the Villa Medici Film Festival and Chanel

Chanel Continues Its Cinematic Legacy: Supporting the Villa Medici Film Festival

dr. Marco Tassini

For the third consecutive year, CHANEL proudly extends its support to the Villa Medici Film Festival, reinforcing the brand’s long-standing connection to the world of cinema, particularly Italian filmmaking. This event, dedicated to
celebrating the Seventh Art, offers a unique platform for cinematic creation and contemporary art to intersect, allowing CHANEL to continue its deep-rooted relationship with filmmakers that dates back to the early 20th century, when Gabrielle Chanel herself collaborated with the filmmakers of her era.

Gabrielle Chanel was a visionary in many ways, including her influential role in the cinematic world. She not only dressed actresses both on and off-screen but also formed close creative partnerships with iconic filmmakers. From
designing for Romy Schneider in Luchino Visconti’s Il Lavoro, part of Boccaccio 70, to crafting timeless looks for Jeanne Moreau and Monica Vitti in Michelangelo Antonioni’s La Notte, Chanel’s mark on film was unmistakable. This year’s Villa Medici Film Festival continued to celebrate the deep ties between cinema and art. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Villa Medici’s gardens, the festival provides a space where filmmakers, actors, and art enthusiasts come together to engage with the beauty and wonder of film.

Through screenings, conferences, and discussions, it fosters a spirit of artistic exchange and appreciation.
A key highlight of this year’s program included a tribute to Wim Wenders, featuring his iconic film Paris, Texas. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of its Palme d’Or won, the newly restored version, supported by CHANEL, was
screened during the cocktail evening. Whether through supporting the restoration of cinematic masterpieces or helping to amplify the voices of emerging filmmakers, CHANEL’s commitment to the art of cinema remains unwavering. The films showcased at the Villa Medici Film Festival are a testament to a shared passion for creativity and storytelling.

The opening night of the festival provided another captivating moment of the seventh art with the screening of the short film ALLÉGORIE CITADINE, directed by Alice Rohrwacher and JR, and starring Leos Carax and CHANEL ambassador Lyna Khoudri. This cinematic piece, inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, serves as a continuation of the show Chiroptera, a collaboration between JR, Damien Jalet, and Thomas Bangalter.