Focus on Karin Viard
Originally from Rouen, Karin Viard discovered her passion for theatre at the drama school, alongside Valérie Lemercier and Franck Dubosc. At the age of 17, she moved to Paris and took on a series of roles, ranging from memorable supporting roles (such as in Jeunet and Caro’s Delicatessen, 1991) to lead characters (Les Randonneurs, 1997). She made her mark with Haut les cœurs ! (1999), and the film earned her a César and a Lumière award for Best Actress, confirming her talent and audacity.
Since then, Karin Viard has become a key figure in French cinema. Fourteen of her films have had more than one million admissions, and her and its 3 César Awards (out of 13 nominations) testify to her versatility and high standards. She has worked with some of the greatest directors: François Ozon (Potiche), Maïwenn (Polisse), Cédric Klapisch (Ma part du gâteau), and the Larrieu brothers (Vingt et une nuits avec Pattie). Her natural acting style, her wit and her emotional intelligence allow her to move from one role to another with apparent ease, while embodying characters of great complexity.
What is striking about Karin Viard is her rare authenticity, a combination of honesty and sensitivity that makes each performance unique. She works on her characters with rigour, without ever losing the pleasure of acting.
As a guest of the Festival, Karin Viard will talk with audiences about her career after the screening of Haut les cœurs ! (1999) by Sólveig Anspach and Une nuit (2023) by Alex Lutz, and will present a preview of La Maison des femmes (2026), the first film by Mélisa Godet.
