Lawrence VALIN
Film director

Lawrence received a grant to support him in writing his next feature film.

What is your artistic background?
At 21, I wanted to be an actor. The roles I was offered were, for the most part, racial stereotypes. At 27, I decided to switch sides and became a screenwriter and director. I joined the La Résidence program at La Fémis and directed Little Jaffna, a 21-minute short film in which I played the lead role. This short film was pivotal for the rest of my career because it paved the way for my first feature film, which shares the same title. At 34, I’m playing the lead role in a French film for the first time and it’s my own.

How do you view your profession today?
I feel lucky to make a living from this profession; it’s a privilege, even a luxury. When you come from a working-class background, making films is a daily struggle. I’d like to see more programs that help young people from working-class backgrounds get into filmmaking, to make this path more accessible and to see new perspectives and stories emerge.

How do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years?
In 5 or 10 years, it’ll be the same: continuing to make increasingly ambitious auteur blockbusters.

Interview conducted in 2025
Photographs taken in 2026 by Yama Ndiaye