55th Semaine de la Critique Poster

The oldest among the parallel sections of the Cannes Film Festival, La Semaine de la Critique will celebrate its 55th edition by putting the spotlight on the films and talents discovered since its 50th anniversary.

In collaboration with the Parisian agency les bons faiseurs, La Semaine chose the image which better reflects this 50+5 edition: the magnificent actress Jessica Chastain in a scene from Take Shelter, second feature film by Jeff Nichols where her performance in one of her first leading roles was particularly remarked.

Winner of the Nespresso Grand Prize at the 50th edition of La Semaine, Jeff Nichols, whose promising and very personal universe was already acknowledged, became a prominent talent with such films as Mud, in the 2012 Official Competition in Cannes, then with Midnight Special, competing for the Golden Bear at the 2016 Berlinale.

In this picture taken from Jeff Nichols’ film, the actress seems to both cunningly and serenely gauge the ground covered since the 50th edition, from Terrence Malick to Kathryn Bigelow, not to mention Christopher Nolan, J.C. Chandor or Ridley Scott.

The splendid career path of these two artists in the past 5 years marvelously illustrates what La Semaine de la Critique mainly stands for: taking up the challenge of new film and discovering emerging talents worldwide since their very first artwork.

Jeff Nichols: “To have Take Shelter included really was a career high at the time. I started to believe in the reality of this amazing career trajectory I've been on since 2011.The Nespresso Grand Prize most definitely influenced my career, it elevated both the film, and my reputation as a filmmaker, to a level that would have taken years to achieve through other avenues."

La Semaine de la Critique will be held in Cannes from May 12th to the 20th. Valérie Donzelli will preside over a jury exceptionally composed this year of 5 talents revealed by La Semaine: Alice Winocour, Nadav Lapid, David Robert Mitchell and Santiago Mitre. They will bestow the Nespresso Grand Prize, the France 4 Visionary Award and the Leica Cine Discovery Prize for best short film.

The Selection will this year be announced on the 18th of April.

Here are more samples with the graphic design.

#Cannes2016 Wish List - Part Five American Directors

Have not doubt that this year American cinema journalists are the ones that speculate the most with the films that could be in Cannes this year, specially with the ones that could make it to the competition. There is more press coverage from UK, France, Germany and more European countries, but if something they tend to agree is that 2016 will bring to Cannes more than the usual share of American films.

Perhaps the reason why so many American movies have a significant degree of opportunity to make it is based on the filmmaker and well, the "stars" that hopefully give good performances in film. The bad news is that speculation claims that Derek Cianfrance's The Light Between Oceans will not be ready as well as Terrence Malick doc Voyage of Time, Martin Scorsese's Silence and Oliver Stone's Snowden; soon enough we will find if they rush to make Cannes or not, but no matter what, obviously those are films that will watch as Cianfrance's film stars none other than the IN couple Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender.

Talking about Fassbender makes me think about the other film by Terrence Malick that is "completed" according to IMDb, Weightless, so let's start with this director and film.

Terrence Malick with Weightless

Not a Malick recent movies fan but who can resist a film with Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Holly Hunter, Christian Bale, Val Kilmer, Benicio del Toro and more? Not me, even when now I wonder if will like Malick's version of 2 love triangles set in the music scene in Austin, Texas. Alright admit no one is talking about this film an Cannes but gee, wouldn't be nice to have Cate and Rooney walking the red carpet again this year? Sigh.

Jeff Nichols with Loving

I see everything with Jeff Nichols and I love his filmmaking style and his storytelling style, so I'm looking forward to see his 2016 Berlinale in competition Midnight Special and wouldn't be nice for him to be also in Cannes competition with Loving? Oh, yes!

Film distribution rights were acquired by Focus Features upon seeing some assembled footage at the European Film Market; so distribution is assured and we (pundits and me) hope make it to Cannes and to the competition. Story has to be impact-full as tells about an interracial couple sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married.

Tom Ford with Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford has a second movie and distributors went crazy at 2015 Cannes market battling for distribution rights. Focus Features won by paying $20 million for what was then more a project than a film. That's the power of incipient director and acclaimed Fashion Designer after his AWESOME (yes, with capital letters) 2009 A Single Man that opened in Venice and went to win the Queer Lion and Colin Firth the Volpi Cup.

