Sarah Kaminsky’s César-Winning Directorial Debut 'Las Vegas Thérapie' Hits Nevada and Utah Sets with Laure Calamy in Lead Role

Following her recent César Award win for co-writing the acclaimed film *Un ours dans le Jura*, French filmmaker Sarah Kaminsky is stepping into the director’s chair for the first time with *Las Vegas Thérapie*, a €13 million comedy-thriller blending Coen Brothers-style dark humor with high-stakes drama. The film, currently in production across Nevada and Utah, marks a bold creative evolution for Kaminsky, who has now assembled a dynamic ensemble led by Laure Calamy—best known for her breakout role in the hit series *Call My Agent!*—in the central performance. Filming locations span iconic desert landscapes and urban backdrops from Las Vegas to Moab, underscoring the movie’s surreal, genre-bending tone. The project’s ambitious scope reflects growing international interest in French cinema’s narrative innovation, especially as it ventures beyond traditional European settings. With a mix of sharp writing, offbeat characters, and a distinctive visual palette inspired by American neo-noir, *Las Vegas Thérapie* aims to challenge genre conventions while appealing to global audiences. The collaboration between Kaminsky and Calamy—two rising stars in Francophone entertainment—has already generated buzz among distributors and festival programmers ahead of its anticipated premiere. Why it matters: This marks a pivotal moment for female-led European cinema, showcasing how award-winning writers can successfully transition into directing with major studio backing. As international co-productions like this one gain traction, they signal a shift toward more diverse storytelling on the world stage. With filming underway and a strong creative team in place, *Las Vegas Thérapie* could emerge as a standout title in next year’s festival circuit.