actors Studio" method found in theater classes? .
The Actors Studio method is really the American method where the stars really slip into the character. It's not even playing anymore, it's becoming the character. There is Charlize Theron who to make Monster settled in a squat. I also think of Christian Bale who was super barracked for Batman and then became skinny to do The Machinist. The Florent course will be more in the emotion, and besides it is very theatrical too but nothing is mandatory, each actor chooses his method in fact.
What are your future plans?
Last summer, I shot Joy Of Life which is a set of short films that will form a longer one and which is directed by Vincent Denis. What was quite funny during the meeting of the shoot is that there was a guy from Joséphine Ange Gardien. Evenif we didn't have a stage together, it was nice to see each other again. Then, my goal is to make a short film but I still have to find a team.
What prompted you to participate in the 4th Menton Fantastic Film Festival?
Fabrice Ceccherini had already invited me to the Fantastic Film Festival several times but I was working at those times. For the 4th I was free and as I love the world of fantasy it was an opportunity to come and be part of the official jury.
A final word?
We must never give up. When you have an idea in the back of your head, you have to give yourself the means. Maybe it will work or it won't, but at least we'll have tried.
The creations of Chantal Maurine Toppan
We are immersed in a plastic and haute couture representation of dresses created from yellow Tulle, as well as two other original creations made with 35mm film film. These splendid confections, if we owe them to Chantal Maurine Toppan who defines herself as a visual artist before being a stylist. 
Hands us a business card made from the recovery of a Compact Disc, Chantal Maurine Toppan describes what inspired her to create the dresses that dressed the hostesses of the festival.
She explains that she does a lot of recovery
It is indeed committed to an eco-responsible theme. Inspired by Hitchcock's film The Birds , she makes dresses that she associates with these birds placed on an electric wire. The visual artist then designed clothes made of old 35-millimetre cinema film strips, compact discs, even the structure of an old wine cubi for the bodice. His first proposals of this kind were made from old newspapers that quickly seduced the creators of the newspaper. She also tells us that she had the idea of making it with film film, which is difficult to find. A cinema in Cannes gave them its agreement to provide her with the material she needed. It is by recovering everything that is thrown away that she develops her confections. This is how she tells us that she makes a work that combines plasticity and originality. Chantal Maurine Toppan has more than one trick up her sleeve. It is based on a concept of "eco-couture" achievements that goes beyond "Ready Made" this artistic current giving ordinary objects the value of art objects.
2 days of screening and twenty short films!
On the evening of Friday, October 16, the doors open for the official jury. It is composed of its president, Guillaume Lubrano, Director of the dystopian series Métal Hurlant. This show highlights stories set at different times and places in the universe. The driver follows protagonists suffering the mistakes of society. In addition, the other members are actress Sophie Maréchal, actress Emilie Piponnier, actor James Gérard and actress Marie Barrouillet. The editorial staff is part of the public jury. Thus, we follow suit and we accompany Lamia Baillon, student at the Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Visuelle de la ville Nice, Denis Roda, director of the century 21 real estate agency in Roquebrune Cap-Martin and partner of the festival. Thierry Terranova is there too, musician and radio host of the show Thierry makes his cinema on RFM. And finally, Marie Synave, vice-president of the local Crédit Agricole bank and partner of the event is also with us.
At the microphone, the mayor of Menton, Jean-Claude Guibal, introduces the first screening session
The mayor of Menton introduced the festival by thanking the artists who made it possible to keep the festival alive despite the current particular conditions. He congratulates the desire to be able to get closer to a young audience beyond the internet and social networks.He asks us all to dream and to get as much out as possible from the conformism of everyday life. During the first screening, the quality is at the Rendez-Vous despite the budgetary restrictions of each other. All the films presented without exception show the strength and time of work that made these achievements possible. The scenographic quality, the lines, the music, some were able to touch the audience and the jury more than others. However, the analysis of all these audiovisual jewels is done over several hours. The jury will even have to debate until two o'clock in the morning on the night of Saturday to Sunday.
Award-winning short films
*Spoiler alert*
Pipo and blind love
This film is pure science fiction in a hypothetical future centered on the control of emotions. The film won the award for Best Short Film. Its composition is touching and the acting is effective without too many words. This is enough to convey the very essence of the emotion. And to top it off, a second prize is awarded to him. Actress Solange Fréjean receives the award for best female performance.
The special prize of the festival
This special prize involves the choice of Fabrice Ceccherini. He tells us that he is particularly touched by the film Breaking Point, an unofficial Fan Film associated with the Star Wars universe.