No, Tom Ford hasn't been in Cannes and believe that he graduated to be part of the mother of all festivals, but know that if film doesn't open in Cannes will do in Venice. Sigh.

So let's be positive as film has an interesting cast lead by Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Isla Fisher and more in a story that screams "festival" (lol) all over: A story inside a story -about a book manuscript called Nocturnal Animals- which is give to Susan by her ex-husband, a man she left 20-years earlier. So one story is about Susan and the inside story (the other story) is about the manuscript. Story is based on Austin Wright novel called "Tony and Susan".

If something I do not question are film production values that imagine will have the almost perfect esthetics of his debut film. Can't wait to see this film.

Damien Chazelle with La La Land

If you wonder who Chazelle is because you forgot or lost info in you so-full-of-info brain, think Whiplash that opened in Sundance, went to 2014 Cannes Quinzaine and got multiple accolades during the fest and award circuit of that year, including multiple Oscar nominations and a win. Now think another movie with a stellar cast that includes Emma Stone, Ryan gosling, J. K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt, John Legend and more; you know film has good credentials for festival opening.

Film release is set to "Oscar-friendly" December 2 for limited and December 16 for general release. Dates make me wonder if a Venice fest opening is more strategic than Cannes. Sigh.

Sean Penn with The Last Face

Penn used to be one of the many, cinema L'Enfant Terrible, so absolutely he knows Cannes both as an actor as well as a director; so makes sense that his latest film done after nine years of directorial absence, will find place in Cannes and buzz plus gossip place film in the Official Selection, but wonder if will be out or in competition.

Film has a stellar cast with Charlize Theron, Javier Bardem, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Jean Reno, and one actor that I was not aware of: the son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright, Hopper Penn. Interesting. Film tells about a director (Charlize Theron) of an international aid agency in Africa who meets a relief aid doctor (Javier Bardem) amidst a political/social revolution, and together face tough choices surrounding humanitarianism and life through civil unrest.

Besides the obvious reason of highly enjoying seeing Charlize Theron walking the red carpet again this year, now along Bardem and Exarchopoulos, film has the right quality for attending top festival and if we believe American press "insiders" then film will be in Cannes -no matter what! lol.

Jodie Foster with Money Monster

Will this be the opening film, I do not know but American pundits say is a "fact" film will be in Cannes this year and well, besides Jodie Foster being a true darling in France and French cinema (even do she hasn't done many French films), her film has a cast that will assure lots of press and photographers on the opening night as everyone's love George Clooney and Julia Roberts! (lol)

Alright, film also has an actress I highly enjoy in her TV performances, Irish Caitriona Balfe plus Dominic West, Jack O'Connell and more; all in a story that screams Oscars more than festival, about a financial advice show host who's taken hostage by a man trying to find out how he lost his money following the financial collapse.

Woody Allen with Café Society

Allen's untitled project has a name and social media went crazy as film stars none other than Kristen Stewart. If this film and Assaya's film make it to Cannes Official Selection, Stewart will walk the red carpet twice this year, which for a young actress is quite a career achievement. Still, has to happen, but if buzz is true, then it will.

Lately I'm not so sure about Allen movies, as some I highly enjoy but others are forgettable. Know he's back into full production, almost one film or more a year, but wish he would prefer quality to quantity (sigh). Nevertheless he's a legend and yes, his films open in festivals -not in competition as he doesn't like to compete- but surely out-of-competition.

Of course I'm dying to see film but more for the actress that finally is getting the attention as a serious actress she has been since she was a kid.

Ang Lee with Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

This USA, UK and China co production have low Cannes buzz, but since was talking about Kristen Stewart, couldn't skip the latest Ang Lee film where she has lead female role along Vin Diesel, Garrett Hedlund, Steve Martin, and more. Tells about a company that survive a harrowing battle that's captured by news cameras and brought home for promotional tour.

No, film is NOT what it seems as we have to recall who the director is, so there are chances that Stewart will stay for the whole fest (lol -I'm kidding). Wonder if distributor will allow Cannes opening as release date has been set for US Veteran's Day, November 11, 2016.

Now let's talk ab it about not American directors doing American Films

Denis Villeneuve with Story of Your Life

After Sicario, Villeneuve goes Sci-fi with a film starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Foris Whitaker, and telling about an expert linguist with the task to determine if alien crafts that landed around the world, come in peace or not. (lol)

I now story seems silly, but again we have to consider WHO the director is and well, think Sicario and more important think his early Canadian films like Polytechnique and surely we all imagine the storytelling and filmmaking style he will impregnate to story, to hopefully making a lot more interesting than a suggested synopsis.

