• France’s former First Lady, Carla Bruni, stars in new short film that launches a new Ford Motor Company marketing campaign in France
• In the video, directed by Dominique Farrugia, a well-known French director and humourist, Bruni employs a doppelganger to take her place in daily life so she can pursue her hidden passion of coaching football
• Ford’s new #prendreunvirage campaign challenges French consumers to take a new turn in life
• Ford created a special website – http://prendreunvirage.fr/ – where those interested can take a quiz on their true aspirations and learn about real opportunities to take a new turn in life

SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France, Sept. 10, 2015 – France’s former First Lady, Carla Bruni, is starring in a humorous short film to kick off a new Ford marketing campaign challenging French consumers to take a new turn in life. 

The Italian-French author, singer, song-writer and model plays a football coach in the film, which sees her pitched into a world of men’s locker rooms and football fields instead of concert halls and catwalks.

Directed by screenwriter, producer and humourist Dominique Farrugia for Ford France, the film launches Ford’s new #prendreunvirage campaign – designed to inspire those who want to pursue new aspirations, such as leaving city life to start a small business in the country.

“Ford has big aspirations in France and we are reaching out to French consumers in an authentic way,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “It starts with the insight that many people in France are open to taking a new turn in life – and we want to be part of this change. Carla Bruni immediately understood what we were trying to achieve and partnering with her will ensure that millions of people notice this campaign.”

Ford created a special website – http://prendreunvirage.fr/ – where those interested can take a quiz on their true aspirations and learn about real opportunities to take a new turn in life. Ford conducted an in-depth study to find the opportunities for life changes throughout France. Each opportunity is paired with the Ford vehicle that best suits the new lifestyle.

The campaign in France – developed with WPP’s BlueHive agency – comes as Ford is launching an unprecedented array of new products in France, including the new Mustang, S‑MAX, Galaxy,  C‑MAX  and new upscale Vignale product and ownership experience.

Ford also recently announced it is returning to compete in the prestigious 24 Hours Of Le Mans endurance race in France in 2016, exactly 50 years after Ford’s historic 1-2-3 victory in the race.