Latest News - The Vincent Perez Archives

09 August 2017

Vincent has a couple photography exhibitions coming up. His first one called "Bolshoi" will be held at Le Royal Monceau in Paris. Acting as a gateway to the comtemporary art scene in Paris, the culturally-conscious Art District welcomes artists, connoisseurs and collectors, patrons and art professionals. It plays host to original exhibitions such as retrospectives, exclusive shows and viewings of collections by a variety of artists. "Bolshoi" will held from August 28 to September 17, 2017.

Echoing the book of the same name that will be published by Delpire Editions on October 5, the exhibition "A Journey in Russia" offers an introduction to the photographs taken by Vincent over the course of four trips through Russia alongside the writer Olivier Rolin. They traveled from Arkhangelsk in the north to Astrakhan in the south, from Saint Petersburg in the west to Ulan-Ude in the east. Through a series of striking portraits – of carpenters, peasant farmers, Cossacks, wealthy landowners, artists, shamans and more – Vincent offers an insightful and deeply humanist view of today’s Russia. His photography also includes snow-covered cities, still lifes, industrial sites, railroad tracks, roads stretching to the horizon, and cruise ships in frozen lakes offering a multi-faceted vision of this photogenic land.

The show pairs Vincent's work – seen here for the the first time – with Olivier Rolin’s prose, for a two-hearted, four-eyed travel journal, and a singular point of view on a country where so much remains to be discovered. "A Journey in Russia" will open on September 28 and run through October 28, 2017 at the Gallery Folia.

As reported last month, Vincent attended the VR Arles Festival as a jury member. He gives an interview at this link. Love his hat!

As most of you know, Vincent's brother-in-law is Luc Besson as their wives are sisters. Besson's latest film, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets", rumored to be the most expensive French movie ever made, premiered at various cities around the world last month. The film, starring Cara Delevinge and Dane DeHaan, is a sci-fi fantasy based on a long-running French comic. Vincent and his family were invited to the premiere in St. Denis near Paris on July 25th. The fifth photo shows daughter Iman with her uncle.

Here are two more photos by Swiss photographer Anoush Abrar:

Sky Atlantic's 10-episode TV mini-series called RIVIERA was launched in June. At that time, I never came across any photos of Vincent. I found the following stills today. He plays a police commissioner and now we know he must have a fling. The cast includes these women - Julia Stiles, Lena Olin and Monica Bellucci. He's still sexy at 53!

11 July 2017

This week Vincent is attending the VR Arles Festival as a jury member. Founded in 2016 by BNP Paribas, Fisheye and the Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles, the VR Arles Festival presents the world’s best virtual reality productions. After the success of the first festival, this year's event is being held at the Couvent Saint-Césaire in Arles for two months from July 3 to August 31. The photo above shows Vincent with Benoît Baume, President and Director of Fisheye (center), and filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius, jury president.

Vincent was asked if virtual reality could inspire him in the future and he answered, "I think about it for my next film that I'm developing right now. It would lend itself quite well to virtual reality. The idea would be to do the classic feature film and then make a virtual reality version, because the whole thing happens in the same place on a small sailboat. It's in my head and I've already talked to my producers. I do not know if it will be a short version but in any case, it makes you want to try."

Vincent's daughter Iman has been participating in horse jumping both at the Chateau du Versailles and at Longines. One of the sponsors for the Longines event is Miasuki, an Italian equestrian brand of clothing. What a classic look and these photos are gorgeous! Vincent must be a very proud papa.

Here are some added black & white photos from Cannes. Vincent is always photogenic!

When Vincent was asked recently what it was like working with Roman Polanski on D’après Une Histoire Vraie, he responded:

"It was like working with a genius. It’s happened to me several times before. I’m lucky enough to have worked with Antonioni, Ettore Scola and Patrice Chéreau…so it’s amazing because suddenly you realize… ok, this is where it’s happening. Suddenly you’re entering into the world of those great creators, and it makes you feel that you’re doing something important. He’s very precise, extremely precise, but at the same time you’re free. The rhythm is super precise but in acting you feel very free."

ALONE IN BERLIN hit theaters in the UK and Ireland on June 30th. In some of his press, Vincent spoke about the casting of his film.

"Emma [Thompson] was my first choice for Anna Quangel. I thought it would be a great challenge for her, and the way she portrays her is marvelous, so it was a thrill to work with her. On the other hand, it took me a very long time to find Otto, a year and a half nearly. What was so great was that Emma didn’t leave the project. She stayed and she was always there and I never felt that she had any doubts about the film. But Brendan [Gleeson], when I met him it was obvious straightaway. He had that big heart. He didn’t have to show anything but you felt it. He was so precise in his work and so implicated, both of them really… The way they created that couple was magical."

And he spoke about the feedback from around the world and in Germany:

"The movie came out in thirty countries around the world, the UK is the last one, here and then Japan. I did the press in Japan and it was very well received, so I’m excited to see what happens there. Australia was a great success, and so was New Zealand and Israel. Germany was very difficult to tell you the truth. I think the movie touched something that the German people feel belong to them. I think we touched a very sensitive chord. We went to the Berlin Film Festival and it was very tough. Festivals are very tough in general... I mean the Berlin festival is very political so bringing a movie like that and talking about German history in English wasn’t what they were expecting. It was tough, but it was quite an experience for me because I worked so hard for ten years…the good thing is that it went so well in so many other countries. I totally understand the German reaction though.

At the same time "Alone in Berlin" opens in the UK, as a film tie-in, Penquin Modern Classics has published a new paperback edition.

Here is a new photo shoot by Swiss photographer Anoush Abrar. The last one is the best!