Still, two years in a row in Cannes competition are not usual for any director and definitively if it happens will be an extraordinary achievement for the director.

Alexandros Avranas with True Crimes

Have to admit that in paper this film looks odd/strange to be nice but when we consider that Avranos won the Silver Lion for Best Director for 2013 Miss Violence and film stars none other than Charlotte Gainsbourg, Agata Kulesza plus (here comes my surprise) Jim Carrey, and telling about a murder investigation of a slain business man turning to clues found in an author's book about an eerily similar crime, then we know there has to be something different in this film.

From the few film stills was able to imagine spectacular cinematography that goes to the darkish/absence-of-light/dark-tinted visuals, which obviously attracts me to film beyond me watching everything with Charlotte Gainsbourg. By-the-way this is an USA, Poland and UK production.  Not sure if film will make it to Cannes, but if not, most likely will be in Venice.

David Michôd with War Machine

The director of infamous Animal Kingdom (soon to be an American TV series) has a new film, an USA production, with a star that opens doors with his name, Brad Pitt and a story that yes, screams festival (!) as is a satire of America's war with Afghanistan with a focus on the people running the campaign. Film is produced by Netflix, so know film will not be blocked to open in Cannes just because a late-2016 USA release.

Not much Cannes buzz for film but the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner has pay his dues and believe graduated to any of the 3 major film festivals. If not Cannes, then could be Venice but will depend on when Netflix plans stream release.

Nicolas Winding Refn with The Neon Demon

We know where horror has its place in Cannes as most horror films end up in the Midnight Screenings of the Official Selection. Film has been labeled Horror and Thriller so wonder how much thriller or horror really has to deserve a spot at that Cannes section or maybe in other competitive or not section.

But a new Nicolas Winding Refn film is always news no matter if it is for all audiences or not; to be more factual, most of his films definitively are NOT for all audiences (lol) but I have enjoy them, even the darkest ones.

I'm curious about this film that does not star his regular Ryan Gosling but the surprising Keanu Reeves (yes I like him) plus Christina Hendricks, Elle Fanning, Jena Malone and more. Tells about aspiring model Jesse who moves to Los Angeles only to find her youth and vitality devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

Was reading an interview with the cinematographer, Natasha Braier and will share what she said about working with Nicolas Winding Refn: "I think working with Nicolas Winding Refn is a gift for any cinematographer, because he is interested in visual story telling, in poetry, in suggesting rather than narrating." Very well put and yes, tells about some of the reasons why I enjoy his films.

Wish List Series Epilogue

Believe it or not, there are more American productions made or not by American Directors as list is really long.  Highly doubt many will made it to Cannes, but it's a fact that 2016 and early 2017 will be a great time to watch extraordinary American films and in my book, those are great news!

Will remind you that there is a very long list in post here with many more films from all over the world.

The wait is not too long as in less than a month we will learn the films in all Cannes sections, the not-so-good news is that as of tomorrow I'll be traveling, so coverage goes back to minimum for a long while. Sigh.

#Cannes2016 Carrosse d'Or

Waking up to great news always makes a great day and I'm truly happy to share with you all that one of my most-favorite directors will be honored this year with the honor given to a director by his peers. La Carrose d'Or (Golden Coach) is a tribute by directors of Société des réalisateurs (SRF) to one of their own, chosen from the international filmmaking community for the innovative qualities, courage and independent-mindedness of his or her work.

The Carrosse d'Or is a bronze statuette inspired by the figures of the Comedia dell'Arte and Jean Renoir's film of the same name – it was created by painter-sculptor Lili Legouvello.

... and the award goes to: Aki Kaurismäki!!!



The following is an extract of the letter sent to Aki Kaurismäki by SRF board of directors: Luc Battiston, Stéphane Brizé, Thomas Cailley, Laurent Cantet, Malik Chibane, Catherine Corsini, François Farellacci, Léa Fehner, Pascale Ferran, Denis Gheerbrant, Fabienne Godet, Stéphanie Kalfon, Cédric Klapisch, Héléna Klotz, Thomas Lilti, Paul Marques Duarte, Anna Novion, Katell Quillévéré, Christophe Ruggia, Pierre Salvadori, Céline Sciamma, Jan Sitta.

