Most award winners use all of their time at the podium to breathlessly thank agents and deliver words of inspiration. Not so for Julie Delpy. In a bold and amazing move, the multihyphenate made an important announcement about her next project — and asked for help. Delpy was accepting the European Achievement in World Cinema prize at the European Film Awards (EFA) “when she called on members of the European Film Academy to pony up for her new film, ‘My Zoe,’” The Hollywood Reporter writes. She addressed “the problems completing financing for her new project, planned as her sixth feature as a director.”
As Delpy explained to THR, a key financier of the family drama dropped the project shortly before the film was scheduled to go to prep. She told the award show’s attendees that in order for “My Zoe” to begin shooting as planned early next year, she’ll need to raise $600,000 before December 15.
“Pulling up a bundle of tickets, Delpy said she would be raffling off a chance to have breakfast with her the next day in Berlin,” THR writes. “In addition, she said she would be selling off bit roles in ‘My Zoe’ for anyone interested.” Delpy insisted that she wasn’t making a joke, and explained that she’s determined to “do anything to make [her] film.”
Delpy told THR that the financier gave “bluntly sexist” reasons for pulling out of the project, such as “women directors are emotional” and “women are unreliable.” An incredulous Delpy recalled, “They told me that to my face in a meeting! They made their decision [to pull money from the film] on nothing except the fact I was a woman.”
While she’s found a replacement investor, Delpy is still currently trying to find more new backers.
London-set “My Zoe” centers on a woman (Delpy) raising her daughter with her ex-husband when tragedy strikes. Delpy penned the script. “Lolo,” “2 Days in New York,” and “Countess” are among her other directing and acting credits. She earned Oscar nods for co-writing “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight,” which she also starred in.
When we asked Delpy her advice for other women directors, she said, “Hang in there, and never take no for an answer. It took me 20 years between the time I wrote my first screenplay and the time I actually got money to direct a movie — exactly 20 years,” she revealed.
“My Zoe” was originally slated to go into prep in mid-December and begin shooting in early 2018, but funding issues may delay that timeline.
Other female filmmakers who won honors at the European Film Awards include Anna Zamecka, whose “Communion” took home best European Documentary, Dorota Kobiela, who co-directed best European Animated Feature “Loving Vincent,” and Maria Schrader, who helmed EFA People’s Choice Award winner “Stefan Zweig — Farewell To Europe.” Check out all of the women winners below. List adapted from Deadline.
EUROPEAN ACTRESS
Alexandra Borbely, On Body And Soul
EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY
Communion, dir: Anna Zamecka
EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE
Loving Vincent, dirs: Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman
EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER
Katarzyna Lewińska, Spoor
EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA
Julie Delpy
EFA PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Stefan Zweig — Farewell To Europe, dir: Maria Schrader
