Renault, official partner of French cinema’s 38th annual César awards ceremony

• Renault will once again be in the spotlight today (Friday, February 22) at French cinema’s annual César awards ceremony.
• This partnership is a natural result of Renault’s long-time love affair with the cinema.




As part of its association with France’s ‘Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma’, organiser of the 38th annual César awards ceremony, Renault has provided a fleet of Espaces for this evening’s festivities. These comfortable, roomy cars will be used to transport VIP guests and French cinema stars to the foot of the red-carpeted steps of the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris.

Renault’s sixth straight year as partner of the César awards ceremony sees it pursue its long-standing relationship with the world of cinema. Indeed, its ties with the industry date back to 1899 when a Renault model first appeared in a film. That car was driven by Louis Renault himself, and the film was made by the pioneering Lumière brothers.

The 38th César awards ceremony will be hosted by French celebrities Jamel Debbouze and Antoine De Caunes.




Renault Espace, friend of the stars

In 2012, Renault Espace, which has been the high-end MPV benchmark for more than 25 years, adopted the brand’s new styling identity which expresses its unique personality even more forcefully and heightens its dynamic appeal. Its roomy, exceptionally occupant-friendly interior makes it ideal not only for carrying cinema stars decked up in evening dress but also for those who appreciate space. Manufactured at Renault’s ISO 14001-certified factory in Sandouville, France, Renault Espace exudes the brand’s hallmark quality, from its design and build, to the choice of materials and its performance credentials.



Renault and the cinema: a love story that is 100 years young

Renault’s love affair with cinema dates backs more than 100 years, covering over a century of actresses, actors and star vehicles, not to mention the many memorable stories scripted by some of seventh art’s foremost writers which have starred the French brand.

It was on February 13, 1895, that the Lumière brothers registered the first cinematograph, a camera which also served as film projector and developer. Their invention marked the birth of cinema. Just four years later, Louis Renault appeared in a film driving a Type A voiturette, making him one of the first captains of industry to see cinema as a new communication tool for his products.

In the course of the 20th Century, just like the automobile industry, cinema evolved considerably, but Renault remained a loyal partner of the seventh art through its many active involvements in prestigious international festivals and films.

Throughout its history, Renault has enjoyed close collaboration with cinema and television producers. Renault and Dacia models have appeared in countless feature films, TV series and TV films across the world and the group has a fleet of some 40 vehicles, covering the entire range, available to meet the needs of production companies, including both internal combustion-engined and electric vehicles.



A long list of films testifies to Renault’s fruitful collaboration with the seventh art, including:

• A shiny Vivastella troubles the peace and quiet of postman François’ rural village in Jacques Tati’s masterpiece ‘Jour de Fête’ (‘The Big Day’) of 1949.
• In ‘Traffic’ (1971), also directed by Jacques Tati, Monsieur Hulot is tasked with driving a Renault 4L which has been converted into a gadget-packed revolutionary camper van of his own invention to the Amsterdam Show.
• As James Blond, Roger Moore ‘showcases’ his driving skills driving a Renault 11 in a memorable chase at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in ‘A View to a Kill’ (1985).
• In ’Wings of Desire’ (1986), director Wim Wenders is inspired by the poetry of the 4 CV.
• In Alfonso Cuaron’s sci-fi film ’Les Fils de l’Homme’ (2006), an Avantime is used as the basis for a futuristic vehicle which stars in a breath-taking action sequence.
• In 2007, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are involved in a high-speed race through the streets of Paris at the wheel of Renault Espaces in ‘Rush Hour 3’.
• In 2011, Kangoo TPRM (Transport for Persons with Reduced Mobility) starred in Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache’s box-office hit ’Intouchables’ (‘The Intouchables’) which attracted almost 20 million viewers in France and 37.5 million in Europe.



Other cult films starring Renault and Dacia vehicles include: ‘Et Dieu Créa la Femme’ (‘And God Created Women’) by Roger Vadim (Renault 4), 1956 / ‘Les Tontons Flingueurs’ (Crooks in Clover’) by Georges Lautner and Michel Audiard (Frégate and Dauphine, R8), 1963 / ‘Les Bronzés Font du Ski’ by Patrice Leconte (Renault 4, Renault 20 and Renault 12), 1979 / ‘La Boum’ (‘The Party’) by Claude Pinoteau (Renault 14 and Renault 5), 1980 / ‘La Cité de la Peur’ by Alain Berbérian (Renault 19 Cabriolet, Renault 4 and Safrane), 1994 / ‘Dobermann’ by Jan Kounen (Laguna, Safrane, Mégane and Renault 5 Turbo), 1997 / ‘The Bourne Identity’ by Doug Liman (Laguna), 2002 / ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ by Paul Greengrass (Dacia Logan), 2007 / ‘Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis’ (‘Welcome to the Sticks’) by Dany Boon (Clio), 2008.



The saga is set to continue with more top productions featuring models made by the Group:



Feature films:

‘The Zero Theorem’ by Terry Gilliam (Twizy), release scheduled for 2014 / ‘Un Prince (Presque) Charmant’ by Philippe Lellouche (ZOE), 2013 / ‘A Very Unsettled Summer’ by Anca Damian (Dacia Logan), release scheduled for 2013 / ‘Oko Sprawiedliwosci’ by Pawel Czarzasty (Mégane Coupé Cabriolet and Laguna Coupé), 2012 / ‘Comme des Frères’ (‘Like Brothers’) by Hugo Gelin (Caravelle), 2012 / ‘Vous N’Avez Encore Rien Vu’ (‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’) by Alain Resnais (Espace and Mégane), 2012 / ‘Bowling’ by Marie Castille Mention Shaar (Clio), 2012 / ‘8 First Dates’ by David Dodson (Mégane), 2012 / ‘Une Nuit’ by Philippe Lefebvre (Clio, Espace), 2012.



TV series and films:

‘Transporter’ (HBO, RTL, M6) / ‘El Rastro’ (Telefe) / ‘Emmerdale’ (ITV1) / ‘Rodzinka.pl’ (TVP2) / ‘Braquo’ (Canal+, TV5) / ‘Les Hommes de l’Ombre’ (France 2) / ‘Sections de Recherches’ (TF1, TSR, RTL) / ‘Le Déclin de l’Empire Masculin’ (Arte).