Your stories are inspired fables telling tales of the forgotten, those fallen through cracks, those who are extreme, and those who have no user manual.

You film, without exception, economically, with precision and grandeur, without ever giving up on fiction, poetry or even the burlesque

By featuring these characters you give them a place, and you save them, because those whose stories are not told, do not exist.

Your films are often melancholy but never devastating. They always end by finding a firework to light up the darkest nights and the most sombre inclinations.

Alcohol, love, friendship, gifts or chance sometimes save your characters from boredom, despair, or death as your films save the audience from too much normality.

For all of this, for the languor and insolence of your films, for their healthy and calm subversion, we would like to honor you at the same moment as the greatest cinephile event in the world.

There are some words in the extract that made visualize some of Kaurismäki films, those films that have mesmerized me and visually take me into very-cold bluish bliss; but most of all, those films that I love for his peculiar and particular storytelling style that more often than not, requires fantastic deadpan performances by his actors.

For me the best from the extract is when SRF directors verbalize what I believe to be one the best truths about Kaurismäki, he save us, the audience, from too much normality!

Since La Carrose d'Or creation in 2002 many great directors have received the honor, including some of my favorite director like Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Jane Campion, Naomi Kawase or Jia Zhangke; but to be honest, this year the honoree made me very emotional, as much as his films do not make me (lol)!!! Congratulations!

If you wish to read the official SRF press release in English go here.  As we know SRF is the creator and organizer of Quinzaine des réalisateurs, so the award will be presented during the collateral section opening night on May 12.  Expect more activities around this award like screening of some of his films, perhaps a masterclass and the pleasure of watching Kaurismäki unusual presence (and behavior) in Cannes. Love it!

2016 Quinzaine des Réalisateurs News

Today Directors' Fortnight unveiled the poster for current edition and even do rationale tells us a credible story, when I saw it got a completely different one. Cannes Festival section always has had unusual images in their posters and 2016 is no exception.

The Directors' Fortnight poster for 2016 was created from a photo by Cécile Burban and the graphic design is by Michel Welfringer; most puzzling Waintrop thanks the collective Le Mouvement, I assume is for work done to produce this graphic identity.

The following is the "poetic" reason why or graphic rationale to the creation.

Once upon a time, two people met,
A woman, a man… Their memory has almost been erased.
All that’s left is a picture… torn, faded, almost gone.
Cinema is not eternal but it does sometimes escape oblivion. And it is possible to restore a picture.
And what will there be then between these two characters who perhaps stepped out of an English or Italian comedy or an Éric Rohmer film?
When you see a poster like this, your imagination fills in the blanks, just like it does at the movies.

Édouard Waintrop
Artistic Director
of the Directors' Fortnight

On April 19 Waintrop will announce the selection but also their new website, so seems there is a trend to facelift their identity. Great. If you wish to check something at their official site go here.

Alright will share my spontaneous reaction to poster. No I didn't fill the spaces. My imagination went to everything that's broken, everything that's falling apart, everything that's torn, everything that fades away with time. Everything that stays in "that" form. Went there and stayed there ... and the only emotion felt was sadness.

After reading the rationale, that basic tell us about cinema restoration -which obviously I support for future cinema lovers generations-, was not able to fill the blanks and gee, one of the reasons I love great French cinema is that film story does not tell all, there are lots of blanks before, during and after, it's up to you to fill them. I can fill the blanks in French or any other great cinema but, sorry, visuals do not stimulate me to fill the blanks in that graphic design. Sigh. I'm still covered with sadness after talking about this graphic design.

It's quite funny but ALL the automatic sharing buttons (to share post/image in facebook, tumblr, etc) cropped the poster, seems the automatic services also don't understand the image.

#Cannes2016 Wish List - Part Four Asian Directors

Some News First

As an introduction to this part let us review what has been happening mainly with US industry press, where "insiders" seem to be spilling the beans and let journalists all about the movies that are going to Cannes and the ones that are not. But let me share that also European press in different languages also are speculating about films that will not be ready for Cannes and films that "for sure" will be at the festival.

If we believe all the buzz that's been happening for the last 3 weeks then ladies and gentlemen we will have a very strange festival as almost all "sure thing" films are French or American! Honestly I wouldn't mind an almost 80% French festival; but surely wouldn't like fest to be an American fest as for that there is Toronto, Sundance, and many more American festivals.

