By: Morning Films
In a standout moment at this year’s Young Director Awards in Cannes, Olive, the latest short film from French filmmaker Tom Koch, received the prestigious Silver Screen Award. A delicate and intimate work about memory, love, and loss, the film has begun to generate buzz on the international circuit.
Koch, who grew up in the South of France, trained in New York as both an actor and director. His creative work is rooted in personal experiences; “stories based on true events, with a twist,” says Koch, who wrote, directed, and stars in the project. Olive is his second film under his New York production company Mes Films en Couleur, known for stories named after colors; each carrying its own emotional tone and aesthetic identity. His first film, Orange, earned an honorable mention at the Hollywood New Directors 2024. With Olive, Koch delivers something even more personal and emotionally layered, mixing French and American Cinema.
“It started with questions I had about my grandmother, and became something completely different in the writing process,” says Koch. “I wasn’t trying to show Alzheimer’s. I was trying to capture how it feels to experience it.”
Set in a quiet Manhattan home, Olive follows Sam, an aging man suffering from Alzheimer’s, whose perception of reality shifts as his brain conjures a gentler, younger version of the truth. Told through a fragmented, almost dreamlike lens, the film walks the fine line between tenderness and tragedy.
A Team of Heavy Hitters
The cast includes Lesley Ann Warren, the Academy Award-nominated and five-time Golden Globe-nominated actress known for Victor/Victoria, Clue, and Desperate Housewives; Marie-Louise Boisnier, recently seen in Popeye: The Slayer Man; Jeffrey Farber (Manifest, Gotham); and Tomas Doncker, a celebrated blues artist and performer.
Behind the camera, Koch assembled a remarkably talented team:
- Astrid Lark, lead producer
- Andrew Carlberg, executive producer (Oscar winner for Skin, 2018)
- Mustafa Kaymak, consulting producer (Sundance winner for Green, 2018)
- Anthony James Faure, producer
- Hillary Carrigan, editor (Babygirl, Marriage Story)
- Guillermo Cameo, director of photography
The team’s collaborative chemistry is evident in every frame. Much of the film was shot statically, giving it a painting-like texture — a visual language that mirrors Sam’s emotional stillness.
The textured production design and visual tone have already drawn notable comparisons to films like The Father and Still Alice; yet Olive maintains its unique identity. There’s a quiet restraint to the way the film unfolds — a confidence in atmosphere over exposition, and a willingness to let silence speak louder than dialogue, even though the sharp edit invites you to experience Sam’s troubled world.
The YDA: A Launchpad for Visionaries
The Young Director Award, held each year alongside the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, has become one of the most influential showcases for emerging filmmakers. Last year’s Gold Screen winner, I’m Not a Robot by Victoria Wamerdam, went on to receive the Oscar for Best Live Action Short. The recognition serves as more than symbolic; it can be a career accelerator.
“The YDA has a reputation for spotting tomorrow’s visionaries,” says Producer Astrid Lark. “Being recognized there — it means something.”
A Story Seen Through a Different Light
At the heart of Olive is the idea that memory can be both a betrayal and a gift. Sam’s mind reshapes the past to protect him from the sharpness of the present. In doing so, the film blurs the lines between caregiver and cared-for, truth and tenderness. It’s a story that invites the viewer to question what new love looks like when memories disappear. Koch credits much of the film’s emotional weight to the performances: “Lesley brought a depth to the role that felt profound, like she was holding a whole life behind her eyes.”
Tom Koch’s vision is tender and cinematic. With Olive, he demonstrates that deeply personal storytelling can resonate universally. Koch is already at work on his next project, Golden, a nocturnal character study set in New York’s underground fight scene, offering something grittier, raw, and more electric.
Want to learn more? Visit MES FILMS EN COULEUR
Or follow @mesfilmsencouleur and @olivethefilm
