Genevieve Chenneour On Judging LRFF, Complex Characters + Earning Her Stripes In Indie Film

Actor and London Rolling Film Festival jury member Genevieve Chenneour talks to The Fan Carpet about what makes a great film, the difference between major productions and independent filmmaking, finding her film people and why she isn’t chasing quick fame.

THE FAN CARPET: Genevieve, it’s wonderful to have you here at the London Rolling Film Festival. You’re on the jury, so what is it that you look for in a film?

GENEVIEVE CHENNEOUR: That’s such a big question. There isn’t one answer.

I love a film where you can see an incredible collaboration between the actor, the director, the cinematographer, the costume department and makeup, where you bring a character to life who is extremely complex and layered.

You begin the film fascinated by this person and you want to explore them for who they are.

I think that’s probably one of the most noticeable things I’ve learned about what makes a great film by watching all of these films.

THE FAN CARPET: You’re no stranger to bigger-budget productions — you’ve been in Bridgerton — but you also work in independent film. What are the differences between the two?

GENEVIEVE: They’re totally different experiences.

Ironically, I think I find independent film — I don’t want to say more fun, because they’re different types of fun — but independent film does tend to be more of a collaboration.

Massive productions tend to be more that you’re cast for a specific involvement, you do your job, and then you turn up to press and do all of that. And it’s amazing.

But I really want to earn my stripes in this industry. I’m not the type of person who wants quick fame. I don’t want to jump into a massive Hollywood movie.

I’d be happy doing another ten or fifteen independent films and then maybe getting a big Hollywood thing.

THE FAN CARPET: How does it feel to be at London Rolling this year?

GENEVIEVE: Amazing! Oh my gosh, it honestly is such a joy to be invited to this and to be part of it.

As an actor and as someone in the public eye, I love talking about film, and sometimes there isn’t really a space in society for that. Finding your film people is hard, but when you find film people, it’s like finding people that speak the same language as you.

Everybody here is super passionate about film, super passionate about creating, sharing stories and bringing dreams and ideas to life.

Their energy is so contagious, and it’s just a joy to be around.

THE FAN CARPET: So, what are you working on next that you can tell us about without getting yourself into trouble?

GENEVIEVE: I have some really exciting things lined up.

But the one thing I know about this industry is that until the money’s in your account and until the film is released, I’m very careful about talking about things.

You can do some amazing projects and they never see the light of day, and then you can do something where you just have a line and it ends up blowing up everywhere and everybody is talking about it.

So, yeah — I’ve got some nice things lined up.

THE FAN CARPET: Thank you so much, Genevieve. Enjoy the festival.