Franck Gastambide

Biography

Franck Gastambide, born on 31 October 1978, is a prominent French actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer. He rose to fame in 2009 with his creation of "Kaïra Shopping," the first web series produced by Canal+, which later transitioned to television and was adapted into a feature film in 2012. During the same period, he directed commercials for Pepsi, solidifying his presence in the industry. Notably, he played a leading role as a policeman in "Taxi 5."

Gastambide's interest in Molossian dogs sparked at age 13. He trained them and became a recognized expert on "dangerous breeds" by the time he turned 20. His skills led him to work as a dog trainer on film sets, including "The Crimson Rivers," where he befriended actor and director Mathieu Kassovitz, who introduced him to emerging directors like Kim Chapiron and Romain Gavras. This connection opened doors for his acting career in various short films and music videos.

In 2009, Gastambide’s "Kaïra Shopping" premiered, gaining significant online success and leading to a cameo in Ramzi Bedia’s film "Bacon on the Side." Following this achievement, he signed with Mandarin Cinéma for his feature debut, "Porn in the Hood," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 11 July 2012, attracting over a million viewers and earning acclaim. For this work, he won the Le Film français award for Best First Film alongside his collaborators. On 22 February 2013, he co-hosted the French César film awards, celebrating excellence in cinema.