The short film I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face directed by Sameh Alaa was named the unanimous winner of the Palme d’or at the three-day “Cannes 2020 Special.”
In the wake of a new generation of compelling young Egyptian filmmakers featuring in the Official Selection in recent years, this is the first time an Egyptian film has won the Palme d’or for Short Films at the Festival de Cannes. Meanwhile, the film Souad by fellow Egyptian director Ayten Amin was also chosen for the Official Selection 2020.
The awarding of the Palme d’or for Short Films on the Grand Théâtre Lumière stage last night marked the closing of the occasion.
Cannes Film Festival postponed early this year due to the COVID19 pandemic, presented the special Fall edition titled “2020 Special Cannes” featuring part of the 2020 Cannes Official Selection.
Following the attack on the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, a black carpet was rolled out instead of the customary red one with a minute’s silence observed at the beginning of the ceremony to pay tribute to the victims and in protest against terrorist attacks.
23rd Cinéfondation Selection Prizes
First Prize
CATDOG directed by Ashmita Guha Neogi
Film and Television Institute of India, India
Second Prize
JA I MOJA GRUBA DUPA (MY FAT ARSE AND I) directed by Yelyzaveta Pysmak
The Polish National Film School In Lodz, Poland
Joint Third Prize
CONTRAINDICATII (CONTRAINDICATIONS) directed by Lucia Chicos
UNATC “I. L. CARAGIALE”, Romania
I WANT TO RETURN RETURN RETURN directed by Elsa Rosengren
Deutsche Film Und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB), Germany