Yann Le Masson

France

Yann Le Masson was born in Brest on June 27, 1930. The son of a naval officer, he spent his youth in various ports (Brest, Vannes, Toulon, Dakar). He studied mathematics and electrical engineering, then entered the Louis Lumière Film School (1953) and finally the IDHEC (diploma as director of photography for short films, 1955).

Mobilized for the Algerian war, he served as a parachute officer from August 1955 to April 1958. Traumatized by the conflict, he decided to use cinema to fight against colonial wars (J'ai huit ans, 1962) and to help the FLN. A militant filmmaker, he made a dozen documentaries, including Sucre amer (1963), Kashima Paradise (1971, co-directed with Bénédicte Deswarte) and Regarde, elle a les yeux grand ouverts (1980).

At the same time, he pursued a career as a renowned operator and cinematographer (1955-1993). In 1975, he joined Le Grain de sable, a militant production group, and helped take over the Cinéma Saint-Séverin, Paris 5e (1980-1984). In 1980, he became a professional river transporter in Europe on the boat Nistader to prepare a film (Déchirage). When he ceased his activity in 1993, his barge, moored in Avignon, remained his main home. He also taught cinema at INA and IDHEC (1977-79); ESAV (Toulouse), ESRA (Nice) and EICTV (Cuba) (1992-2002).

He passed away on January 20, 2012.