Agathe Riedinger
New faces of French cinema 2025 – Agathe Riedinger
Meet the new faces of French cinema. Unifrance’s 10 to watch were selected by international journalists after making a name for themselves at major festivals in 2024 before breaking out on screens around the world in 2025.
A graduate of the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris (ENSAD), Agathe Riedinger is a multitalented writer, director, and photographer who likes to experiment with different types of narratives. She directed the short films Waiting for Jupiter, nominated for the Best Short Film César Award in 2019, followed by Ève, selected at Clermont-Ferrand and Sarajevo, among other film festivals. Her debut feature, Wild Diamond, was presented in Competition at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film won the Critics’ Prize at the Namur International French-Language Film Festival and earned its lead actress Malou Khebizi acting prizes at the Stockholm and Namur festivals. It has already been sold to nearly twenty five territories, including Germany, Spain, the United States, and Italy.
«I first blended photos and films – it was very hybrid, very experimental.»
What – or who – inspired you to become a filmmaker?
Agathe Riedinger:
I first approached cinema through photos so I was really inspired by people like Diane Arbus, Martin Parr and Sarah Moon. I first blended photos and films – it was very hybrid, very experimental. Christophe Honoré’s Dans Paris was the first film that made me realise I didn’t want to just be a spectator, but I wanted to make films. Requiem For a Dream was also a visual shock for me – the combination of emotion and a sensorial experience. I knew I wanted to transition from photos to films.
What does it feel like to return to Cannes this year after premiering your first film in competition last year?
Agathe Riedinger:
It is less pressure – but another kind of pressure. I have practically no memories from last year. It was like a dream – a very intense dream! This year, I can really process what happened and enjoy it.
What do you love most about Cannes?
Agathe Riedinger:
Seeing films! It is so magical to see the emotions of the filmmakers and everyone who went into the making of the film when they present their films here, and how much people are passionate about cinema. It’s beautiful to see that we are all here for the love of cinema.
What is your best Cannes memory?
Agathe Riedinger:
The day of the premiere just before walking the red carpet steps. And then the next day, I remember being so moved at the press junket because I never thought I’d even make a film in France, let alone one who echo would resonate to the entire world. I remember crying when speaking to an Italian journalist – it was a very moving moment.
What films in this year’s selection are you looking forward to seeing?
Agathe Riedinger:
Pauline Loquès’ Nino, Hubert Charuel’s Meteors and Rebecca Zlotowski’s Vie Privée.
What are your favorite recent films?
Agathe Riedinger:
Iris Kaltenback’s The Rapture and Valerie Donzelli’s Just The Two Of Us.
And your favorite film of all time?
Agathe Riedinger:
Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady On Fire.
What are you working on next?
Agathe Riedinger:
I’ve opened my notebook to start to think about my next feature. It will be the continuity of what I’ve done before focusing on themes like illusion, beauty and utopia. For now, I’m just thinking of ideas.
Interview by Rebecca Leffler
Photos by Ludovica Arcero
