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Pierre Boulle was a French novelist best known for two works, The Bridge over the River Kwai (1952) and Planet of the Apes (1963), that were both made into award-winning films.

He was an engineer serving as a secret agent with the Free French in Singapore, when he was captured and subjected to two years' forced labor. He used these experiences in The Bridge over the River Kwai, about the notorious Death Railway, which became an international bestseller. David Lean made the book into a motion picture that won seven 1957 Oscars, including the Best Picture, and Best Actor for Alec Guinness. Boulle himself won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay despite not having written the screenplay and, by his own admission, not even speaking English. Boulle had been credited with the screenplay because the film's actual screenwriters, Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson, had been blacklisted as communist sympathizers. The Motion Picture Academy added Foreman's and Wilson's names to the award in 1984.

In 1963, following several other reasonably successful novels, Boulle published his other famous novel, Planet of the Apes. In 1968 the book was made into an Oscar-winning film, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston. The screenplay, originally written by Rod Serling, focused more on action and deviated in many ways from the novel, including the addition of its own classic twist ending that was different from the novel's. It inspired four sequels, a television series, an animated series, a 2001 remake of the original title by Tim Burton, a 2011 reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, followed by the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).

Boulle died in Paris, France on 30 January 1994, at age 81.

Antoine Saint-John was born on 11 August 1940 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was an actor, known for Duck, You Sucker! (1971), The Beyond (1981) and My Name Is Nobody (1973). He died on 7 February 1990 in Sartrouville, Yvelines, France.

From the beginning, Mireille Mathieu was born to be a singer. As she herself would say, her professional career, which begain on November 21, 1965, has for over 40 years been "a fairy tale come true." Born in Avignon the eldest daughter of Marcelle and Roger Mathieu's 14 children, Mireille gave her first public performance when she was 4 years old at Midnight Mass! Her father, a stonecutter for the cemetery, had also dreamed of singing with his tenor voice. As a child, Mireille saved her pay for her factory job so she could pay for singing lessons. Voice instructor Laure Collière accepted Mireille as a student. In her biography "Mon Credo", during a time of distress she asked "that God please create a miracle" for her to arise from poverty. In the early '60s, French pop vocalist Johnny Hallyday's manager Johnny Stark noticed Mireille's enchanting vocal beauty when she appeared on the TV show "Jeu de la Chance" and won first place. The American impresario later mentored her when she signed a contract with him. With lots of hard work and many nights when she was only able to sleep for four hours and she needed to do a concert, Mireille performed brilliantly and was on her way to success. She was quickly hailed as the next Édith Piaf and her 1965 performance run at the Paris Olympia sparked her recording relationship with Barclay Records, where her first album sold over 1 million copies in a very short time! With much stamina, Mireille forged ahead to make her career in France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and the rest of the world. In 1974 she won the German "Bambi" Music Award, which is equivalent to the American Grammy Award.

In 1997, Mireille was nominated and given the "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite et des Arts et des Lettres" and decorated with "The Legion of Honor" for her service to the Nation of France." Of her reception by Pope John Paul II, His Holiness has said, "She is the singer of love and peace." For me, Mireille is "un cadeau d' un Dieu" as her last name literally translates.

Fanny Carbonnel is a French-born actress who began acting as a teenager. After attending a Parisian acting class, she moved to London for 3 years and took more classes in the English capital. She can be seen in J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) as the mother of Porpentina and Queenie Goldstein, and in different both English and French-speaking films and TV series.

Bruno Raffaelli was born on 4 January 1950 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He is an actor, known for The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024), Emmenez-moi au théâtre (1982) and La peste (2024).

Andrée Damant was born on 20 September 1929 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She was an actress, known for Amélie (2001), Tell No One (2006) and La haine (1995). She died on 6 December 2022 in Paris, France.

Loïc Corbery was born on 9 June 1976 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He is an actor, known for Pas son genre (2014), Footnotes (2016) and Un et un font six (1997).

Roselyne-Rose Bosch was born in Avignon to a Catalan father and an Italian/French mother. Her father, who fled the franquist regime, transmits his passion for History - every Sunday, the main square of the Provençal city fills up with book traders. Every summer, the city of Avignon houses the largest European Theater Festival. Rose Bosch studies semiology in Aix-en-Provence, then moves on.

