Francisco Del Ryo
Born in June 1997, Francisco Del Ryo has always been a creative type, developing embryonic short stories, video games and films as a child to impress his family and friends. During his years at university, he developed an offbeat cinematic universe based on the character of Francisque Dudestin, his eccentric alter ego. In 2023, after several years' work, the first chapter of this story took the form of an independent film entitled Outside Francisque.
Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
Outside Francisque will make you meet Francisque Dudestin, "the greatest filmmaker of all times" (he likes to call himself like that, actually). When the film starts, it has been 2 years since Francisque has disappeared, after directing the highest-grossing film of French cinema. A journalist named Tom, unable to tell who Francisque was, decides to interview some people around him to know who he was and maybe... discover why he disappeared. Sometimes you will laugh, other times you will feel... kind of bad. But you will like its cool characters.
What are your ambitions with your project?
The overall ambition has always been the same since the first beginning : Outside Francisque is the basis for a long story that goes with several films and possibly a TV show. But for this specific film, it will be about asking the questions : what is art ? Something seriously done or a joke completely improvised? Is it possible to make the portrait of someone through different viewpoints?
Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
I keep very good memories about this shooting : that is thanks to a kind team that allowed us to laugh even during the hard times. But damn, I have to say it was pretty exhausting. We happened to shoot a feature film with 1% of the regular budget for this kind of projects. I wanted it to look like a real cinematic film so we spent nights fixing problems, expecting others ALL THIS during Covid. Just imagine having to shoot a scene without masks in the street during Covid. That's what we did, with tears and blood.
Why should distributors buy your film?
I will simply say that Outside Francisque introduces an entire cinematic universe, made with sincerity, made with endearing characters, that aims to be inspiring for all artists. It is kind of a love letter dedicated to cinema, art and Paris city of course (guys, between us, you will see a film that happens mostly in Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, isn't that original?).
Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
I started my 8-year-old school year by doing an exercise with friends of the time. We had the beginning of a story and had to finish it. I can't explain why but I felt like I could give the teacher 1000 pages of what happens next. This is probably the day I realised I loved inventing and telling stories. I happened to watch a lot of films and tv shows in the beginning of High School, which made me consider it as an interesting form of expression. But maybe, in another world, I happened to be a game maker or novelist.
Which movies are your favorites? Why?
This one is always kind of hard because it tends to change through your life, depending on your mood, what you have been through, etc.. These last few years, I have to say I have been deeply impressed by "Bye Bye Morons" from French Director Albert Dupontel because of the true humanity and originality he brang in his characters. A heartbreaking masterpiece.
Next to "Bye Bye Morons", I was very influenced by "Man on the Moon" by Milos Foreman. In my opinion, it's Jim Carrey's best performance of his career, besides being a magnificent tribute to the acting job. Like "Outside Francisque" does, it also questions the nature of art itself, making the viewer both confused and entertained.
Which topics interest you the most?
The thing that I like the most in a film is when you have absolutely no idea where the director is leading you. That's why I would say it's not the topic that particularly interests me, it's the way the storytellers will manage the topic to surprise me, to make me reconsider what I first thought about this subject. I really like the French Director Quentin Dupieux because he does it in an excellent way.
What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
We live in a very unusual time in the history of cinema. Cinema suffers hard competition with streaming platforms. AI makes it easier and easier to tell stories. We are getting closer to a world where we don't need actors anymore. As an independent filmmaker, I just hope we will keep on listening to singular cinematic voices, in the respect of all workers of this wonderful industry.
What are the reactions to your film? (opinion of spectators, film critics, friends and family)
I have the chance of being surrounded by caring people who all have very interesting returns about it. The season of festivals has just begun. I'm still waiting for the returns of festivals and professionals but the first selections and prices make me confident about the reception.
What are your future plans in filmmaking carriere?
Last week I finished writing the next episode of the "Outside Francisque" series in the form of a short film, this time. Some characters will come back but always with the same goal : say something interesting about cinema in an unexpected way. In the long term, the dream would be having more budget to pay the fantastic team working with me the price it deserves.
