Jean-Marc Thérouanne, Artistic Director and co-founder of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

The formal re-entry session of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques (ASMP) was held under the dome of the Institut de France on 18 November 2024, chaired by Mr Bruno Cotte, Member of the Council of the National Order of the Legion of Honour and in the presence of Mr Bernard Stirn, Permanent Secretary. 

During this ceremony, the academician Jean-Robert Pitte, vice president, emeritus professor of geography, co-chair, with the Minister of Culture of Taiwan Mr Li Yuan, of the jury of the Fondation culturelle franco-Taiwanaise, presented the award of the 2024 France-Taiwan to Jean-Marcand  Thérouanne for his contribution to cultural exchanges between Europe and Taiwan: “The jury was impressed by the quality of your work for so long. Bravo!”

This prestigious award is given to a cultural intermediary who has devoted his entire life to the knowledge and mutual recognition of Asia and Europe in general, and Taiwan and France in particular, through film culture. 

“I thank you for judging my work, not by the place where I do it (Vesoul) but by its quality. 

I spend my life giving confidence to my students suffering from the look of others because they are Hauts-Saônois. I like to tell them with humor that the center of the world is everywhere since the earth is round, and that Vesoul is geo-politically at the center of Europe. I often tell them to think about aiming at international, it will recognize them more easily than national and even much easier than regional. I am very moved and honoured to be rewarded by you in this high place of French intelligence, the Institut de France.”

Jean-Marc Thérouanne holds a law degree, a master’s degree in history and the CAPES diploma of documentary teacher. 

He is the general delegate and co-founder of the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, created in 1995 to celebrate the centenary of cinema, and a documentary teacher. 

His commitment has already earned him, in France, to be promoted Officier des Palmes académiques (2018) (Chevalier 2007), named Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (2003), to receive the medal of the Oriental Languages (2005), the medal of the Francophonie (2009), the Medal of Honor of the city of Vesoul (2014).

Abroad, he has been awarded the Korean Cinema Award (2018), the France-Korea Trophy (2016), the France-Korea Cultural Award (2011), the Republic of Mongolia Art Film Medal (2018), the Golden Man of Issyk, Honorary Cinema Award of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2023), ... 

He produced “If God Feels His Angel” by K.M. Lo (Cambodia) as part of the Open Doors project Locarno 2004, and co-produced with Bophana Center, “Where I Go” by Neang Kavich (Cambodia) in 2013. 

He is a correspondent for several Webmagazines (Cinealliance.fr, Asianmoviepulse.com, Netpacasia.org,...).

He has been a member of the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia-Pacific Cinema) since 2003.

He was jury president at the Silk Road International Film Festival in Xi'an 2014 (China), at the Art Film Festival in Kosice 2017 (Slovakia), at Fenêtre sur Courts in Dijon 2010 (France), at the Danang Asian Film Festival 2024 (Vietnam), or member of international juries in France and abroad: Chungmuro International Film Festival in Seoul 2009 (Korea), Osian'Cinefan Festival in New Delhi 2009 (India), Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in Manila 2011 (Philippines), Golden Tulip Film Festival of Dushanbe 2019 (Tajikistan), Tashkent International Film Festival Pearl of the Silk Road 2022 (Uzbekistan), ...

The ASMP’s formal re-entry session was divided into three parts: 

At 1.30 p.m., in the Great Chamber of Sessions, the presentation of diplomas and medals to the laureates took place in accordance with one of the missions which the Nation entrusted in 1795 to the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques by the law of 3 Brumaire an IV founder of the Institut de France: « to follow scientific and literary works which will have as their object the general utility and glory of the Republic ». 

The awards she gives are part of her diverse skills - philosophy, history, political science, law, economics, sociology, geography, psychology,... - and illustrate the values that his actions carry. 

At 3:00 p.m., the Chorale de l'Ecole polytechnique performs the «final of the cantata 147» by Bach.

Mr Bruno Cotte, president of the Académie, delivers a speech “Regards sur la Justice”, followed by a musical interlude “Ode à Vaneau”, anthem of the X, in tribute to Louis Vaneau, student of the Ecole polytechnique, died at the age of 19 in combat alongside the insurgents of the July 1930 Revolution known as the Three Glorious. 

Mr Jean-Robert Pitte, Vice-President of the Académie, gives a reading of the list of awards and medals for 2024.

The X-Chorus offers a new musical interlude by performing Mozart’s «Kyrie of the Mass of the Coronation». 

Mr Bernard Stirn, permanent secretary of the Académie, invites participants to listen to his speech «Elections et vie démocratique» and then to attend the reception in the salons of the Palais de l'Institut de France.

The Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques formal session is a moment of intense emotion, beauty, intelligence, sharing and fraternity.