Jean-Baptiste Durand

Jean-Baptiste Durand, born in Antibes back in '85—yeah, on the French Riviera, not too shabby—has been carving out his own little corner in the world of film. He’s not just your run-of-the-mill actor who strolls onto set, nails a few lines, and bounces. Nah, the guy’s a director, too, juggling both sides of the camera like he’s got a point to prove. And honestly, judging by his work, he kinda does. So, let’s talk about some of his standouts. First up, “Junkyard Dog” from 2023—if you missed it, you probably heard someone raving about it at a bar or on film Twitter. There’s this gritty, raw energy to it, like Durand just cracked open the underbelly of small-town life and let the mess spill out. He’s got a knack for zeroing in on characters who are rough around the edges, sometimes even a little lost, but always real. Before that, in 2021, he put out “Vrai gars.” The title gives away a bit—“Real Guys”—but it’s not some cheesy bromance. It digs into friendship, masculinity, the kind of stuff you don’t usually see handled with actual heart or humor. And then there’s “Il venait de Roumanie” from 2014, where Durand showed he could take on stories about outsiders and make them hit home. What’s wild is how he brings this almost documentary-like feel to his projects. Nothing feels staged or phony. There’s grit, there’s weird beauty, and there’s this sense that Durand’s not interested in glossing over life’s uglier bits. He’s one of those filmmakers who doesn’t just want to entertain—he wants you to feel something, maybe even squirm a little. And honestly? That’s what makes his stuff stick with you.