Not many people become icons in their own lifetime. Carine Roitfeld has in the fashion world. When the movie Mademoiselle C opens, we’ll get an insider look as she launches her new magazine “CR Fashion Book” after running French Vogue for 10 years. Directed by Fabien Constant, the movie gets a fresh look at both her professional and personal life. The film opens in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas on September 11th and stars not only Roitfeld, but a slew of fashion favorites including Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker, Donatella Versace, Kate Upton, and Diane von Furstenberg. We caught up with French Director Fabien Constant to get an even closer look at the film, the access he had with Roitfeld and how she inspires him.

FACTIO MAGAZINE: How did you first get the idea to do a film around iconic editor Carine Roitfeld?
Fabien Constant: I’ve been around Carine for many years now, but I wanted a story to tell and suddenly she told me that she was moving to NY to create her own magazine. I knew she was also working with Karl Lagerfeld on a book and exhibition project. I knew her daughter Julia was pregnant…it was more than a perfect time. It was the ideal time to have a glimpse of both her professional and personal life changing together.

FM: Tell us about the access you had into Roitfeld’s professional and personal life.
FC: Carine gave me complete access, and she didn’t lie. There is absolutely no moment, no time during the shooting when she has said to me, I wouldn’t want you to come. She gave me her full trust and, as she said, as much freedom as she would want when she does her pictures. And she did.

FM: How does she inspire you?
FC: Carine is inspiring because she has this very glamorous life for sure, but she is also a very hard worker. She is the first on set in the morning, and the last to leave— or almost. She is passionate about fashion, but also about pictures, images and beauty. She tries very hard to bring more beauty in this world through her eyes and I completely respect that.

FM: Was there anything that you were surprised to learn about Carine after working with her?
FC: I’ve been surprised about how much she gave me. I knew that her personal life would be on camera because she has no boundaries and it’s mixed all together all of the time, but I didn’t expect it to turn out to be so personal. At the end of the day, her granddaughter, Romy, is almost the main character of this movie.

An Exclusive First Look at Carine Roitfeld’s Mademoiselle C! Watch the first five minutes of the film!

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Images c/o Cohen Media Group