Following yesterday’s announcement of the Official Selection, today the 72nd Cannes Film Festival revealed the Short Films in Competition and the Cinéfondation Selection 2019.
Cannes Film Festival
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2019 Cannes Film Festival Unveils Official Selection, with Films by Pedro Almodóvar, Xavier Dolan, Terrence Malic
A HIDDEN LIFE, Terrence Malick The Official Selection of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival was unveiled this morning at the annual press conference. In addition to opening night film – Jim Jamusch’s The Dead Don’t Die, the competition lineup includes new releases from Pedro Almodóvar, Xavier Dolan, Ken Loach, and Terrence Malick. Films premiering out of competition include Nicolas Winding Refn’s Too Old to Die Young – North of Hollywood, West of Hell.
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72nd Cannes Film Festival Unveils Official Poster Featuring Filmmaker Agnès Varda
Cannes Film Festival has chosen filmmaker Agnès Varda as the inspirational guiding light of the 72nd edition of the Festival and the official poster. Agnès Varda, who passed away earlier this year, has attended the Festival to present her films 13 times in the Official Selection, and was given the Honorary Palme d’or in 2015.
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2019 Cannes Film Festival to Open with Jim Jarmusch’s Zombie Thriller THE DEAD DON’T DIE
THE DEAD DON’T DIE The 72nd Cannes Film Festival will open on Tuesday May 14th with Jim Jarmusch’s new film, The Dead Don’t Die. The independent filmmaker’s newest foray into genre film (after the western with Dead Man, Samurai/crime film with Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and his vampire film,Only Lovers Left Alive ) promises to be “the greatest zombies cast ever disassembled”: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Selena Gomez, RZA, Sara Driver, Austin Butler, Luka Sabbat, Eszter Balint, Carol Kane and Tom Waits. The Dead Don’t Die also reunites Jarmusch with many of his frequent collaborators including Director of Photography Frederick Elmes (Night on Earth, Paterson, Broken Flowers ) and Editor Affonso Gonçalves (Only Lovers Left Alive, Paterson ).The Dead Don’t Die is Jim Jarmusch’s thirteenth feature film and stands as not just a humorous and sometimes scary subversion of the genre (with a nod to George Romero’s seminal film, Night of the Living Dead ) but also a tribute to cinema itself.
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Claire Denis Named President of Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury at 72nd Cannes Film Festival
Claire Denis French filmmaker and screenwriter Claire Denis will lead the Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. Claire Denis will succeed Abderrahmane Sissako, Naomi Kawase, Cristian Mungiu and Bertrand Bonello.
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Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Named Jury President of 72nd Cannes Film Festival
Alejandro González Iñarritu Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu has been named President of the Jury of the 72nd Festival de Cannes, taking place place from Tuesday May 14 to Saturday May 25, 2019.
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Netflix Acquires Cannes Film Festival Award Winners ‘Happy As Lazzaro’ and ‘Girl’
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Happy as Lazzaro[/caption]
Netflix has acquired Cannes Film Festival 2018 award winners “Happy As Lazzaro” and “Girl.” “Happy as Lazzaro” premiered in competition and was awarded Best Screenplay for Alice Rohrwacher, and the Camera d’Or for best first film was awarded to Lukas Dhont for “Girl.” “Girl” premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival where it was awarded Best Actor for Victor Polster
“HAPPY AS LAZZARO”
Alice Rohrwacher was awarded Best Screenplay for Happy as Lazzaro (it was a tie with Nader Saeivar for 3 Faces) Synopsis: This is the tale of a meeting between Lazzaro, a young peasant so good that he is often mistaken for simple-minded, and Tancredi, a young nobleman cursed by his imagination. Life in their isolated pastoral village Inviolata is dominated by the terrible Marchesa Alfonsina de Luna, the queen of cigarettes. A loyal bond is sealed when Tancredi asks Lazzaro to help him orchestrate his own kidnapping. This strange and improbable alliance is a revelation for Lazzaro. A friendship so precious that it will travel in time and transport Lazzaro in search of Tancredi. His first time in the big city, Lazzaro is like a fragment of the past lost in the modern world. Writer & Director: Alice Rohrwacher Cast: Adriano Tardiolo, Luca Chikovani, Alba Rohrwacher, Agnese Graziani, Tommaso Ragno, Sergi Lopez, Natalino Balasso, Gala Othero Winter, David Bennent, Nicoletta Braschi. Producer: Carlo Cresto-Dina Co-producers: Tiziana Soudani, Alexandra Henochsberg, Grégory Gajos, Arthur Hallereau, Pierre-François Piet, Michel Merkt, Michael Weber, Viola Fügen About Alice Rohrwacher Alice Rohrwacher directed Le Meraviglie (The Wonders), winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Born in 1981 in Fiesole, she studied in Turin and Lisbon. She has worked in music and documentary projects. She has also worked as an editor and composer for theatre. Her first feature Corpo Celeste made its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight (Cannes 2011). [caption id="attachment_29317" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Girl by Lukas Dhont[/caption]
