I had the opportunity of meeting Jean-Luc Xiberras some years ago at Annecy. In 1993 he had asked me to be a member of the jury for the festival. So we had the occasion then to engage in a number of discussions (often very lively!). I found him to be a man both enthusiastic and caring at the same time. In the evening after the screenings, I had the great pleasure of going out to dinner and talking with him until late in the night.

Two years later, I returned to Annecy at his request to host, together with him, the Awards Ceremony. The least one could say is that this event was "remarkable." The show that Jean-Luc and I offered on that stage was rather baroque, often witty and indisputably bawdy. Some people in the audience surely must have wanted to throw tomatoes at us... But it remained for us a truly fine memory -- which is why I said, "Yes" without hesitation when Jean-Luc asked me to do the show again the next June.

Obviously, I don't like his last joke: not being present on the shores of the lake to welcome us with his enthusiasm and warmth.

Philippe Dana
Canal +

Dear Jean-Luc,
You left us by the lake
And without you it will seem less animated
It's only a temporary farewell, our friend.

Françoise Reymond, Alain Burosse, Véronique Carpentier, Patrice Bauchy, Maria Perez, Pascale Faure, Brigitte Pardo, Marie-Laure Tardy, Joëlle Matos, Philippe Dana.
Courtesy of Canal +