ESRA is pleased to honorSafy Nebbou, a former intern inESRA’s Professional Training programin1995, on the occasion of the release of his new feature film Fils de personne, in theaters since June 10, 2026, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing France.
Safy Nebbou, a director, screenwriter, and producer born in 1968 in Bayonne,presentshis eighth feature film: a family drama adapted from the Norwegian film*Hjertestart*(2017). The film starsRomain Duris,Cristiana Capotondi,Vithaya Pansringarm,andthe youngSanpasiri Khosittachawanich, with an original score byIbrahim Maalouf.
The movie: “Nobody’s Son”
Shortly after arriving in France following his adoption, four-year-old Mapring loses his new mother in a car accident. Thomas, played by Romain Duris, finds himself alone with this child, who does not yet recognize him as his father. Devastated, he decides to return to Thailand to find Mapring’s biological family. At the heart of this journey lies the deeply moving encounter between a father and a son who must learn to get to know one another.
Co-written by Safy Nebbou and Cyril Gomez-Mathieu, and produced by Playtime Production and Mandarin & Compagnie,*Fils de personne*wasfilmed in France and Thailand. The cinematography is by Gilles Porte, a longtime collaborator of the director. You can find the film’s full profile onAlloCinéandon theSony Pictures website.
A renowned French film director
After starting out in theater and directing several award-winning short films (Pédagogiein1997,Bertzeain2001,Lepokoain2003), Safy Nebbou directed his first feature film,*Le Cou de la girafe*, in 2004, starring Sandrine Bonnaire and Claude Rich. This was followed notably by*L’Empreinte de l’ange*(2008) with Catherine Frot,*L’Autre Dumas* (2010) starring Gérard Depardieu and Benoît Poelvoorde, and*Dans les forêts de Sibérie*(2016), an adaptation of Sylvain Tesson’s novel starring Raphaël Personnaz, for which Ibrahim Maalouf’s soundtrack won the César Award for Best Original Score.
In 2019, he achieved widespread international success with*Celle que vous croyez* (Who You Think SheIs), starring Juliette Binoche, François Civil, and Nicole Garcia, which was selected for the Berlin Film Festival and distributed in nearly fifty countries. His filmography is a demanding body of work focused on intimate stories, the construction of identity, and family relationships—a theme that*Fils de personne*continues to explore.
ESRA Vocational Training: A Springboard to Careers in the Visual Arts
Safy Nebbou’s career path exemplifies the mission ofESRA’s Professional Training program, which is designed for individuals seeking to specialize, expand their expertise, or advance their careers in the film and audiovisual industries. For more than fifty years, the school has been supporting professionals in the fields of film and sound through programs recognized by the industry.
With more than 15,000 alumni working in the fields of film, audiovisual media, sound, and animation, ESRA maintains strong ties with its alumni. Discover more inspiring stories on ourAlumni News page.
Congratulations to Safy Nebbou
To mark the release of *Fils de personne*, ESRA extends its sincere congratulations to Safy Nebbou. His career path demonstrates the wide range of possible paths in the film industry and serves as a source of inspiration for students and interns who are currently preparing to enter the creative industries.