She works for Le Point magazine in Paris (equivalent to Tima Magazine), as senior writer and a reporter, covering subjects such as portraits of Stephen Hawking, Basque terrorism, baby smuggling in Sri Lanka, famine in Nordeste Brasil... In 1991, she is finalist to the Albert Londres prize, equivalent to the Pulitzer.

In 1990, while working on a subject in Seville, she discovers Columbus' correspondence. Her first spec screenplay, « 1492, Conquest of Paradise », will be directed by Ridley Scott, staring Gerard Depardieu. The film is released on October 12, 1992, to match the 500th anniversary. In France, it is distributed by Gaumont, a company which remains to this date partners with Bosch and Ilan Alain Goldman, who created « Legende Films » for the occasion. Caravels are built in Bristol England, cross the Atlantic and the Panama Canal, to their film location in Costa Rica. A 14th century city set is recreated in the jungle. In Spain, R.Scott shoots in Seville and Salamanca, where Columbus lived. The film is entirely financed independently.

In the late 90's, Ilan-Alain Goldman and Bosch get married. Their twin sons are born in 2000. While Legende continues to produce films both in French and in English language (Crimson Rivers, Vatel, Casino, La Vie en Rose), Bosch continues to write.

Animal released in 2006, is Bosch's directing debut. The film, shot in English with a British cast (Ed Stoppard, Andreas Wilson...) deals with the biochemistry of aggressiveness.

In 2009, Bosch and Goldman launch a long time project, The Round Up, about the largest European round up of Jews in WWII. (13 000 people in less than 48 hours, including 5000 children). The film focuses especially on them and is historically accurate to the smallest facts.

A surprise hit at the box office, with 3 millions admissions, The Round Up tops films like Schindler's List or The Pianist at the French box office, and triggers a nationwide political debate about French collaboration. The CNC, (Center for French Cinematography) awarded Bosch with Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Melanie Laurent plays « Annette Monnot », a real life medical nurse who tried to protect the Jewish children before their deportation to Auschwitz. Jean Reno plays one of the three doctors working in the Velodrome. Adèle Exarchopoulos, then a debutante of 15, plays « Anna » Traube, real life survivor, (now 90) whom the young actress meets in Montmartre on the set. Cast also includes Gad El Maleh, Sylvie Testud, and Anne Brochet. Twin boys age 5 at the time, share the role of « Nono », Melanie Laurent's protégé.

One quarter of the real Velodrome is rebuilt in Hungary by the late Olivier Raoux (« La Vie en Rose »).

In 2014, Rose Bosch films a comedy, « My Summer In Provence » to be released in the States in 2015. The film who tells of her childhood in Provence. It is her second collaboration with Jean Reno. Cast also includes a deaf actor age 7, Lukas Pélissier, who plays Reno's grandson.

Bosch is presently working on two English language projects.

Christophe Bousquet was born in 1966 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He is an editor, known for Bacurau (2019), Stranger by the Lake (2013) and Love Songs (2007).

Fernand Sardou was born on 18 September 1910 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Rififi (1955), Manon des sources (1952) and Jamais deux sans trois (1951). He was married to Jackie Sardou. He died on 31 January 1976 in Toulon, Var, France.

Caroline Cartier was born on 7 December 1948 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She was an actress, known for La trêve (1968), Near Orouet (1971) and Le temps de vivre... le temps d'aimer (1973). She died on 8 August 1991 in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.

Audigier grew up in poor and socially disadvantaged circumstances. He finished school without a qualification. He made his first steps in the fashion world as a salesman and later as a jeans designer. After initial economic success, he worked for several major labels such as Diesel, Lee and Levi's from the mid-1970s, after which he settled in Los Angeles, USA. In 1999 he became chief designer for Von Dutch. Within just a few years, the company became a globally operating fashion brand. He set a fashion trend, especially with the so-called Von Dutch baseball caps, actually trucker hats. The caps alone generated sales of $260 million. The biker brand also received a lot of media attention thanks to prominent wearers such as Madonna, Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton. In addition, Christian Audigier concentrated on his own fashion line.

