John de Borman has spent much of his working life helping stories come alive on screen. As a cinematographer, he has worked on films including The Full Monty, Serendipity and An Education. Now, from his home in the Pyrénées-Orientales, he wants to share his love of cinema in a different way: by bringing people together.
His new project, L’Éclat du Cinéma, is being built around a simple idea. Film can be a reason to meet, talk, discover something new and enjoy an evening together.
John’s own path through cinema has taken him across decades and countries. He has worked in the film industry for around 45 years, served as President of the British Society of Cinematographers from 2010 to 2014, and received the World Cinema Cinematography Award at Sundance for his work on An Education.
But when he talks about the festival, the emphasis is not on the names on his CV. It is on the pleasure of sharing films and the people who make them.
John wants L’Éclat du Cinéma to feel welcoming and sociable, with room for people who know a great deal about film and those who simply fancy a good evening out. He imagines long tables where guests might sit opposite someone they haven’t met before, enjoy a meal and get talking.
That spirit of openness is central to his plans. He hopes future editions will include filmmakers, conversations and masterclasses, giving audiences the chance to hear directly from people who work in the industry. Those are ambitions for the festival to grow into, rather than a confirmed programme for its first event.
John would also like the project to reach beyond Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines and involve other parts of the region, working with local communities and businesses along the way. He pictures future screenings under the stars, with films inspiring the food and atmosphere of the evening. For the October launch, that means an Italian meal, reflecting the Italian setting and themes of the film being screened.
The first event takes place on Friday 23 October at The Shed in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines. Although earlier information described it as invitation-only, John says anyone is welcome to attend. There will be a welcome drink, small snacks and chairs available for the screening.
The evening begins at 18:00, with an exhibition celebrating the photographs of Eve Arnold, including her well-known portraits of Marilyn Monroe. At 20:00, there will be an outdoor screening of Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, in its original version with French subtitles. The exhibition runs until 23 November.
The event is free to attend. Anyone wishing to have a meal should book in advance directly with The Shed.
For John, L’Éclat du Cinéma is a chance to bring his professional world closer to the place he now calls home, and to make something enjoyable with the people around him. The festival may grow over time, but its starting point is deliberately straightforward: a film, a shared table and an invitation to spend an evening together.
L’Éclat du Cinéma
Friday 23 October 2026, from 18:00
The Shed, Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines
Free entry. For meal reservations, contact The Shed directly.
Sponsored article. P-O Life is pleased to support L’Éclat du Cinéma as a media partner.