Nicolas Altmayer and Mathilde Favier Killed in French Car Crash

French film producer Nicolas Altmayer and his partner, Dior public relations executive Mathilde Favier, were killed Monday in a car accident in western France. Altmayer was 61 and Favier was 57.

The couple died at about 4 p.m. on a departmental road in Airvault, in the Deux-Sèvres region, according to the Niort prosecutor’s office. Their car collided with a heavy truck traveling in the opposite direction as they were overtaking another vehicle, deputy prosecutor Nicolas Leclainche told AFP.

Authorities have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter by a driver to determine exactly how the crash happened.

According to Le Figaro, Altmayer and Favier were traveling from Cabourg to the Île de Ré, where Favier owned a home.

Altmayer was one of France’s leading independent film producers. With his brother Éric Altmayer, he ran Mandarin & Compagnie, a production company known for both popular comedies and acclaimed films by major French directors.

His credits included Michel Hazanavicius’ hit comedies “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies” and “OSS 117: Lost in Rio,” both starring Jean Dujardin, as well as “Brice de Nice.”

He also worked closely with director François Ozon, producing films including “Young & Beautiful,” “The New Girlfriend,” “Frantz,” “By the Grace of God,” “Summer of 85” and “Everything Went Fine.” His other credits included Bertrand Bonello’s “Saint Laurent,” Julia Ducournau’s “Alpha” and “Monsieur Aznavour,” the biographical film about singer Charles Aznavour starring Tahar Rahim.

In 2017, Nicolas and Éric Altmayer received the Daniel Toscan du Plantier Award from France’s César Academy, honoring their work as producers.

Tributes quickly followed news of Altmayer’s death. Director Ozon wrote on X that he was in “shock and sadness,” describing Altmayer as “a great producer,” as well as a supporter and friend.

Actor and filmmaker Franck Gastambide called the death a “terrible shock.” He said Altmayer had been his producer and mentor for 15 years and described him as “the father I would have wanted to have.”

Favier was a major figure in the fashion and celebrity world. She previously worked at Prada, helping establish the Italian fashion house’s press operation in Paris. She joined Dior in 2011 and later became director of public relations for Dior Couture.

She worked closely with some of Dior’s best-known ambassadors and celebrity guests, including Natalie Portman, Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Anya Taylor-Joy, Camille Cottin and K-pop star Jisoo.

Favier was also the sister of Victoire de Castellane, Dior Joaillerie’s creative director. In 2024, she published “Mathilde à Paris,” a guide to the French capital written with journalist Frédérique Dedet.

Away from fashion, Favier founded Esthétique & Cancer, an association that supports people undergoing cancer treatment through beauty and wellness programs.

Dior and LVMH executives also paid tribute to her. LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault said Favier had devoted years to serving Dior with her “passion, energy and talent.” Dior CEO Delphine Arnault described her as “an exceptional woman” whose joy, talent and loyalty stood out.

Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said Altmayer had been a leading figure in French cinema and the wider audiovisual industry, praising his passion for discovering and supporting new talent.

Gaëtan Bruel, president of France’s National Centre for Cinema, called Altmayer passionate, curious and loyal to the filmmakers he supported, adding that his sudden death was “an immense loss for French cinema.”

Actress Marion Cotillard remembered Favier for her beauty, kindness and resilience. Producer Elizabeth Kesses described both Favier and Altmayer as creative, generous people who connected others and left a lasting mark on film and fashion.

Altmayer is survived by four children. Favier had two children.