The Best Actor Award
A prize awarded to actor Laurent Jumeaucourt for Le Rôdeur, depicts a cerebral interpretation of aging.
The Best Special Effects Award
Cosmic girl gets it thanks to its fine graphics, with a narrative that depicts a duality between humans and aliens.
Reflection
Reflet received two awards: the public jury and the best screenplay. It tells an original story that imagines what happens on the other side of our mirror.
The film Dibbuk
He received the prize for the best musical composition. It is also a real favorite for the editor.
Dibbuk, A film mixing emotions and palpitations
If one had to give the award for best short film, Dibbuk would certainly have been the number 1 choice.
*Spoilers alert*
Dibbuk breaks the hitherto untapped codes of exorcism through the prism of the Jewish religion.Dayan Oualid, plays the lead role. In his acting, he mixes both the expression of a funny but informed character.The story reinvents a genre and transcends the simple idea of terror and terror. Dibbuk perfectly combines darkness and humor like a tastefully balanced salty sweet dish. Short film direction: Dayan Oualid Executive producer: Three Days of Walking Co-production: ADJCI – Association of Young Independent Filmmakers
The world of Dibbuk is exorcism.
A theme repeated many times since the film The Exorcist that marked the spirits in 1973. What differentiates Dibbuk from others of its kind is its elaboration comparable to the fine watchmaking of a watch. During the broadcast, our heart is in tune with deep music that swings our heart rate. This allowed him to receive the award for the best soundtrack. For the rest, the scenario offers touches of humor without parodying the act of exorcism. The special effects are few but there is no need for graphic contortion to captivate us. Dibbuk does not encourage exaggeration but emotion. And if you feel like it, we invite you to see this film on the Shadowz platform, an interface declined in a Smartphone application and a website that brings together classics of horror and horror but also independent creations that do not lack quality. 
Meeting with the short film team
After the awards ceremony, we share a relaxed atmosphere with the Dibbuk team. They warmly invite us to his table and with them, No fuss and no big heads. The protagonists we meet show nothing but humility, like all the other participants. Nevertheless, this festival has served us many creative jokes. Tight budgets have still produced real nuggets. Dayan Oualid is a merry butcher by train. He wrote the screenplay for the film.His comrades show us when all eyes go to him when we ask them who is the instigator of the project.
Dayan is a big fan of genre cinema and especially horror.
They also admit to watching everything that is done in the cinema in terms of exorcism.This genre, he decided to share it with his entire team. Most of them didn't know each other but eventually became friends. "We are a family" delivers Ben Aboulker, an actor who was cast for the purposes of the film. Dayan confides in our questions. For him, setting up a film about exorcism in the Jewish religion is a real test. It has almost never been done. "There have been plenty of obstacles," he told me, "but of all kinds." Indeed, he explains to me that the budget of 4000 euros was at the origin of some material tests. He points out that there are also some taboos in the Jewish religion but no one has forbidden the realization. The thing to remember is that the scenes impress. The suggestion is therefore sometimes more eloquent than the demonstration. This is how Dibbuk speaks to us.
"At the initiative, I had not thought of a film"
"By doing research, I realized how much it was genic cinema," explains our interlocutor. "There are so many missing elements on the subject that challenged me in the course of research." He then discovers that films about exorcism in the Jewish community are very schematic. Often, a rabbi replaces a priest but performs the same practices.In addition, nothing really matches the findings that have been made. Through the stories and testimonies collected, Dibbuk stands out. When we ask if there are any upcoming projects, Dayan tells us that a feature film is in the works. We therefore remain impatient to be able to discover the first. As Dayan says "if we had to translate Dibbuk: it's a thing that sticks". In any case, we were hooked.
A "fantastic" adventure
This is how ends an event that has grown more and more in 4 years. It makes it possible to transcend the fantasy genre by pushing the creators of these short films to their limits. If not all could have a prize, they would all deserve it thanks to very worked productions. In relaxation, the event ends with the screening of the French film Dark Stories, awarded best feature film of the festival. It is directed by Guillaume Lubrano, François Descraques and Davy Mourier. This one tells several stories of horror and horror to chill the blood. It is also available as a television series broadcast on france.tv's website. This festival is the hard work of a team that sometimes did not know if there would be a tomorrow. In compliance with the distancing induced by the pandemic, everything was nevertheless able to continue with quantity and quality. It is with eyes full of stars that we leave the place. We therefore hope to be there in 2021 for an even more fantastic cinematic adventure.
