Vincent Gonzalez-Pioli

Director of Mister Time / Monsieur le temps

Vincent Gonzalez-Pioli, also known by the pseudonym PIOLI, is a 36-year-old French singer-songwriter and filmmaker. In his works, he often addresses themes of nostalgia and the passage of time, expressing a moving sensitivity and poetry. PIOLI began learning music as a self-taught musician, then continued his training by joining a conservatory to perfect his technique, particularly in singing. With his overflowing imagination and passion for creating universes, PIOLI has become a complete and versatile artist, being both a musician, singer and filmmaker.

In 2020, PIOLI released his first album entitled "Monsieur le temps", a very personal and sensitive work. He directed the music video of the eponymous song in collaboration with his brothers in 2023, and won the Jury Award for Outstanding Work in Animation.

Your project has entered in our festival. What is your project about?
My film is a music video for the song "Monsieur le temps," which tells the emotional story of an old woman who decides to go back in time to see her deceased
husband again. It's a story that touches everyone because it talks about the loss of a loved one and the difficulty of coping with that loss.

What are your ambitions with your project?
My ambition with this project is to connect with the audience by telling a sincere and touching story. I want the viewers to feel the emotions of the song and the story and be transported by the animation.

Tell us something about your shooting? What pleasantly surprised you?
The video was made with my two brothers, Ludovic and Julien. We worked on the film for several months, conducting many tests and making constant changes to ensure that the final result would live up to our expectations. It was a big first for us in terms of using these animation techniques.
What pleasantly surprised me during filming was how we managed to create a true family collaboration. We worked together on every aspect of the project, helping each other and sharing our ideas. This created a very positive and inspiring atmosphere for the work.

For what group of spectators is your film targeted?
My film is aimed at a wide audience of all ages and backgrounds. The story is universal and can touch everyone, whether they have already experienced the loss of a loved one or are simply looking for a beautiful story to discover.

Why should distributors buy your film?
I believe that our film is sincere and touching, and that it was made with great attention to detail. Additionally, the family collaboration to create this project is unique and adds a special dimension to the story.

How would you specify your work? What characterizes your film?
I would characterize my work as authentic and passionate. I always work with sincerity and emotion. Furthermore, family collaboration is essential to me.

Why did you decided to become a filmmaker?
I decided to become a filmmaker because I love telling stories and conveying emotions. I love creating imaginary worlds and bringing characters to life, and I also love collaborating with other artists to create unique projects.

Who is your role model?
Director Hayao Miyazaki. I admire his ability to create imaginary worlds and complex, touching characters. I also admire his passion for nature and his commitment to environmental preservation, which shines through in his films. He is a source of inspiration for me.

Which movies are your favorites? Why?
My favorite films are those that tell emotional stories and transport the viewer to a different world. I love "Spirited Away" and "My Neighbor Totoro" for their overflowing imagination and their ability to touch the hearts of viewers. I also enjoy Terrence Malick's films, such as "The Tree of Life," for their visual beauty and exploration of spiritual themes.

Where do you look for inspiration for your films?
I find my inspiration in daily life, in the stories I read and hear, in nature, and in my own experiences. I think inspiration can come from anywhere; you just have to be open to the ideas and emotions around you.

Which topics interest you the most?
I am particularly interested in the themes of love and family because they are universal subjects that touch everyone. I also like to explore deeper themes, such as spirituality and human nature.

What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?
My greatest achievement in my career so far is having been able to realize this project with my brothers and create an emotional film that pays tribute to my grandparents. It is a project that is very dear to me, and I am proud of the final result.

What do you consider most important about filming?
The most important thing for me in making films is telling a sincere and touching story. I want to create characters that are authentic and resemble real people, with all their emotions and imperfections. I believe that it is by telling sincere stories that we can touch the hearts of viewers.

Which film technique of shooting do you consider the best?
I do not believe that there is one filming technique that is better than another; it depends on the project and the story you want to tell. For this particular project, we chose animation because we wanted to create an imaginary world and add a special dimension to the story.

How would you rate/What is your opinion about current filmmaking?
I believe that the film industry is constantly evolving, and this can be both exciting and challenging for filmmakers. There are more and more platforms and distribution channels for films, which can be beneficial for independent filmmakers. However, it can also be difficult to stand out in a sea of available movies.

What can disappoint you in a movie?
What can disappoint me in a film is when the characters are not authentic. I believe that emotion is the key to a good film, and if I am not moved or touched by the story, it can be disappointing.

Who supports you in your film career?
I am very grateful for the support of my family and close friends, who have all played an important role in the realization of this project.

Mister Time

An elderly woman grieving the loss of her beloved sets out to search for Mister Time in order to see him one last time.