University Montpellier 3 : “I did not know it, but I’m my camera”
Overview of my filmmaking efforts from 1997 to 2017, in relation to technological developments, and the making of a “mental” film.
In the framework of a study day entitled “Self-narrative: Tool and features of the” I “on screen, organized by Claire Chatelet and Julie Savelli (University Montpellier 3) Intervention:”I did not know, but I am my camera", here is the short presentation:
Visit of 20 years of autobiographical and autofictional productions of Benoît Labourdette (1997-2017), closely related to the new tools that gave birth to them: DV cameras, mobile phones, cameras, drones, virtual reality cameras. Machines manufacture us more than we manufacture machines. A diachronic perspective on the evolution of “audiovisual” in a work. Linked to workshop practices using these same tools.
I articulated this presentation, which was accompanied by excerpts of my films, in three stages:
- Philosophical inventory of what are and we make digital images today. How images make us more than we make them.
- Crossing my practice and my cinematographic experiments.
- Practice: collective realization of a mental film. The following pictures are the written reactions of a number of participants after “viewing” the film.
Listen to the speech and watch the movie “Plage de l’Espiguette”
Film “Plage de l’Espiguette” - bande son
« Je ne le savais pas, mais je suis ma caméra » - Enregistrement de l’intervention
Complete program of the day
Projection to the cinema Utopia Montpellier
- Rester là-bas (1992, 47’) de Dominique Cabrera (1992, 47 ’) (in the presence of the filmmaker).
- Visite ou Mémoires et Confessions (1982, 1h08) by Manoel de Oliveira (presented by Guillaume Bourgois).
Study Day at Montpellier University
- Welcome and presentation of the day by Claire Chatelet and Julie Savelli (RIRRA 21, Paul-Valéry University Montpellier 3).
- The newspaper filmed in video Meeting with the filmmaker Dominique Cabrera.
- In search of a personal expression: the enunciative devices of autobiographical films. Juliette Goursat (IRCAV, Sorbonne University, New Paris 3).
- Plurals like the universe (Pessoa, Oliveira, Rodrigues). Guillaume Bourgois (CINESTHEA, Grenoble-Alpes University).
- I did not know it, but I’m my camera. Benoît Labourdette, filmmaker, author, founder of the Pocket Films Festival.
- Self-filming and IO on the Internet: the feminine videoblog. Marida Di Crosta (MARGE, University Jean-Moulin Lyon 3).
- Techniques of self and digital technologies Bidhan Jacobs (Labex Arts-H2H, University Paris 8).
Portfolio
Video and audio recordings, documents, abstracts, of conferences that I run in different contexts.
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“Culture differently: postures and methods for tomorrow”
“L’expert du jeudi”: lecture by Benoît Labourdette for the Cultures du Cœur network (March 26, 2026).
On March 26, 2026, I gave a talk for the national network of Cultures du Cœur, as part of their “L’expert du jeudi” format, a regular (…) -
The Digital as Living Environment: Rethinking Cultural Practices in the Anthropocene Era
Presentation by Benoît Labourdette at the Graduate Schools Seminar “Imaginaries of the Anthropocene and New Contexts” (University of Burgundy, December 11, 2025).
On December 11, 2025, at the invitation of Alain Chenevez, Senior Lecturer (HDR) in Sociology at the University of Burgundy, I spoke alongside (…) -
Conference: “EAC and cultural rights: convergences to be identified and implemented”
Dans le cadre des Rencontres territoriales “Artistic and cultural education & Territorial cultural projects” (Foix, February 5, 2025).
How can cultural rights be a tool for better implementation of artistic and cultural education projects? And how we can identify convergences (…) -
Webinar “Audiovisual and the museum: from exhibition to mediation, including creation, ethnography and the web”.
JE-DIS de la FEMS 2025 #1
A richly illustrated webinar on the subject of audiovisuals in museums, from exhibition to mediation, including creation, ethnography and the web. (…) -
Artificial Intelligence and Creation” course for teachers
Podcast of a participatory conference by Benoît Labourdette.
