As Emmanuel Marre's film "Notre Salut", awarded at Cannes, is released on September 30th, it's an opportunity to look back at the Short Film Aid in Seine-Saint-Denis. This program, which the director benefited from for two of his short films in 2015 and 2018, has supported 197 works since its creation in 2006.
Emmanuel Marre, although not originally from the department, used this aid to make "Le Film de l’été", a road-movie-like fiction, and then "D’un château l’autre", a documentary about intergenerational cohabitation. The goal of this aid is to serve as a springboard for emerging young filmmakers.
Supported by the Department and coordinated by the association Cinémas 93, the program has assisted 197 short films since 2006. Each year, 10 films receive financial support ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 euros for post-production and distribution.
Other directors supported by the Department have had notable careers, such as Sophie Letourneur, Thomas Cailley, and Olivier Babinet. Babinet gained recognition in 2016 for "Swagger", a portrait of young students from Aulnay-sous-Bois, after receiving departmental support for his short film "C’est plutôt genre Johnny Walker" in 2008.
Yassine Qnia is also mentioned among the beneficiaries. After "Fais croquer" in 2011, he directed his first feature film, "De bas étage", a gritty crime film released in 2021. He recalls: "Receiving the short film aid truly enhanced my short film. Thanks to it, 'Fais croquer' received proper post-production with professional editing, mixing, and color grading... It also boosted our confidence and visibility."
While it is not necessary to be a resident of Seine-Saint-Denis to benefit from this aid, a territorial criterion was strengthened in the pre-selection committee in 2024. However, the film's artistic quality remains the primary criterion, as emphasized by Emma De Griève, head of this aid at Cinémas 93.
In 2026, the Short Film Aid will continue to support creation, notably with "La dernière saison", a documentary by Yohan Guignard. This initiative promotes a vision of cinema focused on diversity and creativity.
