Antoine Desrosières
Winner of the 1990 Film Producer Grant Special Award
AWARD-WINNING PROJECT: J’ai besoin d’elle, a feature length film for which he wrote the screenplay. The story of a teenager and his desire to have a child.
From the age of 12, Antoine Desrosières spent his afternoons at the film library, watching between and 5 and 10 films a week, on average. One day, however, he was struck by fear; the fear of being merely a “film-buff” and spending his entire life as just a viewer. So, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. Too bad he was just 14 years old. Initially he produced super 8 films, quickly followed by short films. His first project was entitled Made in Belgique. Antoine Desrosières was already running up against financing problems but rapidly learned to live with them. He also received assistance from Canal+, the support fund for French productions and the actors themselves. What followed is a story of repeated nerve and audacity. And what’s more, he was not alone anymore. In 1988, Antoine met Graham Guit, another film enthusiast. Together they founded “La vie est belle”, an IGE making short films, and attempted to produce Le Roman de Léo. Because of repeated rejections, once again they dared the impossible: they issued an appeal to cinema celebrities. 1000, and then 2000 of them responded with messages of support and cheques. Le Roman de Léo was made, as were many other films and in the meantime, “La vie est belle” has become a breeding ground for numerous young directors, actors and technicians.
Achievements since winning the grant:
Since founding his company, La Vie est belle (1988), Antoine Desrosieres has produced several short films including Roman de Léo, by Graham Guit, Zani, by Simon Reggiani and Mon copain Rachid, by Philippe Barrassat.
In 1992, he produced Villégiature, a feature film by Philippe Allard and followed this in 1993 by directing and co-producing his own project under the title of A la belle étoile (previously J’ai besoin d’elle).The film was awarded the Grand Prix at the Valencia Film Festival (Spain).
In 1996 Cécile Maugis joined forces with Antoine Desrosières, overseeing his production company La Vie est belle. In the same year, he produced Le Rocher d’Acapulco, a feature film by Laurent Tuel.
In 1999, Antoine produced Banqueroute, he directed and for which he wrote the screenplay, and which travelled to a dozen film festivals including Rotterdam, Dublin, Los Angeles, Jerusalem and Taïpeï
In 2002, he co-produced Les Naufragés de la D 17, by Luc Moullet.
In 2003, while he was making Les Tiers-Mondains, his third feature length film as a director, he took the time to co-write the screenplay for the TV film René Bousquet for Arte.
In 2004, Antoine Desrosières founded a new production company with Philippe Barassat and Fernand Garcia: Abracadabra
In 2006, he produced Lisa et le pilote d’avion by Philippe Barssat
in 2009, Antoine co-wrote « René Bousquet or the big arrangement” realized by Laurent Heynemann with Daniel Prévost. The film was broadcast on September 18th, 2009 on France 2