“GIRL”
The Camera d’Or, for best first film, was awarded to Girl Vincent Polster won the Best Actor Prize for Un Certain Regard for his performance in Girl Lukas Dhont’s Un Certain Regard entry Girl was awarded this year’s Queer Palm award. (The Queer Palm launched in 2010 and selects its winner from all LGBTQ-themed films across the official selection of the Cannes film festival, Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week and the unofficial ACID section.) Synopsis: Determined 15-year-old Lara is committed to becoming a professional ballerina. With the support of her father, she throws herself into this quest for the absolute at a new school. Lara’s adolescent frustrations and impatience are heightened as she realizes her body does not bend so easily to the strict discipline because she was born a boy. Director: Lukas Dhont Cast: Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Oliver Bodart, Tijmen Govaerts, Katelijne Damen, Valentijn Dhaenens, Magali Elali, Alice de Broqueville Screenwriters: Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens Producer: Dirk Impens Production companies: Menuet, Frakas Productions, Topkapi Films International Sales: The Match Factory About Lukas Dhont Lukas Dhont was born in Ghent, Belgium. He graduated with a diploma in audiovisual arts from the KASK School Of Arts in Ghent. His short films, Corps Perdu and L’Infini, received numerous prizes. L’Infini was the Belgian entry for the Academy Awards in 2015. Throughout his studies, he focused on fiction but also explored the possibilities of documentary. In 2016, Lukas Dhont participated in the Cannes Cinéfondation residency with the script for his first feature film, Girl. This film combines themes the filmmaker has already explored, like dance, transformation and identity. Lukas Dhont collaborates regularly with choreographer and dancer Jan Martens with whom he co-signed a performance titled “The Common People.”
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Cannes Film Festival 2018 Awards – SHOPLIFTER Wins Palme d’or, Spike Lee’s BLACKKKLANSMAN Wins Grand Prix
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BlacKkKlansman[/caption]
The 71st Cannes Film Festival came to a close today, with the announcement of the 2018 winners, decided by the Feature Film Jury presided over by Cate Blanchett. Shoplifters (Manbiki Kazoku directed by Kore-Eda Hirokazu was awarded the Palme d’or and BlacKkKlansman by Spike Lee won the Grand Prix.
FEATURE FILMS
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MANBIKI KAZOKU(Shoplifters) by KORE-EDA Hirokazu[/caption]
PALME D’OR
MANBIKI KAZOKU (Shoplifters) by KORE-EDA Hirokazu After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them…GRAND PRIX
BLACKKKLANSMAN (BlacKkKlansman) by Spike LEE Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer from Colorado, successfully managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan and almost became the head of the local chapter.JURY PRIZE
CAPHARNAÜM (Capernaum) by Nadine LABAKI INT. COURTROOM ZAIN, a 12-year-old boy, faces THE JUDGE. THE JUDGE: Why are you suing your own parents? ZAIN: For giving me life.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Marcello FONTE in DOGMAN by Matteo GARRONEBEST DIRECTOR
ZIMNA WOJNA (Cold War) by Pawel PAWLIKOWSKIBEST SCREENPLAY (tie)
Alice ROHRWACHER for LAZZARO FELICE (Happy as Lazzaro) Jafar PANAHI for SE ROKH (3 Faces)BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Samal YESLYAMOVA in AYKA by Sergey DVORTSEVOYSPECIAL PALME D’OR
LE LIVRE D’IMAGE (The Image book) by Jean-Luc GODARDSHORT FILMS
PALME D’OR
ALL THESE CREATURES by Charles WILLIAMSMENTION DISTINCTION BY THE JURY
YAN BIAN SHAO NIAN (On the order) by WEI ShujunCAMÉRA D’OR
GIRL by Lukas DHONT presented at UN CERTAIN REGARD The CST Jury decided to award the VULCAIN PRIZE FOR ARTIST-TECHNICIAN to: SHIN Joom-Hee artistic director, of BURNING for his exceptional contribution to the portrayal of his characters.
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Cannes Film Festival 2018: ‘BORDER’ ‘SOFIA’ ‘GIRL’ ‘DONBASS’ Win Un Certain Regard Prizes
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GRÄNS (BORDER) by Ali Abbasi[/caption]
Un Certain Regard 2018 at Cannes Film Festival presented 18 films in competition. 6 of them were first films. The Opening film was DONBASS by Sergei Loznitsa which went on to win the prize for Best Director.
Under the presidency of Benicio Del Toro (Puerto Rican-American actor), the Jury was comprised of Annemarie Jacir (Palestinian director and writer), Kantemir Balagov (Russian director), Virginie Ledoyen (French actress) and Julie Huntsinger (American executive director, Telluride Film Festival).