16 June 2017

The 10-episode series RIVIERA was launched by Sky Atlantic yesterday and Vincent was on the red carpet at the Cinema Elysees Biarritz for its Paris premiere.

The series by Neil Jordan is described as a family saga. Georgina, a young American from the Midwest USA, becomes the wife of the billionaire and art collector, Constantine Clios. When her husband is killed in an explosion aboard a yacht belonging to a rich and powerful Russian arms dealer, Georgina decides to conduct her own investigation in a world populated by scammers, liars and other criminals. Julia Stiles stars as Georgina with a cast that includes Iwan Rheon, Lena Olin, Monica Bellucci, Anthony LaPaglia and Vincent.

30 May 2017

Sorry for the delay in posting the Cannes photos but this past weekend was my 50th wedding anniversary celebration, a joyful and memorable occasion. On Saturday Vincent participated in the photo call, press conference and screening for Roman Polanski's D'APRES UNE HISTOIRE VRAIE (Based on a True Story).

Principal photography has begun on Vincent's next film - LOVE WALL, directed and written by Romain Cogitore. It's a romantic drama about a couple named Maria and Oliver, played by Déborah François and Paul Hamy. Maria is a 30-something rebellious, restless woman who meets this shy, indolent man in Taiwan. Their love will be tested by a serious and complex illness. Vincent will play a physician. Filming took place last week at a hospital in Limoges.

18 May 2017

Vincent, wife Karine and daughter Iman attended the "Ismael's Ghosts" screening and opening gala yesterday at the Cannes Film Festival. Polanski's "D’apres une histoire vraie" will be screened toward the end of the festival.

03 May 2017

Several films have joined the official selection of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 17-28, 2017. Among them, BASED ON A TRUE STORY (D’apres une histoire vraie), the latest feature by Roman Polanski, will be presented out of competition. The film is the adaptation of Delphine de Vigan's critically-acclaimed novel published in 2015. Emmanuelle Seigner and Eva Green play the two main roles with Vincent as Seigner's companion. The psychological thriller tells the story of the toxic relationship between a writer (Emmanuelle), whose life and mind are endangered by an obsessive admirer (Eva) as she goes through a tough period after the release of her latest book.

This movie affords a new opportunity for Polanski to deal with subjects that dot the whole of his filmography and that he has mastered to perfection - domination, submission, question of identity, guilt. This gives a measure of confidence in the quality of this next release. The screenplay was co-written by Polanski and Olivier Assayas. Cinematography is by Pawel Edelman and music by Alexandre Desplat. Shooting began last November in the Perche region and in Paris with an estimated budget of €10,000,000.

Mars Distribution will release the film in France with Sony Pictures Classics obtaining its North American distribution, while Lionsgate will release it internationally. This is Polanski's seventh film to be shown at Cannes.

24 April 2017

Vincent has been named chairman of this year's edition of Le Salon de la Photo held at the Parc des Expos Porte de Versailles from November 9-13, 2017. It is the French forum for photographers and photography enthusiasts. Over five days, the Salon de la Photo brings together all the key players in the world of photography: not only manufacturers and importers but also schools and professional associations, all eager to show their latest products and ideas.

World War II drama ALONE IN BERLIN continues to premiere around the world. Presently, Vincent is in Japan promoting it. Here are some new production photos. The first one shows Vincent with the film's music composer, Alexandre Desplat. The next two show X Filme producer Stefan Arndt.

Certainly, traveling has taken center stage so far this year. Vincent began 2017 with a photo trip to Russia, but at the end of January he was in the US attending the screening of "Alone in Berlin" at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. He stayed around Paris in February for his photography exhibition at MEP. In early March he was in Italy and then he was off to India. Earlier this month he was in NYC and then Spain, and now he's in Tokyo. Hope he has a frequent flyer card as he racks up these miles! Here's a selfie he took today.

Daughter Iman, who turns 18 next month, has been in the news of fashion and horses. The photos below are from a charity cocktail party on April 20th in Paris. Supermodel Naomi Campbell has teamed up with Italian brand Diesel for a collection dedicated to her Fashion for Relief charity - Child at Heart, concerned with the welfare of children globally. As usual, I have updated Iman's fashion pages with the latest photos.

In the April 22 edition of Le Journal du Dimanche, Iman admits that if she were forced to choose between her two passions, it would be horses over fashion. Her contract with Next Worldwide in Paris and Storm Management in London allows her to finance her equestrian activities. She has been riding since she was four years old but along the way, she also participated in dance, basketball, swimming and figure skating and practiced violin, guitar and piano. Whew! In a couple months Iman will compete at the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping.

26 March 2017

Vincent is back to pursuing his passion for photography with a trip this month to India for more portraits. He visited Udaipur and participated in Holi, a Hindu spring celebration known as the "festival of colors". He looks like he's having a fun time.

His exhibition continues at Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris through April 9th. In connection with this exhibition, a book signing was held on March 11th. "Les Parisiens" has been published by Artron Books and contains 28 portraits and is available exclusively from the MEP bookshop. Included is an interview between Jean-Luc Monterosso and Vincent.

On March 15th, CHACUN SA VIE opened in French theaters to mediocre reviews. The massive ensemble film was criticized for its abundance of characters with a story that lacked any intrigue. It was described as a cluster of "sketchy sketches" rather than a film but scenes with Johnny Hallyday were deemed hilarious. Vincent had a minor role and was not discussed.

Earlier this month Vincent and his wife were in Turin, Italy, attending the presentation of a book written by Marisa Bruni Tedeschi entitled "Mes chères filles, je vais vous raconter". Her daughters are Carla and Marie. These photos are very dark and appear to be taken outside through a window.