Jean Klotz could have worked in finance: he had the right profile, education and ambition. “I was a serious student, so I chose serious subjects,” he says with amusement. He wanted something different, however, so he joined the cinema department at the Sorbonne and then studied for entrance to Fémis (the national image and sound college in Paris). This was his chance to change his life. While he was studying, he earned a living with casual jobs at the Cinéfondation and in fashion, working with Issey Miyake to prepare catwalk shows and organize photo sessions. He ended up joining the production department at Fémis and made some interesting contacts there. He produced Claire Burger’s medium-length film, Forbach, which won several awards, notably the Special Jury Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand film festival. The die was cast: he was entrusted with producing short films at Elena Films. Now life was getting serious. The grant will allow Jean Klotz to assert his innovative vision of film, one that “borrows from the documentary approach” while “remaining rooted in fiction.” Jean sees himself as a go-between, someone who brings different talents together; he reminds us that production also entails working on images, sounds, sets and casting. A well-produced film is like a magic potion for which only the producer knows all the right ingredients. “For each project, you have to know how to become part of a different universe.” Jean Klotz doesn’t like labels; he is an enquiring, modest young man open to all propositions. You get the feeling that his enthusiasm will win the day.

Which director would you most like to work with?
Am I allowed to fantasize? Jacques Audiard, of course