As a summary let me share info about those films that seem are not ready for Cannes and probably will end-up in Venice or maybe wait for next year festivals. Zama by Lucrecia Martel seems is not ready as well as Derek Cianfrance's The Light Between Oceans; then Martin Scorsese's Silence, Terrence Malick's doc Voyage in Time, James Gray's Lost City Z and Oliver Stone's Snowden are not ready and most likely will end in an Autumn festival.


No matter if "insiders" information is accurate or not, truth is that there is quite a big anticipation about which films will be in competition, out of the competition, un certain regard and in any of the parallel sections. One thing I'm sure, as of today the only ones that know for sure are fest programmers as by now they have most selections ready after submission deadline closed recently.

So this is my Asian directors wish list, hope many make the Official Selection or any of the other sections.

Park Chan-wook with 아가씨 Agashi (The Handmaiden aka The Handmaid )

Let's go to the point: I'm "dying" to see this film that is the Korean modernized version of infamous lesbian iconic novel by Sarah Waters's Fingersmith. Besides the deep reason there is one more interesting, I met director with his 2007 Berlinale Alfred Bauer Award winner I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok; then came 2009 Cannes Jury Prize winner Thirst that absolutely blew my mind and became the second-best vampire movie I've seen (first is the awesome Swedish film).

So when I mix what I know about his previous films and the essence of the story he will tell, my imagination is set free and definitively like the possibilities, but will control them as hate to have too-much expectations, sigh.  Film is set in South Korea and Japan during the 1930's and most of us already know the story essence, don't we after reading book and watching 2005 Fingersmith.

I'm so glad he went back to his roots -after his 2013 incursion into the English-language film- with a film in Korean and do not doubt for a second that his films deserve to be premiere at any of the major film festivals, so Cannes is a big possibility IF film is ready.

Most interesting is that film has been already sold to 116 territories and USA rights belong to Amazon Studios, so distribution is assured since February's European Film Market at 2016 Berlinale.

Hirokazu Kore-eda with 海よりもまだ深く Umi yori mo mada fukaku (After the storm)

After recent outstanding films, 2013 Cannes Jury Prize winner Like Father, Like Son and 2015 Cannes in competition Our Little Sister, acclaimed contemporary Japanese director has a new film that surely will open in a festival and most likely has to be Cannes as his last 2 films premiered in fest but also three previous ones.

Film tells about an unpopular writer who now works as a private detective and one night that four people have to stay together as a typhoon passes-by. At his mother's apartment Ryota will spend the night with his ex-wife, his 11-years-old son and his mother. According to storyline film seems like another family-dissection intense story.

Film marketing suggest movie is ready as already has an official poster, some trailers in Korean, and one with English subtitles.



Johnnie To with 三人行 Saam Yan Hang (Three)

Director has a new movie and seems will have his very particular style that many, including me, love to watch as his films are a mixture of drama, thriller, crime and action dosed in the most exact way possible.

Wonder if film could make it to Cannes competition, he hasn't been in competition since 2009, but imagine film more out-of-competition special event or even with a midnight screening.

Storyline goes like this: Realizing that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to bide time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.

Kôji Fukada with 小风琴 Harmonium

Not really familiar with director that has not yet arrive to any of the three top festivals, but he has paid his dues with films premiering in fests like Rotterdam Tallinn Black Nights and Tokyo IFF. Perhaps his better-known film is 2016 Rotterdam fest Sayônara, starring none other than Irène Jacob, a Japanese-French co production from 2015.

Now Fukada has another film that maybe is ready and buzz is that is time for him to make it to a major fest, perhaps in a collateral section. It's his 6th feature film and tells the story of the owner of a small workshop in a country village in Japan. MK2 aquired film rights to this French co production with Comme des Cinémas.

Pen-ek Ratanaruang with Samui Song

Some director's previous films have opened at Berlin and Cannes, so maybe film could make it to Cannes as have to say that story is quite puzzling, different/unusual for Asian cinema; perhaps is due to this is a Thailand, Germany and Norway co production. Story tells about a soap opera actress with husband's obsession with a cult-like religious sect and the opportunity to get rid of her problems -including husband- but at a very high price.

