This Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the film De la Comédie-Française officially hits theaters. Co-directed by Martin Darondeau and Bertrand Usclat, this feature film invites us to take a behind-the-scenes look at an iconic institution of French live performance: the Comédie-Française.
A graduate of ESRA, Martin Darondeau presents a film that highlights the collective effort required to create a theatrical production. Through an immersive and sensitive lens, the film focuses on all those who, often working behind the scenes, contribute every day to keeping one of France’s oldest and most prestigious theatrical institutions alive.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Comédie-Française
With *De la Comédie-Française*, the filmmakers invite the audience to step inside a place rarely seen from this perspective. Going far beyond the stage, the film reveals all the excitement that precedes a premiere.
From rehearsals to final technical adjustments—including unexpected challenges, collaboration between the artistic and technical teams, and the preparation of sets and costumes—the feature-length film offers a glimpse into the daily lives of those who work tirelessly to ensure that every performance can take place.
This behind-the-scenes look highlights the diversity of careers in the performing arts and serves as a reminder that an artistic production is, above all, the result of a collective effort. Actors, directors, stage managers, costume designers, technicians, administrators, and even front-of-house staff all contribute, each in their own way, to the success of a performance.
The film thus pays tribute to the dedication of these women and men, whose work often goes unnoticed by the public.
Recognition right from its festival debut
Even before its nationwide release, *De la Comédie-Française* had already been met with a particularly enthusiastic reception.
Premiered at the Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival, the film won over both the audience and industry professionals in attendance. This very positive reception led to the film winning two major awards:
- The Special Jury Prize
- The Audience Award
These two awards are a testament not only to the quality of the project, but also to its ability to reach a wide audience through its original take on an iconic cultural institution.
This double honor also confirms the relevance of the subject chosen by the filmmakers and underscores their commitment to telling, above all, a human story.
Martin Darondeau's Career
Before making this new feature film, Martin Darondeau attended ESRA as part of his training.
Over the years, he has built a career as a director and screenwriter, taking on numerous projects and gradually establishing his distinctive artistic vision. With *De la Comédie-Française*, he continues on this path by presenting a film that showcases the world of live performance through an approach that is at once accessible, well-researched, and deeply human.
His work perfectly illustrates the diverse career paths that audiovisual professionals can take. Whether in film, documentary, television, or content creation, there are numerous opportunities for directors who wish to develop personal and ambitious projects.
For ESRA students, this type of career path serves as a source of inspiration and serves as a reminder that the program paves the way for a wide variety of careers in the creative industries.
On the occasion of this nationwide release, the entire ESRA Group extends its most sincere congratulations to Martin Darondeau, as well as to Bertrand Usclat and all the teams involved in the production of *De la Comédie-Française*.
We wish them a wonderful theatrical release and great success with audiences.
This new feature film once again highlights the vitality of French cinema and the importance of shining a light on the professionals who work every day—both on stage and behind the scenes—to bring artistic creation to life.
We invite everyone who wants to discover the fascinating world of the Comédie-Française to go see the film as soon as it hits theaters and to share in this behind-the-scenes look at one of the most iconic institutions of French theater.
