THE CLAUDE-CHABROL PRIZE

“Any thriller involves two dimensions. First of all a metaphysical willingness of some sort, then a form of humility. These two things almost make up a definition of what an artist is.”
Claude Chabrol

Created in 2011 after French director Claude Chabrol passed away, the Claude-Chabrol Prize each year rewards a French film released in the past year whose cinematographic qualities honour the thriller genre, as a tribute to the man who was “President for life” of the Cognac Thriller Film Festival and naturally the first President of the Jury of the Beaune International Thriller Film Festival.

Succeeding PRÉSUMÉ COUPABLE (Guilty) by Vincent Garenq (2012), 38 TÉMOINS (38 Witnesses – One Night) by Lucas Belvaux, MAINS ARMÉES (Armed Hands) by Pierre Jolivet (2013), FOXFIRE – Confessions d’un gang de filles (Foxfire) by Laurent Cantet (2014), LA CHAMBRE BLEUE (The Blue Room) by Mathieu Amalric (2015) and COUP DE CHAUD (Heatwave) by Raphaël Jacoulot (2016), the Claude-Chabrol prize will be awarded to DIAMANT NOIR (Dark Inclusion) by Arthur Harari.

> DIAMANT NOIR (Dark Inclusion)
by Arthur Harari

Pier Ulmann, the black sheep of a wealthy family of diamond traders based in Antwerp, ekes out a living in Paris, working on construction sites or doing petty thefts for Rachid, his only “family”. He is caught up by his fate when his father is found dead in the street, after a long downward slide. Pier’s father has left nothing to his son but the weight of his banishment by the Ullmans and a thirst to take revenge. When Pier is invited to Antwerp by his cousin Gabi to renovate the offices of the prestigious Ulmann Company, Rachid’s advice is simple: “Go there to take a look, and to help yourself”. But a diamond never has one facet only…