Rejl will take over from Paolo Moretti, who had his third and last edition this year.
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight has appointed former arthouse sales agent Julien Rejl as its new Artistic Director.
Rejl replaces outgoing Directors’ Fortnight head Paolo Moretti who took up the role in September 2018, succeeding Edouard Waintrop who oversaw the section from 2012-2018.
Rejl was named by SRF (Société des réalisateurs de films), the governing body of Directors’ Fortnight.
A graduate of both Paris’ European Business School and La Femis Cinema School, Rejl worked at production, distribution and sales firm Capricci from 2010 to 2021, rising to the role of head of sales.
SRF said that the organisation had also voted to change its French name to La Quinzaine des Cinéastes, from its previous name of La Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the meeting.
This move makes its banner title more gender-inclusive because the word ‘cinéaste’ in French can be both masculine and feminine, unlike réalisateur, which is the masculine form of director in French.
Speaking of the new format the section is looking to adopt, Rejl added: ”This new identity is first and foremost an opportunity to reaffirm the role and commitment of a selection created by and for filmmakers in 1969: The Fortnight is the label that celebrates the vitality of world cinephilia and places the act of mise-en-scène as the invention of a singular language at the heart of the programming process. A home for filmmakers from all over the world, the Fortnight is a privileged space for boldness and risk-taking, in fiction as well as in documentary, open to all genres, in a convivial and non-competitive spirit.”
Capricci specialises in handling arthouse festival favourites such as Albert Serra’s Story Of My Death (2013), Abel Ferrara’s Pasolini (2014), Hong Sangsoo’s The Day After (2017) and Tsai Ming-Liang’s Days (2019).
It was announced in February that Moretti would be stepping down after this year’s festival, as part of an overhaul of the section. Italian-born Moretti ran the section from 2018 to 2022, replacing previous head Edouard Waintrop.
The 2023 edition of Directors’ Fortnight will be held May 16-23.
