Humbert Balsan

Humbert Balsan ( born August 21, 1954 in Arcachon, † 10 February 2005 in Paris) was a French film producer, Vice Chairman of the Board of the French Cinematheque and Vice- President of the European Film Awards.

The trained actor moved to some smaller roles the subject and created since the late 1970s a reputation as a producer. Balsan has discovered and promoted a number of French filmmakers. Among his recent successes included the film " Divine Intervention " by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, who was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Festival 2002.

Balsan was in previous years ( most recently in 2003 ) a judge of the Berlinale, which in his memory a special screening of his film on February 14 "Is there snow for Christmas? " (Directed by Sandrine Veysset ) ansetzte. The head of the Film Festival of Cannes, Gilles Jacob, known publicly: "We have lost a brother. " He produced more than 60 films. He has worked with directors such as Youssef Chahine, Elia Suleiman, Gilles Portes and Yolande Moreau.

He killed himself on the evening of 10 February 2005 at his Paris office himself by hanging. His severe depression, which accounted for the cause, he had not publicly let on. According to the obituary of the Paris newspaper Libération he had ongoing film projects with Claire Denis, Béla Tarr, Francis Girod and put almost to the last full of plans.

Lars von Trier dedicated to him his feature film Manderlay. The feature film Father of My Children (French: Le père de mes enfants ) reconstructed with altered names and biographical details of the weeks before and after Balsan's suicide.