Boo Junfeng with Apprentice

Singapore's acclaimed young director -was the first Singaporean filmmaker to be invited to Cannes La Semaine de la Critique- has a new film that's a follow-up to his coming-of-age drama 2010 Sandcastle and tells about a young prison officer taken under the wing of a senior staff member who happens to be the chief executioner; as he's asked to apprentice, he has a crisis of conscience. Film looks/feels to have all the right credentials for a major film festival premiere.

Na Hon-Jin with 곡성 Goksung (The Wailing)

Director has been twice at Cannes and surely his better-known films is Hwanghae (The Yellow Sea) so there are high probabilities that film could make it to Cannes this year. Film is another mystery/thriller about a stranger going to a small village and mysterious sickness starting to spread; police thinks is wild-mushroom poisoning but the unknown man gets the blame. Suspect film will be visually stunning as The Yellow Sea was, check the trailer.



Just noticed two HUGE omissions in a previous post, so as they come from Asian countries, here are some of my favorite directors and their new films.

Asghar Farhadi with Forushande (The Salesman)

Know Farhadi became well-know with his acclaimed films A Separation and The Past but not to me as I met him with his outstanding 2006 Fireworks Wednesday and since then have seen all his feature films, including fabulous About Elly. So now has a new movie that I'm not sure will be ready for Cannes but since he has lately opened his films in Cannes or Berlin I wonder if film is not ready, will he go to Venice? or wait for 2017 Berlinale?

Let's hope film is ready as most likely will be in the Official Selection as is another strong family drama set in most unusual setting for an Persian film.

Joseph Cedar with Oppenheimer Strategies

A USA and Israel co production starring Charlote Gainsbourg, Richard Gere, Michael Sheen, Dan Stevens, and more, seems more a mainstream film than what he did with 2007 Berlinale Silver Bear Best Director winner Beaufort or 2011 Cannes Best Screenplay winner and Academy Award nominated fabulous Footnote.  But let's give the benefit of the doubt and perhaps film has the quality to be consider for Cannes, sigh.

55th Semaine de la Critique News

Today the oldest parallel section of the Festival de Cannes announced the jurors for the 50+5 edition of la Semaine. Yes there are some special events and that's the reason why to the plus sign.

The 55th edition of La Semaine de la Critique will celebrate the Talents discovered since 2011, the year of the 50th anniversary of this parallel section in Cannes. This 50+5 edition has an exceptional jury, composed of 5 important filmmakers revealed with their first or second feature at La Semaine in the past 5 years.

The Jury President, Valérie Donzelli, will award the Nespresso Grand Prize and the France 4 Visionary Award to one of the 7 feature films in competition, as well as the Leica Cine Discovery Prize to one of the 10 short films to compete.

French director and actress, whose autobiographical film Declaration of War opened the 50th edition of La Semaine de la Critique and literally turned the audiences upside down. Valérie Donzelli’s cinema is deeply personal and bursting with a unique sense of fantasy.

She directed Valérie Lemercier in the fanciful Hand in Hand, and then returned to the Official Competition at the latest Cannes Film Festival with the very ambitious Marguerite & Julien.

She will be accompanied by director Alice Winocour, revealed at the 2011 Semaine de la Critique with Augustine, then with Disorder, presented in Un Certain Regard section in 2015 and lately, winner of the César Award for Best original screenplay for Mustang.

Nadav Lapid, whose feature The Kindergarten Teacher was selected in 2014 at La Semaine and was highly acclaimed by the critics as one of the major Israeli films.

David Robert Mitchell, whose film It Follows was in the competition of the 2014 Semaine de la Critique and has since become a cult film for a whole generation of moviegoers.

Santiago Mitre, winner of the Grand Prize in 2015 with his film Paulina, one of the most powerful films of the young Argentinian cinema.



This special 50+5 edition of La Semaine de la Critique will unfold with 5 Talents Talks, which consist of meetings and discussions around its young talents organized on the Nespresso Beach.

The selection will be announced on Monday, April 18 by Charles Tesson.

1st Gala du Cinéma Québécois Awards Winners

Not long ago was announced that there will be no more Jutra Awards due to the scandal surrounding famous Québécois filmmaker Claude Jutra; so this year Québec Cinéma, the group that organizes this award, gave the French-language films Canadian awards an interim name that most likely, according to press reports, will be the only year the ceremony will go with that name.