Co-animation by Benoît Labourdette and Laura Schlenker (La fabrique média) of a one-day course for teachers on the theme of Artificial (…) -
“Involving young people in summer cultural projects: issues, avenues of work, proposals”
Webinar hosted by Benoît Labourdette (Thursday, March 21, 2024, 9am-10am).
“Young people” are the main target of summer cultural projects in towns, villages and suburbs. And yet, professionals in the cultural, educational (…) -
Digital technology, a tool for mediation and cultural democracy
Webinar on Monday, October 9, 2023 from 10am to 1pm.
Restitution of the “Digital Workshops” project by Cultures du Cœur and Benoît Labourdette Production, offered as part of the Été culturel program (…) -
“Creation - Interview#1 with Benoît Labourdette” by Carole Contant
Videoconference interview (1h13’, 2023).
Benoît Labourdette explains in a practical and conceptual way his methods for creation and the pedagogical framework, based on a commentary on an (…) -
TMNLab: “Digital technology is not a subject that deserves a position for or against...” - Benoît Labourdette
Podcast of the meeting with Benoît Labourdette at the TMNLab café on March 9, 2023 (1h08’).
At the invitation of Anne Le Gall, exchange with Benoît Labourdette on innovative and agile working methods for the cultural sector, thanks to (…) -
"Create your own film on the memory of the neighborhood in Villejuif
Presentation of the project by Benoît Labourdette to the Villejuif City Council on February 9, 2023 (5’53s).
On February 9, 2023, the “citizen hour” of the Villejuif (Val de Marne) city council was devoted to culture for all in the city. Several projects (…) -
“Smartphone, potential tool of the contemporary artist”
Round table organized by “accès)s(”, June 18, 2022.
Sharing thoughts on the smartphone as a creative tool. Round table proposed and moderated by Jean-Jacques Gayaccess)s( is a partner of the EMA (…) -
“Creative digital practices and critical thinking training”: conference by Benoît Labourdette
Atelier Canopé 86 - Poitiers. Study and training day “EAC at the service of the development of critical thinking”.
Participative conference to illustrate how the training of critical thinking can effectively pass by the means of artistic creation. To inaugurate (…) -
“Artistic creation and digital heritage”: conference by Benoît Labourdette
Bibliothèque Forney (Paris) on Thursday, April 28, 2022 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Free admission.
Awareness and responsibility in the present with regard to our digital heritage are the guarantee of the construction of our humanity.Human (…) -
“Territorial approach, participation, youth and digital technology”: interview of Benoît Labourdette by Serge Saada (52’, 2021)
Observatory of cultural mediation in the social field.
As part of the Observatory of cultural mediation in the social field, Serge Saada interviewed Benoît Labourdette on the impact of the (…) -
Travelling Rennes 2021: “Cinema and festivals in the age of containment: inspiring innovations”
Professional meeting led by Benoît Labourdette (duration: 1h35’).
How can we draw inspiration for the future of film exhibition from innovative projects carried out during the period of confinement in 2020? (…) -
Professional meeting “Public participation”: presentation by Benoît Labourdette
Interview of Benoît Labourdette by Jean-Yves de Lépinay (11’37s, 2020).
Sharing examples of audiovisual creation workshops conducted in the spirit of cultural rights: moving from “participation” to “interaction.” (…) -
“Cultural participation”: interview with Benoît Labourdette.
Interview with Benoît Labourdette (4’39s, 2020).
Video presentation of Benoît Labourdette’s approach to the democratic dimension of cultural action. -
Online training course: “Short film, digital and 21st Century: new media, new uses, new paths”.
43rd Grenoble Open Air Short Film Festival : film analysis course.
The Grenoble Open Air Short Film Festival always starts with a two-day course. For the 43rd edition of the festival in 2020, the workshop is (…) -
BnF: Pocket Films Empathy, as part of “Views on Serge Tisseron”
Short lecture by Benoît Labourdette (7’30s).
