Guest of Europe 1 on Friday, actor and director Jean-Pascal Zadi, nominated in two categories for the 46th César ceremony, spoke of diversity in cinema.
If he believes that "things have moved forward" in recent years, he also welcomes "strong acts", such as Aïssa Maïga's speech in 2020.
INTERVIEW
The 46th César ceremony, Friday evening at 9 p.m., promises to be special with hundreds of film projects stopped and cinemas closed due to the health context, with no horizon as to a future reopening.
But this award ceremony also follows a 2020 edition marked by the departure of Adèle Haenel, because of the trophies awarded to Roman Polanski, and the criticisms around the lack of parity and diversity in the community, through the speech by actress Aïssa Maïga.
“When you're a black actor, you don't have the same opportunities as when you're white. When you're a woman, you don't have at all the same opportunities as when you're a man. ", estimated this Friday, at the microphone of Europe Evening, the actor is director Jean-Pascal Zadi, himself nominated in two categories, that of the best male hope and that of the best first film for
Simply black.
The actor believes, however, that it is important to take a "long time", and to take into account the progress made in recent years.
“When I was little, being black in the cinema, being a black director, that didn't even exist!” He recalls.
"Things are progressing, notes Jean-Pascal Zadi, but they are moving slowly."
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Shake up French cinema with strong acts
"Aïssa Maïga's speech and the fact that Adèle Haenel stood up were useful, because these are strong acts. I think the cinema needed to be shaken up to wake up," explains Jean-Pascal Zadi.
"Society is moving forward. Everyone is moving forward, things are going fast, and this film industry, in particular with the Académie des César, remained stuck in certain positions. Even if Ladj Ly had his César that evening (that of the best film and that of the public for
Les Misérables
,
editor's note
) it was the tree that hid the forest. "
"2020 ... I'm a little ashamed to say it was great"
Released at the beginning of July, just after the reopening of cinemas,
Simply Black
, in which a failed actor tries to organize a large march to protest against the under-representation of blacks in society and in the media, hit a hit with more than 700,000 inputs.
A real feat in view of the health context which has severely penalized the film industry.
"I have a brother who is in the restaurant business, and friends for whom the job is really a hassle. So when people ask me how I lived the year 2020 ... I am a little ashamed of to say that it was great ", smiles Jean-Pascal Zadi.