The Cannes Film Festival inaugurated a new category this year by awarding the prize for best immersive work. This prize was awarded to "{ 10}Noire, the little-known life of Claudette Colvin", a project that combines theater, cinema, and immersive exhibition, opening a new path for artistic storytelling. This distinction marks a first in the history of the festival, reflecting the growing importance of immersive technologies in the artistic field.

Created by Stéphane Foenkinos and Pierre-Alain Giraud, based on the book by Tania de Montaigne, this work offers a unique sensory experience. It immerses viewers in the context of segregation in the United States, allowing them to relive the courageous act of Claudette Colvin in 1955.

“What an incredible adventure, a book that has become an immersive experience! “Take a deep breath, blow out, now you are black.” If someone had told me 10 years ago that this sentence would carry readers, spectators, and one day travel to the Cannes Film Festival... It’s simply extraordinary.”

Tania de Montaigne
Author of “Noire, the little-known life of Claudette Colvin”

Focus on the work…

This creation is inspired by the eponymous book by Tania de Montaigne, published in 2015, which traces the story of Claudette Colvin, a forgotten but nevertheless crucial figure in the history of civil rights in the United States. On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin, then 15, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. An act of resistance that occurred nine months before that of Parks which left its mark on memories. Premiering at the Center Pompidou in Paris in 2023, “Noire” immerses the viewer in the American South during the era of segregation, using augmented reality technologies and immersive environments to recreate the emotions and contexts of this historical period. The installation is distinguished by its ability to fuse elements of historical storytelling with technological innovations, allowing visitors to enjoy an immersive experience that evokes the struggle and courage of Claudette Colvin. It includes projections, interactive devices and dramatized scenes, creating an environment where spectators can feel the intensity of the events of the time.