Public synthetic presentation of the “Pocket Films Empathy” approach (Serge Tisseron and Benoît Labourdette), by involving the spectators, so that (…) -
Nantes métropole: “Cultural and digital mediation in common” meeting
Animation by Benoît Labourdette of a day of sharing digital mediation tools for cultural and digital mediators in the city of Nantes. September (…) -
APSV: Conference “Potentialities of image education in the field of social action”
How filmmaking workshop practices, if conducted in the right way, can build strong social bonds. -
Digital culture meetings: round table “VR, digital and education”.
Discovery of educational experiences using Virtual Reality, either as a tool or as an object for building critical thinking skills.Round table (…) -
Observatory of Cultural Policies: “The challenge of mediation is not in the tool, but in the use”.
Video interview of Benoît Labourdette by the Observatory of cultural policies (3’52s, 2019).
Video interview of Benoît Labourdette: why and how to conduct cultural mediations for the younger generations in the digital age.Directed by (…) -
Observatory of cultural policies: “Images are like words for today’s young people”
Video interview of Benoît Labourdette by the Observatory of cultural policies (5’, 2019).
Video interview with Benoît Labourdette: state of play of image practices and young people’s needs in terms of image education.Director: (…) -
Colloquium ENS Louis Lumière: forms, experiences and devices: audiovisual production in the face of “immersive” technologies
Dialogue on creation in virtual reality with Benoît Labourdette (filmmaker and producer, BL Prod) and Teddy Aymard (producer, Le bureau des (…) -
Image Forum: conference “When digital creation enhances self-esteem”.
Active conference to equip social actors with digital skills to work on self-esteem with adolescents. Exchange of experiences and practices, and (…) -
MJC Dole: “Image Education: Popular Education for the 21st Century?”
Lecture by Benoît Labourdette for proposals for philosophical and practical tools of thought on the challenges of digital and images. The aim is (…) -
Growing up with culture : “The contribution of digital technology in cultural mediation”
Conference by Benoît Labourdette about cultural mediation with digital tools, on the example of the travelling projections within the framework of (…) -
House of the image, Appointments of the image #6: “Intimacy, images, social networks. Existing and living together in the digital age”
Training day and co-construction of educational tools to work on self-image, designed in collaboration between theMaison de l’image (Noémie Rubat (…) -
Newimages Festival: “Education and immersive images” (round table)
Focus on a Virtual Reality experiment conducted at the Fémis by Benoît Labourdette. As part of a round table presentation of various experiences (…) -
Symposium : Attention, machine! Artistic Practices and Media Recycling
Communication by Benoît Labourdette to listen (25 minutes) on the stage use of live contributions from unknown users. As part of the symposium (…) -
Ciné Lab # 6: “New usages, digital cultures. What (R) evolution for cinemas?”
Day of reflection and common development of innovative projects, for cinema operators and mediators.The ACRIRA and the GRAC (Rhône Alpes (…) -
IPM PACA: “Creative potentialities and conquest of new audiences with digital”
Conference on the creative potential and the conquest of new audiences that digital allows, in the context of the launch of the call for projects (…) -
University Montpellier 3 : “I did not know it, but I’m my camera”
Overview of my filmmaking efforts from 1997 to 2017, in relation to technological developments, and the making of a “mental” film.In the (…) -
OFF Film Festival : meeting about voice-over and collective film production
As part of the OFF Film Festival of autobiographical film in Olonne-sur-mer, on November 20, 2016, I suggested a thought and animated a moment of (…) -
Pôle Image Franche Comté : “New digital tools and image pedagogy”
Conference by Benoît Labourdette in video on the theme “New digital tools and image pedagogy”. Duration: 1h. Pôle Image Franche Comté. March 2016, (…) -
National Meeting of coordinators School and Cinema: “Image education 2.0”
Benoît Labourdette Conference and workshop on the development of image educational practices in the digital era.Each year the association (…) -
Etats Généraux du Film Documentaire : “The mutations of cinema”
