Matthieu Darras elected Deputy Chair of the European Film Academy
- tatinofilmsweb
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Matthieu Darras, CEO of Tatino Films, has just been elected Deputy Chair of the European Film Academy ! Matthieu joins the Board for a 2-year mandate (2026-2027), and will passionately contribute to the Academy's mission, which is to celebrate European cinema and to unite everyone who loves European cinema.
Beside Matthieu’s election, three hosts of Pop Up Film Residency – a Tatino initiative – have also been elected on the Board of the European Film Academy:
Ada Solomon (Romania), elected as Chair of the Board
And as Board members:
Giorgos Karnavas (Greece)
Marija Razgutė (Lithuania)
With this nomination, France sees a new representative joining the board after Humbert Balsan (known for producing Youssef Chahine, and Elia Suleiman) and Margaret Menegoz (Director of Films du Losange and producer of Michael Haneke, Éric Rohmer, and Andrzej Wajda).
Matthieu Darras’s journey in cinema began with a utopian idea: that young filmmakers across Europe should have access to a platform where they could meet, create, and build a community together. In 2001, he co-founded NISI MASA with film enthusiasts he met at festivals—a network he went on to lead, which expanded to 27 European countries and organized nearly 80 workshops. Some of its initiatives, such as the European Short Pitch, still exist today. Through Tatino Films, he went on to create new initiatives designed to support directors at key moments in their creative path. First Cut Lab has supported the editing of 300 films; Full Circle Lab offers development programs that promote international cooperation; and the global network of the Pop Up Film Residency—an audacious concept based on the idea of filmmakers hosting fellow filmmakers—provides a supportive space each year for 25 projects. He has also conceived and led international series-development labs, including programs for Netflix. What unites all these experiences is the conviction that has driven him since his early days: cinema thrives when people come together, exchange ideas, and collaborate.
