Angénieux Hits The Red Carpet at The Cannes Film Festival

Dominique Rouchon-Picariello - Jacques Durand - Philippe Parain - Linda Carriel - Edith Bertrand - Jean-Yves Le Poulain

Thales-Angénieux was busy at Cannes, unveiling a new lens and new logo with colors that matched the red carpet. Angénieux’s new Optimo 45-120mm T2.8 lightweight zoom is the third lens in the line of lightweight Optimo zooms. The new lens joins the Optimo 15-40mm T2.6 and 28-70mm T2.6.

Optimo zooms are the size and weight of many primes: about 8 inches long and 4.3 lbs.They are compatible with all current 35mm film and digital motion picture cameras. The new lens extends the range with longer focal lengths, and is excellent for close-ups.

Pierre William Glenn, AFC, said the new 45-120mm zoom lens was “amazing.” He discussed impressive tests conducted the previous week at CST. Mr. Glenn is a former president of the Association of French Cinematographers. He was cinematographer on Truffaut’s Day for Night, Costa-Gavras’ State of Siege, Joseph Losey’s Monsieur Klein, and many other features.

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CST is Commision Supérieure Technique de l’image et du son. It is a non-profitassociation of professionals committed to testing image and sound from capture to release. It’s a technical organization somewhat along the lines of SMPTE or the AMPAS Sci-Tech Committee.

During the presentation, CST and Angénieux also announced the creation of “twin” laboratories in Paris and Saint-Héand for testing digital cameras and their lenses. Using MireAnalysis software, both labs provide real-time viewing of live images with a calibrated monitor or digital projector. The facilities will be made available to cinematographers and professionals to test their cameras and lenses.

Additionally, Kodak and Angénieux hosted a gathering on the yacht Sunny Dream. The Angénieux team showed a group of producers how zoom lenses can decrease production costs by saving time (fewer lens changes, lighter weight).

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Meanwhile, back at the red carpet, Angénieux zoom lenses were used on many Cannes films, including this partial list:

Opening Film
Midnight in Paris
Director: Woody Allen. DP: Darius Khondji, AFC, ASC.
Lens: Optimo 17-80.

Official Selection
L’Apollonide
Director: Bertrand Bonello. DP: Josée Deshaies.
Lens: Optimo 17-80.
Rental Company: TSF.

La source des femmes
Director: Radu Mihaileanu. DP: Glynn Speeckaert, SBC.
Lens:Optimo 28-76 and Optimo 24-290.
Rental Company: TSF.

L’Exercice de l’Etat.
Director: Pierre Schoeller. DP: Julien Hirsch, AFC.
Lens: Optimo 28-76.
Rental Company: TSF.

Semaine de la Critique and Special Screenings
La guerre est déclarée
Director: Valérie Donzetti. DP: Sébastien Buchmann.
Lens: Optimo 28-76.
Rental Company: TSF.

Out of competition
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Director: Rob Marshall. DP: Dariusz Wolski, ASC.
Lenses: Optimo 15-40 and Optimo 28-76.