Anthropologies of cinematographic devices, by Jean-Louis Comolli, Benoît Labourdette and Vincent Sorrel.The Etats Généraux du Film Documentaire (…) -
Gaîté Lyrique : UAV images
Conference on artistic creation with drones. UAV ImagesConference-debate in the auditorium of the Gaite LyriqueThursday, July 9, 2015, at (…) -
MOOC Digital Media Paris : “Image and Mobility”
The MOOC of the city of Paris on digital media, with Benoît Labourdette.The City of Paris launched “MOOC Digital Media Paris”, of which I am (…) -
Swiss Foundation: “Are you connected?”- Evening / workshop Mobile Film Festival
The Swiss Foundation at the Cité Universitaire in Paris (France), proposes, run by students, regular screenings of films.February 12, 2015 (…) -
Wave Length Festival : “Drones listening” (masterclass and performance)
The drone as a tool for sound creation.The Wave Length Festival 12th Festival of the radio and listening (Brest - France), invited me as part (…) -
Autumn Festival in Normandy Hybridations # 2 - New creative ways (web conference)
Roundtable / lectures on the issues of creation in the digital age.Rouen, 2 December 2014. I participated in the roundtable / lectures as an (…) -
Paul Valéry University (Montpellier - France) : “Drone-camera, deportation of the gaze” (conference)
Filming with a drone singularly change the view of the world, and perhaps the film writing, in political and sensitive aspects.As part of the (…) -
Ramdam Festival: conference and realization of a collective film
The 4th edition of the Ramdam Festival (festival of the disturbing movies), that was held in Tournai Belgium in January 2014, invited me to (…) -
Gaîté Lyrique : mobility and creation seminar
Benoît Labourdette’s conference (full video) : “The mobile audiovisual creativity: challenges and opportunities.” (36 minutes)Introduction of (…) -
Rencontres photographiques d’Arles : “Pedagogy of the digital image” (conference)
Podcast of the conference.
Development of practical and creative thinking in the pedagogy of images, with digital photography.July 8, 2013, invited by Jean-Yves Moirin (…) -
French Institute: “Training for new digital challenges”
Benoît Labourdette’s lecture on the benefits of cultural initiatives with pocket cameras.In May 2012, the Institut français proposed 3 days of (…) -
“Cinema and video games”: three lectures by Benoît Labourdette.
Within the framework of the university of the cinema of Ciclic.
These lectures examine the relationship between the worlds of film and video games. Parallel histories, crossings, reciprocal inspirations and (…) -
Figra : “Digital writing and publishing”
Participation in a meeting on the issues of digital writing. Sharing of approaches and creations.TheFIGRA (International Festival of Great (…) -
9th Forum of the look: “What is digital ?: The stakes of the new screens”
Animation of a conference by Benoît Labourdette on the issues of the new screens, October 8, 2010.“What is digital ? : The stakes of new (…) -
INA, iconic college : “Mobile phone is it the future of cinema?” (conference)
March 10, 2010, invited by Serge Tisseron, I made a speech at iconic College INA, on the theme “The mobile phone is it the future of cinema?”. (…) -
Moulin d’Andé-Ceci : day about “New broadcasters, new creations, new economy?”
Participation in a roundtable on innovation in dissemination approaches.The Moulin d’Andé, “Center of cultural meetings”, is a place of poetry, (…)
See also
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Interlacing magazine: “The mental film”
Articles
From the point of view of perception, a film is only an illusion formed by our brain from visual and auditory stimuli. Images seen can produce (…) -
Break A film by Benoît Labourdette (3’36, 2012).
“Break”, this time of the working day in which humans are placed in a non-productive state finally. -
Montpellier III University : Transmedia strategies, encoding and creativity Trainings for new media
5 day course : technical basis, strategy and creativity for new media.The students of the “Licence Pro audiovisual designer director” (…) -
Symposium’s program Mobile Creation Symposium
Thursday, June 14, 2012 8:30-9am / Introduction : Laurent Creton, Roger Odin, Laurence Allard Benoit LabourdetteMobile, Writing and mNovel (Chair: (…) -
H building A film by Benoît Labourdette (7’03s, 2012).
The metaphor for the journey of life of a human being through a visual journey “kaleidoscopic” in a building.
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