The prestigious fashion house will be debuting its subsidiary in this year’s Cannes Film Festival by screening three short films from acclaimed auteurs.
Luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) is setting its sights on the film industry with the launch of a film production subsidiary by the name Saint Laurent Productions. It’s an exciting and unprecedented move in the world of couture, considering that the brand is the very first fashion house to operate a full production company.
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While YSL has had a rich legacy in the film industry, having collaborated with legendary stars like Catherine Deneuve and Sophia Loren, their newest venture will involve full film production—meaning that the company will not just be funding movies or designing outfits for them, but also taking part in their creative processes.
According to an article by Variety, there will be no branding involved in the subsidiary’s cinematic works. However, all its costumes will be designed by YSL, spearheaded by artistic director and cinephile Anthony Vaccarello.
Vaccarello’s love for film lies at the heart of the brand’s latest groundbreaking endeavor. “I want to work with and provide a space for all the great film talents who have inspired me over the years,” shared the artistic director in a recent statement.
Star-Studded Productions
Saint Laurent Productions is starting off strong, as it already has a roster of three short films that are set to premiere during the upcoming 76th Cannes Film Festival in May. Among them is a work from Oscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar entitled Strange Way of Life. Starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, Almodóvar described it as a “queer Western.”
“[…] There are two men, and they love each other, and they behave in that situation in an opposite way,” shared the Spanish writer and director. “What it has that most Westerns don’t… is the kind of dialogue [the genre hasn’t] ever captured between two men.”
Working With Legends
The three short films for Cannes only mark the beginning of Saint Laurent Productions’ thrilling plans. The subsidiary plans to produce two to three films per year, and is currently working on more upcoming projects with some of cinema’s biggest names.
These include esteemed filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Fly and Dead Ringers), Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty and The Hand of God), Abel Ferrara (Pasolini and Body Snatchers), Wong Kar Wai (In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express), Gaspar Noé (Vortex and I Stand Alone), and Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive and Stranger Than Paradise).
If this list of chosen creators indicates anything, it’s that the films to come are likely to offer thrills, artful execution, and even thoughtful commentary that’s not afraid to delve into the darker aspects of humanity—especially considering Cronenberg’s works, which are some of the most notable progenitors of the “body horror” film genre.
Vaccarello even confirmed this speculation, stating that many of the films will have a “dark undercurrent” and “can be controversial, in a good way.”
YSL’s venture into the world of film production is part of an effort to make a lasting impression as a brand. “You can still see a film in 10 or 30 years, if it’s good. In some ways, making a film can be more impactful than a seasonal collection,” stated Vaccarello. “For me it’s a natural extension to another field of creativity that perhaps is more general and popular.”
Banner Photo via Instagram @anthonyvaccarello.
