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Jeremy Thomas presents The Storms of Jeremy Thomas directed by Mark Cousins

Andrea Mora

After its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and Documentaires Sur, The Storms of Jeremy Thomas (2021) arrives at the 19th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM). Daniela Michel, founder and general director of FICM, and Alejandro Ramírez, president of the festival, were in charge of introducing producer and filmmaker Jeremy Thomas, who was present at Cinépolis Centro to answer questions from the audience.

Mark Cousins, the film's director, documented his road trip from London to Cannes alongside British producer Jeremy Thomas, traveling together for around 1000km. In it, both exchange experiences, anecdotes, and reflections about cinema and their views on it.

Jeremy Thomas lamented that Mark Cousins could not be at the festival, as he was unable to travel due to health issues. However, he highlighted the good relationship they both share and how the director allowed him to express his love for cinema, to which he has dedicated his entire life.

After the film was over, Thomas chatted with the audience. "It's very strange to see yourself on the screen," was his first comment. For the British producer, the film industry has changed dramatically, he still remembers very well being the only director for his first fifty flms, while in his most recent works, he has had to produce hand in hand with 50 other people.

As a producer, he knows that he must "transform money into light," he recognizes that making films is currently a difficult task but that one must continue working to bring people what they deserve to see.

If he has learned something throughout his long career, it's that you must like the people you work with. "Trust is the most important thing between colleagues. If there is trust, years of working relationships can be generated," he added.

Finally, he reiterated his love for the cinema: "All my life has been in the cinema, my love is the cinema." His answer to the question "What inspires you to create what you do as a producer?" was: "Everything around me inspires me, even my daily life that sometimes I hate. My taste is defined by my personal experiences, although like my life, my taste is something that has been in constant change."

Jeremy Thomas has had a long history at the Cannes Film Festival; in 1987 he was a member of the feature film jury and in 2004 he was president of the jury of Un Certain Regard.