Martin Provost

The multitalented filmmaker Martin Provost made his acting debut at the age of 19 as the supporting character Raphaël in the 1976 erotic drama "Néa: Young Emmanuelle." Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Provost made a name for himself in the French television circuit, acting in nearly 20 series, mini-series, and TV movies. He won roles in a handful of feature films as well, including "Pentimento," a lighthearted comedy about mistaken identity at a funeral. Provost's career, however, took a new course in 1992 when he wrote and directed his first short film, "Cocon." Since that project, he has remained primarily behind the camera. In 1997, Provost wrote and directed "Tortilla y Cinema," a feature-length self-referential comedy about a rookie filmmaker's collaboration with a famous actress. "Tortilla" put Provost on the map, proving his capability as a writer and director, and he has since made several more feature films, including "Le Ventre de Juliette," a dramedy about a young woman faced with an unexpected pregnancy, and "Séraphine," a biopic about the French painter Séraphine de Senlis. In 2002, Provost made a brief return to acting when he played Manu in "20, Avenue Parmentier," an ensemble comedy about a New Year's Eve party.