Award winners received a new wooden statue that will replace the previous statue created by Charles Daudelin. In three weeks Madly Fuss and Simon Marcotte from Nouveau Studio created and made the new trophy that is made of solid maple, painted white, with gold and acrylic leaves; with the time constrain there was no possibility to make trophies out of bronze.

The big winner of the night is La Passion d' Augustine by Léa Pool as collected six awards, from the 10 nominations it got, including Best Film. To refresh your memories here are so of her films: 2001 Lost and Delirious, 1986 Anne Trister, 2008 Maman est chez le coiffeur (Mommy is at the Hairdresser's). Yes, her latest film is most be seen for me.

Below are the winners for the main categories, to read winners in all categories go official site here, available only in French.

Best Film: La Passion d'Augustine, Léa Pool
Best Director: Léa Pool for La Passion d'Augustine

Best Actress: Céline Bonnier in La Passion d'Augustine
Best Supporting Actress: Diane Lavallée in La Passion d'Augustine
Best Actor: Gilbert Sicotte in Paul à Québec
Best Supporting Actor: Irdens Exantus in Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre (My Internship in Canada)

Best Cinematography: Yves Bélanger for Brooklyn
Best Production Design: François Séguin for Brooklyn
Best Editing: Richard Comeau for Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre (My Internship in Canada)
Best Sound: Raymond Vermette, Christian Rivest, Stéphane Bergeron, Guy Pelletier and Julie Dufour for La Guerre des Tuques 3D (Snowtime!)
Best Costumes: Michèle Hamel for La Passion d'Augustine
Best Makeup: Olivier Xavier for Turbo Kid
Best Hairstyle: Martin Lapointe for La Passion d'Augustine

Best Documentary: Ouïghours, prisonniers de l'absurde (Uyghurs: Prisoners of the Absurd), Patricio Henriquez
Best Short Film Fiction: Maurice, François Jaros
Best Short Film Animation: Autos Portraits, Claude Cloutier

Film with more success outside Quebec: Félix et Meira, Maxime Giroux
Billet d'Or: La Guerre des Tuques 3D (Snowtime!)

It's not only the name change due to terrible scandal, also these awards are marred by lots of articles talking about group giving awards to "arty" films and not recognizing films that had big Quebec box office (!!!). (lol) Hope that by next year all the turbulence around this award will settle down and Canadian French-language cinema can have again their trophys and prizes that acknowledge great Quebecois Cinema.

2016 Jussi Awards Winners

Last Saturday Filmiaura had their annual awards ceremony that honor Finnish films and the top winner of the night is none other than Finland's submission to 2016 Oscars, very-entertaining Miekkailija (The Fencer) by Klaus Härö, which had the honor to be shortlisted in the "shortlist of 9". It is the first time that a Finnish film is shortlisted.

Most interesting is to find that awards spread among 11 films and a few are documentaries.The Jussi Awards cover 15 film categories and were given for the first time in 1944, making it one of the oldest film awards in Europe.

The trophy, designed by sculptor Ben Renvall, is made of gypsum and depicts a nude man with a hat.

These are the winners.

Best Film: Miekkailija (The Fencer), Klaus Härö
Best Director: Aleksi Salmenperä for Häiriötekijä (Distractions)

Best Actress: Krista Kosonen in Kätilö (The Midwife)
Best Supporting Actress: Mari Rantasila in Henkesi edestä (Absolution)
Best Actor: Tommi Korpela in Häiriötekijä (Distractions)
Best Supporting Actor: Pirkka-Pekka Petelius in Kätilö (The Midwife)

Best Screenplay: Karoliina Lindgren for Armi elää! (Armi Alive!)
Best Cinematography: Tuomo Hutri for Miekkailija (The Fencer)
Best Music Score: Pan Sonic for Atomin paluu (The Return of the Atom)
Best Sound Design: Timo Anttila and Tuomas Seppänen for Big Game
Best Production Design: Otso Linnalaakso for Armi elää! (Armi Alive!)
Best Costume Design: Marjatta Nissinen for Tyttökuningas (The Girl King)
Best Makeup Design: Salla Yli-Luopa for Lovemilla

Best Documentary: Ompelijatar (Seamstress), Ville Shonen

To read winners at official site go here, available only in Finnish; for English go to press article here.