Meanwhile, the American tattoo artist and fashion designer Donald Ed Hardy founded the fashion label Ed Hardy in 2002, which was licensed by the Christian Audigier label in 2004. Inspired by white trash and rock'n'roll fashion, Christian Audigier created unusual and colorful designs with a vintage look. He combined these with tattoo motifs from the workshop of Donald Ed Hardy, who had since retired. The Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier label became one of the most successful fashion brands of the decade. The casual to provocative style brought him buyers in all age groups. In 2008, Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier had annual sales of $300 million. Audigier's other projects included Smet in collaboration with Johnny Hallyday, his daughter Crystal's Crystal Rock label and the Christian Audigier label. In addition, accessories such as sunglasses, bags, bed linen, perfume and energy drinks were also released from the Ed Hardy series.

Christian Audigier died on July 9, 2015 at the age of 57 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Naima Belkhiati was born on 4 December 1973 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She is an actress and composer, known for Alien Autopsy (2006), Heroes and Villains (2006) and The Petersburg-Cannes Express (2003).

Jean-Charles Chagachbanian was born on 26 January 1972 in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, France. He is an actor, known for Plus belle la vie (2004), Aram (2002) and P.J. (1997).

Buxom, fetching and shapely brunette Maria McBane was born on February 8, 1946 in Bilboa, Spain. She's of Basque ancestry and grew up in Spain and Cuba. McBane moved to America as an adult. Maria was the Playmate of the Month in the May, 1965 issue of "Playboy;" she falsely claimed in her Playmate biography that she was born in Avignon, France and was of mixed French and Irish descent. McBane's sole foray into film acting was a minor part in the car race opus "Fireball 500." Maria eventually moved to Hawaii. She owned and operated the restaurant Huevos from 1984 to 1994. Moreover, Maria worked as a human resource manager for HMAA medical insurance group and as a real estate agent for the Hawaii Association of Realtors. She ran for the Hawaiian legislature in 1996. Maria McBane lives in Kahuku, Hawaii and works as the resident manager for Kuilima Estates East Condos.

Sandrine Veysset was born on 29 March 1967 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She is a director and writer, known for Will It Snow for Christmas? (1996), Victor... pendant qu'il est trop tard (1998) and Martha... Martha (2001).

Antonin Berval was born on 12 September 1891 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was an actor, known for Quartier sans soleil (1939), Notre-Dame d'amour (1936) and Beauty Cult (1930). He died on 14 October 1966 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France.

Roger Joubert was born on 29 January 1929 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was an actor and composer, known for Moi et l'autre (1966), Quatuor (1956) and D'Iberville (1967). He was married to Johanne Fontaine. He died on 2 October 2010 in Lorraine, Quebec, Canada.

Frédéric Millet was born on 7 January 1983 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He is an assistant director, known for Inception (2010), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014) and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).

Bernard Kouchner was born on 1 November 1939 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He is a writer and producer, known for Médecins de nuit (1978), Hôtel de police (1985) and Médecins des hommes (1988). He has been married to Christine Ockrent since 1982. They have one child.

Henri Bosco was born on 16 November 1888 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was a writer and actor, known for L'âne Culotte (1967), Un siècle d'écrivains (1995) and L'enfant et la rivière (1981). He died on 4 May 1976 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France.

Mazarine Pingeot was born on 18 December 1974 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She is a writer and actress, known for Caché (2005), After Love (2016) and 49 Jours. She is married to Mohamed Ulad-Mohand. They have two children.

Olivier Messiaen was born on 10 December 1908 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. He was a composer and writer, known for The Revenant (2015), The Favourite (2018) and The Dinner (2017). He was married to Yvonne Loriod and Claire Delbos. He died on 27 April 1992 in Paris, France.

Emma Daumas was born on 23 November 1983 in Avignon, Vaucluse, France. She is a writer, known for Mr. Putifar's Wacky Plan (2023), Star academy: on s'était dit rendez-vous dans 20 ans (2021) and La chanson de l'année (2004).

Half French, Half American from the South Of France, Christine started her career as a Model Agent in New York city at the age of twenty years old. After many years working as an agent between France and New York, she took a break from the Fashion Industry to travel South America, Asia and the US while working on the production side of movies and TV series, helping first time directors accomplish their dreams. She talked at Columbia University and was jury for short films at LHFF. She learned Kung Fu at The Shaolin Temple in China and lived in Hong Kong while leaning about the Asian movie and fashion market. She then signed as a Director and Photographer's agent for a Worldwide Agency for years until she got a job as a Creative Producer in Korea and finally moved to Tokyo. She went back to Paris and worked as a model/talent Agent and manager which brought her later to becoming a Talent Manager in New York City - she continues working on movie production and documentary creation/production on the side.