The Prince Pierre Foundation launched the new year with the opening of its 103rd season of conferences, welcoming acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Nicolas Philibert for an evening devoted to the art of documentary, in partnership with the Monaco Audiovisual Institute…
Running from January 19 to June 12, the season will bring together composers, philosophers, writers and laureates to reflect on contemporary creation and artistic practice.
Best known for his award-winning film Être et avoir, which earned a César in 2003, Philibert explored the delicate boundary between documentary and fiction, challenging the common perception that documentaries simply capture raw reality. He explained that filming always involves interpretation and choice, noting that three filmmakers observing the same event would inevitably produce three very different films. For him, documentary filmmaking is not only a means of transmitting knowledge, but also an artistic gesture shaped by perspective, framing and storytelling.
The director also highlighted the role of audiences in giving new meaning to a film after its completion. Viewers, he said, often reveal interpretations and emotions that even the filmmaker may not have fully anticipated, making each screening a moment of shared discovery.
Organised as part of the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to literary and artistic dialogue, the conference also marked nearly 75 years of cultural engagement in the Principality. The Prince Pierre Foundation continues to fulfil its original mission of bringing leading creative voices to Monaco, fostering exchanges that place humanism and reflection at the heart of public life.
The conference programme continues on February 16 with Pascal Quignard, winner of the Prince Pierre Literary Prize in 2000, who will offer his own perspective on literature, memory and artistic creation.
Image: dafilms.com
