Michel Leclerc

French filmmaker Michel Leclerc directed six independent short films during the 1990s, beginning with "Le Test Robert" in 1991. But it wasn't until 2002 that Leclerc began to receive widespread attention. That was the year his 15-minute short film "Le Poteau Rose" won the Jury Award--Special Mention at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. "Le Poteau Rose" was truly an independent effort for Leclerc, as he was the sole screenwriter, director, cinematographer, editor, and sound-department member for the film. He also appeared on-screen and contributed to the film's original score. Later in 2002, Leclerc co-created and wrote the first nine episodes of the French TV drama series "âge Sensible." A few years later, Leclerc shifted his attention to feature films. In 2005, he wrote and directed the upbeat romantic comedy "J'Invente Rien" and in 2007 he co-wrote "La T'te de Maman," a drama about a teenage girl's relationship with her troubled mother. In 2010, Leclerc's film "Le Nom des Gens," which he once again both wrote and directed, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. A comedy about a liberal activist who uses unconventional methods to change people's political opinions, "Le Nom des Gens" won Leclerc the César Award for Best Original Screenplay.