“We feel that out of 2000 films considered by the Festival, the 18 we saw in UN CERTAIN REGARD – from Argentina to China – were all in their own way winners. Over the past 10 days, we were extremely impressed by the high quality of the work presented, but in the end we were the most moved by the following 5 films.
“UN CERTAIN REGARD” PRIZE
GRÄNS (BORDER) by Ali Abbasi Customs officer Tina is known for her extraordinary sense of smell. It’s almost as if she can sniff out the guilt on anyone hiding something. But when Vore, a suspicious-looking man, walks past her, her abilities are challenged for the first time ever. Tina can sense Vore is hiding something she can’t identify. Even worse, she feels a strange attraction to him. As Tina develops a special bond with Vore and discovers his true identity, she also realizes the truth about herself. Tina, like Vore, does not belong to this world. Her entire existence has been one big lie and now she has to choose: keep living the lie or embrace Vore’s terrifying revelations.PRIZE FOR BEST SCREENPLAY
SOFIA by Meryem Benm’Barek Sofia, 20, lives with her parents in Casablanca. Suffering from pregnancy denial, she finds herself breaking the law by giving birth to a baby out of wedlock. The hospital gives her 24 hours to provide the father’s papers before informing the authorities…PRIZE FOR BEST PERFORMANCE
Victor Polster for GIRL by Lukas Dhont Determined 15-year-old Lara is committed to becoming a professional ballerina. With the support of her father, she throws herself into this quest for the absolute at a new school. Lara’s adolescent frustrations and impatience are heightened as she realizes her body does not bend so easily to the strict discipline because she was born a boy.PRIZE FOR BEST DIRECTOR
Sergei Loznitsa for DONBASS In the Donbass, a region of Eastern Ukraine, a hybrid war takes place, involving an open armed conflict alongside killings and robberies on a mass scale perpetrated by separatist gangs. In the Donbass, war is called peace, propaganda is uttered as truth and hatred is declared to be love. A journey through the Donbass unfolds as a chain of curious adventures, where the grotesque and drama are as intertwined as life and death. This is not a tale of one region, one country or one political system. It is about a world, lost in post-truth and fake identities. It is about each and every one of us.JURY SPECIAL PRIZE
CHUVA É CANTORIA NA ALDEIA DOS MORTOS (The Dead and The Others) by João SALAVIZA and Renée NADER MESSORA There are no spirits or snakes tonight and the forest around the village is quiet. Fifteen year old Ihjãc has nightmares since he has lost his father. He is an indigenous Krahô from the north of Brazil. Ihjãc walks into darkness, his sweaty body moves with fright. A distant chant comes through the palm trees. His father’s voice calls him to the waterfall: it´s time to organize the funerary feast so the spirit can depart to the dead´s village. The mourning must cease. Denying his duty and in order to escape a crucial process of becoming a shaman, Ihjãc runs away to the city. Far from his people and culture, he faces the reality of being an indigenous in contemporary Brazil.
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THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE to Close Cannes Film Festival, Following French Court Ruling
On Wednesday May 9, 2018, the French court dismissed the request by Paulo Branco and his production company Alfama Films Production to ban Terry Gilliam’s film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote from being screened during the Closing night of the Cannes Film Festival, on Saturday May 19, 2018.
In its press release hailing the ruling, the Cannes Film Festival stated, As such, Paulo Branco and his production company Alfama Films Production have, naturally, seen their claim for compensation from the Festival de Cannes thrown out, having openly denigrated the event in the press and on social media, asserting that its organizers had no right to select The Man Who Killed Don Quixote to be presented in Cannes.
The campaign of attempted intimidation orchestrated by Paulo Branco and his lawyer son have therefore proved fruitless. The urgent applications judge has, through this decision, confirmed that contrary to what the Brancos have continued to claim (among other slanderous attacks and lies), the Festival de Cannes has never placed itself above the law nor has it attempted to force through a decision.
The Festival de Cannes, which throughout the case has repeatedly expressed its loyalty and support for the creators, is pleased to see that justice will allow the presentation of this work, whose director surely deserves to see it finally presented to the public.
We are very pleased that this unique – and in some ways agonizing – work in the career of the great director Terry Gilliam will be unveiled for the first time to journalists, festival-goers and professionals from around the world, gathered together in the Grand Amphithéâtre Lumière.
Since Tuesday, cinema has regained its rights. The Festival is a unique forum for freedom of expression. It will remain so.
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Neon Acquires Ali Abbasi’s BORDER Following World Premiere In Cannes
Immediately following the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, NEON acquired Border, a troll love story directed by Ali Abbasi and based on a novel by the writer of Let the Right One In, for release in the US.
Border is the second feature from Iranian-born Danish director Abbasi. He co-scripted the film with Isabella Eklöf, in collaboration with novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
The film tells the story of a border guard (Eva Melander) who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humankind.
