Morgan Simon (born 1987) is a French director, screenwriter and photographer born in the Paris suburbs.

Morgan Simon, French Institute of Athens, 2017

Life and career

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Morgan Simon studied screenwriting at La Fémis in Paris.[1] In 2016, his short film Try To Die Young was a César Award nominee.[2]

A Taste of Ink, his first feature film, was developed at L’Atelier de la Cinéfondation during the 2015 Cannes Film Festival[3],[4] as well as The Jerusalem International Film Lab, rubbing shoulders with László Nemes’s Son of Saul.[5] A Taste of Ink premiered at the 64th San Sebastián Film Festival in the New Directors section and was awarded by a special mention of the jury.[6] It received fifteen awards and was selected by more than fifty festivals, such as Rotterdam, Shanghai, Stockholm,[7] Los Angeles,[8] Zurich,[9] Jerusalem. A Taste of Ink was released in France on January 25, 2017 with Kévin Azaïs, Monia Chokri and Nathan Willcocks as main actors.[10][11]

In 2018, Simon took part in the Queer Palm jury at the 71st Cannes Film Festival rewarding Girl directed by Lukas Dhont.[12] In 2019, his 35mm short film Ghost Pleasure was selected at the Directors' Fortnight during the 72nd Cannes Film Festival.[13] In 2021, he directed We Shall Meet Again, a short film dealing with migration and narrated by the French writer Édouard Louis.[14]

In 2024, Somewhere In Love, Simon's second feature film is released in France and Belgium. The movie depicts a fusional mother and son story with Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Félix Lefebvre and Lubna Azabal as main cast. Somewhere In Love was awarded the Fondation Barrière Cinema Prize 2024.[15][16]

Filmography

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Feature films

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  • 2017: A Taste of Ink (Compte tes blessures)
  • 2024: Somewhere In Love (Une vie rêvée)

Short films

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  • 2011: A Long Sadness (Une longue tristesse)
  • 2011: Goose
  • 2012: American Football
  • 2014: Try To Die Young (Essaie de mourir jeune)
  • 2015: Wake The Dead (Réveiller les morts)
  • 2019: Ghost Pleasure (Plaisir Fantôme)
  • 2021: We Shall Meet Again (Nous nous reverrons)

Music videos

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  • 2017: This Loneliness Won’t Be The Death Of Me - Being As An Ocean[17]
  • 2018: Ces garçons-là - Radio Elvis[18]
  • 2022: Ma vie - Liv del Estal[19]

Video games

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Main awards and nominations

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  • 2014: Screenplay Grand Jury Junior Prize for A Taste of Ink
  • 2015: UniFrance Prize nomination for Try To Die Young
  • 2016: César Award nomination of the best short film for Try To Die Young
  • 2016: Special mention of the jury for A Taste of Ink at San Sebastián Film Festival
  • 2024: Fondation Barrière Cinema Prize

References

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  1. ^ Interview Cineuropa, Fabien Lemercier, Jan 26, 2017
  2. ^ Cesar nominations 2016, Huffington Post, Lauren Provost, Jan 27, 2016
  3. ^ Variety, Emilio Mayorga, Jan 18, 2016
  4. ^ "Atelier Cinéfondation, selection 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  5. ^ Variety, John Hopewell, Sep 22, 2016
  6. ^ Indie Wire, Liz Calvario, Sep 24, 2016
  7. ^ "Stockholm Film Festival announces 2016 Award Winners". News Powered by Cision.
  8. ^ Erbland, Kate (6 April 2017). "21st COLCOA French Film Festival Adds VR and Web Series Categories, Unveils Full Expanded Festival Slate".
  9. ^ Pahle, Rebecca (28 Sep 2016). "Zurich Film Festival showcases bold voices with 'Lady Macbeth,' 'I Am Not Madame Bovary,' 'A Taste of Ink' - Film Journal International". www.filmjournal.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  10. ^ The Hollywood Reporter, Justin Lowe, May 16, 2017
  11. ^ Cineuropa, Fabien Lemercier, Jan 26, 2017
  12. ^ Le Monde, Clarisse Fabre, May 22, 2018
  13. ^ 51st Directors’ Fortnight, 2019 selection
  14. ^ IMDb page
  15. ^ Rebecca Leffler for Screen Daily, September 5, 2024
  16. ^ IMDb page
  17. ^ Alternative Press, Taylor Markarian, Feb 2nd, 2017
  18. ^ Trois Couleurs, Sep 20th, 2018
  19. ^ Virgin Radio, Mar 10th, 2022
  20. ^ La Fémis, alumnus
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