-Who is Aurélie Latona?

To describe myself, I would say that I’m a simple person who values authenticity, honesty, and kindness. At least, I try to leave that impression on everyone I meet throughout my life. I’m a single mother raising a child with a disability, and thanks to my son, I’ve learned patience and what truly matters most in life. I’m usually my own worst critic, but if I leave a lasting impression on someone, I hope it’s a positive one. I live in France, to Grenoble.

-Do you remember the exact moment you fell in love with cinema?

The exact moment I fell in love with cinema was when I was six years old, watching Jurassic Park. That day, two passions were born: archaeology and filmmaking. Seeing dinosaurs brought to life and projected onto a giant screen for thousands of people completely amazed me. Later, I learned that dinosaurs were extinct, but my passion for cinema never disappeared. What fascinated me most was being behind the camera and writing the stories I wanted to bring to life on screen. That’s when I started writing my very first story drafts.

-Tell us about your project “Bad Influence / Mauvaise Influence”.

Bad Influence is an independent short film made with a volunteer crew. It tackles difficult subjects such as marital rape, coercive control, and the exploitation of a partner for prostitution, while also exploring the psychological hold one person can have over another. Lucie knows she could leave, that she could escape this living nightmare, but she stays because she feels trapped. As viewers, we feel just as powerless. We watch the events unfold before our eyes, unable to intervene, just like Lucie herself. During filming, one of the most memorable moments for the crew was being in the room while my actors, Camille Labrot and Méverick Graux, performed the bedroom scene. It was deeply uncomfortable and emotionally suffocating, because we experienced what Lucie was going through in the presence of this man. They both delivered extraordinary performances, and I’m incredibly proud of their work. My Director of Photography, Rachem Moyen, and I were completely in sync throughout the production. He understood my vision from the very beginning and translated even my smallest ideas into powerful images. His work was simply outstanding.This project was incredibly ambitious, with a script that was both emotionally and technically challenging to bring to the screen. Yet fifteen people believed in me and volunteered their time and talent and my co-productions too : Shaolin Shadow, la Mine Productions et Rachem Productions. I’ll never forget that incredible feeling of achieving the dream I had as a little girl. It’s truly surreal.

-Which Director inspires you the most?

I’m a huge admirer of Charlie Chaplin. His ability to express every emotion through body language alone, without saying a single word, has always fascinated me. More recently, of course, I’ve been deeply inspired by Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. They have an extraordinary talent for transporting audiences into incredible worlds while still making everything feel grounded and believable. Their filmmaking relies on craft rather than excessive visual effects, and in that sense, all three directors share something in common: they’re never interested in superficiality.

-What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?

There is so much to say about a world that still isn’t functioning as it should. There are countless battles to fight if we want to build a better future where everyone has a place and can live in peace. The causes that matter most to me are the living conditions of women and children, especially issues such as violence, poverty, and disability. I hope that one day they will all be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, rather than being used as bargaining chips or excuses to justify the destruction of countries and lives.

-How do you imagine cinema in 100 years? 

I sincerely hope there will still be real film sets filled with real people, and that human creativity will remain at the heart of filmmaking. Technology, filmmaking techniques, and cameras will undoubtedly continue to evolve, but I hope authenticity, everything that makes us human, will still shine through every story brought to the screen. I also hope cinema will continue to be a shared experience that brings people together.

-What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?

To be completely honest, I’m only just discovering WILD FILMMAKER, and I’m delighted to do so. As someone who’s still at the beginning of my filmmaking journey, every new encounter fills me with the same sense of wonder I had as a six-year-old child. I’m realizing that I’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg in this industry, and that there are so many opportunities waiting to be discovered. WILD FILMMAKER is one of them. You’ve given me the opportunity to talk about a project that means so much to me while giving emerging filmmakers a platform to share their voices, and I’m truly grateful for that. If the six-year-old version of myself could see what I’m doing today, giving an interview to talk about one of my films, she simply wouldn’t believe it. For that alone, thank you for giving me this unforgettable moment.