IMDB link for Outside Francisque :
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29001640/
Trailer :
https://youtu.be/-x8Vt5mdl4w
Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
Outside Francisque will make you meet Francisque Dudestin, "the greatest filmmaker of all times" (he likes to call himself like that, actually). When the film starts, it has been 2 years since Francisque has disappeared, after directing the highest-grossing film of French cinema. A journalist named Tom, unable to tell who Francisque was, decides to interview some people around him to know who he was and maybe... discover why he disappeared. Sometimes you will laugh, other times you will feel... kind of bad. But you will like its cool characters.
What are your ambitions with your project?
The overall ambition has always been the same since the first beginning : Outside Francisque is the basis for a long story that goes with several films and possibly a TV show. But for this specific film, it will be about asking the questions : what is art ? Something seriously done or a joke completely improvised? Is it possible to make the portrait of someone through different viewpoints?
Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
I keep very good memories about this shooting : that is thanks to a kind team that allowed us to laugh even during the hard times. But damn, I have to say it was pretty exhausting. We happened to shoot a feature film with 1% of the regular budget for this kind of projects. I wanted it to look like a real cinematic film so we spent nights fixing problems, expecting others ALL THIS during Covid. Just imagine having to shoot a scene without masks in the street during Covid. That's what we did, with tears and blood.
Why should distributors buy your film?
I will simply say that Outside Francisque introduces an entire cinematic universe, made with sincerity, made with endearing characters, that aims to be inspiring for all artists. It is kind of a love letter dedicated to cinema, art and Paris city of course (guys, between us, you will see a film that happens mostly in Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower, isn't that original?).
Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
I started my 8-year-old school year by doing an exercise with friends of the time. We had the beginning of a story and had to finish it. I can't explain why but I felt like I could give the teacher 1000 pages of what happens next. This is probably the day I realised I loved inventing and telling stories. I happened to watch a lot of films and tv shows in the beginning of High School, which made me consider it as an interesting form of expression. But maybe, in another world, I happened to be a game maker or novelist.
Which movies are your favorites? Why?
This one is always kind of hard because it tends to change through your life, depending on your mood, what you have been through, etc.. These last few years, I have to say I have been deeply impressed by "Bye Bye Morons" from French Director Albert Dupontel because of the true humanity and originality he brang in his characters. A heartbreaking masterpiece.
Next to "Bye Bye Morons", I was very influenced by "Man on the Moon" by Milos Foreman. In my opinion, it's Jim Carrey's best performance of his career, besides being a magnificent tribute to the acting job. Like "Outside Francisque" does, it also questions the nature of art itself, making the viewer both confused and entertained.
Which topics interest you the most?
The thing that I like the most in a film is when you have absolutely no idea where the director is leading you. That's why I would say it's not the topic that particularly interests me, it's the way the storytellers will manage the topic to surprise me, to make me reconsider what I first thought about this subject. I really like the French Director Quentin Dupieux because he does it in an excellent way.
What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
We live in a very unusual time in the history of cinema. Cinema suffers hard competition with streaming platforms. AI makes it easier and easier to tell stories. We are getting closer to a world where we don't need actors anymore. As an independent filmmaker, I just hope we will keep on listening to singular cinematic voices, in the respect of all workers of this wonderful industry.
What are the reactions to your film? (opinion of spectators, film critics, friends and family)
I have the chance of being surrounded by caring people who all have very interesting returns about it. The season of festivals has just begun. I'm still waiting for the returns of festivals and professionals but the first selections and prices make me confident about the reception.
What are your future plans in filmmaking carriere?
Last week I finished writing the next episode of the "Outside Francisque" series in the form of a short film, this time. Some characters will come back but always with the same goal : say something interesting about cinema in an unexpected way. In the long term, the dream would be having more budget to pay the fantastic team working with me the price it deserves.
IMDB link for Outside Francisque :
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29001640/
Trailer :
https://youtu.be/-x8Vt5mdl4w