It was with great honour that Sabzian and Bozar welcomed the incomparable French actress Isabelle Huppert to Brussels for the State of Cinema 2025, on Sunday 9 November 2025. Every year, Sabzian asks a guest to write a State of Cinema, and to choose a film that connects to it. This way, once a year, the art of film is held against the light, an invitation to reflect on what cinema means, could or should mean today. Huppert chose Fallen Leaves (2023) by Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki to accompany her State of Cinema address. The screening was followed by a conversation between Isabelle Huppert and film critic Jean-Michel Frodon. The two had previously engaged in an exchange that resulted in a text – the State of Cinema 2025 – which is available on Sabzian in French as well as in Dutch and English translation. Taking this text as their point of departure, they continued their dialogue at Bozar. The video above contains an audio recording of that conversation.

Photos: © Marin Driguez