2016 Swiss Film Awards Winners

Last Friday, for the 19th time Swiss Films organization had their award ceremony where the favorite Köpek by Esen Isik won the top Quartz award and leading actress won top acting award, winning 2 of the 5 nominations it got.

Most interesting is that one of my favorite directors, Ursula Meier won a Quartz, this time for a short film!  Really miss her outstanding and (very) disturbing feature films, hope she makes one soon.

These are the award winners.

Best Feature Film: Köpek, Esen Isik
Best Documentary Film: Above and Below, Nicolas Steiner
Best Short Film: Kacey Mottet Klein, Naissance d'un acteur (Kacey Mottet Klein, Birth of an Actor), Ursula Meier, documentary, 14'
Best Animated Film: Erlkönig (Erlking), Georges Schwizgebel
Best Graduation Film: Ruben Leaves, Frederic Siegel from Haute école de Lucerne, animation, 5'

Best Actress: Beren Tuna in Köpek
Best Actor: Patrick Lapp in La vanité
Best Performance in a Supporting Role: Ivan Georgiev in La vanité

Best Cinematography: Felix von Muralt for Une cloche pour Ursli (Little Mountain Boy)
Best Screenplay: Micha Lewinsky for Nichts passiert (A Decent Man)
Best Editing: Kaya Inan for Above and Below
Best Film Score: Marcel Vaid for Als die Sonne vom Himmel fiel (The Day The Sun Fell)

Honorary Award 2016: Renato Berta for his lifetime work
Special Prize 2016
Guido Kelle for sound mixing in Köpek
Jacques Keiffer for sound mixing in Above and Bellow

To check films info at official site go here.

#Cannes2016 Poster

As the drop by drop continues to come, today fest organizers released the graphic identity for the 69th Festival de Cannes and believe the word that describes it best is: colorful! Yellow, red and purple will grace the streets of tiny Cannes next May; but the pièce de résistance is the poster that comes with a tone (filter) that leans to the yellow orange-tinted/saturated in the very hot side color-scale.

Poster was designed by Hervé Chigioni and his graphic designer Gilles Frappier and uses stills from 1963 Jean-Luc Godard's Le Mépris (Contempt) starring none other than Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli.

Here is the story behind the design or what is called the graphic identity rationale.

It's all there. The steps, the sea, the horizon: a man's ascent towards his dream, in a warm Mediterranean light that turns to gold. As an image it is reminiscent of a timeless quote by Michel Mourlet used at the beginning of Contempt: "Cinema replaces our gaze with a world in harmony with our desires”.

And so it is Michel Piccoli who in 2016, from the roof of the famous villa designed by the writer Curzio Malaparte, will open the red carpet for the 69th Festival de Cannes. It's a symbolic choice, since this film about the making of a film - regarded by many as one of the finest ever made in CinemaScope (the Piccoli/Bardot pairing along with Fritz Lang, Raoul Coutard's cinematography, Georges Delerue's music, and so on and so forth) - had such a considerable impact on the history of film and cinephilia.

On the eve of its 70th anniversary, by choosing to represent itself under the symbol of this simultaneously palimpsest and unambiguous film, the Festival is reiterating its founding commitment: to pay tribute to the history of film, and to welcome new ways of creating and seeing. The steps represent a kind of ascension towards the infinite horizon of a cinema screen.

The 2016 visual identity has been created by Philippe Savoir (Filifox) and I will be introducing the pieces to you in the many posts that will come, but here is a small sample.

2nd Women in Motion - #Cannes2016

As I really enjoyed the program last year decided to share the official announcement for the second edition of this program that gives awards but also has the most interesting Talks.

Know that many have openly pressed the festival to have more female directors in the Official Selection, as well as in the parallel sections; as I have stated before, I believe gender should have very little to do with the quality of films in Cannes and any other festival. But also believe that female filmmakers should have more industry support and the first and foremost support should be allowing them to do their films.

I believe the Women in Motion program can and should promote the acknowledgement of female filmmakers and most relevant, support them to be able to convert projects into quality films that could travel the festival circuit and find audiences.  For now program has done the first and perhaps now with the second edition is ready to do the second.

Here is the official press release from Kering, the developer, sponsor and official partner of the Festival de Cannes.

∞ Officially launched at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival in 2015, the program, developed jointly by Kering and the Festival de Cannes, will once again take place in Cannes from 11 to 22 May 2016.

∞ ‘Women in Motion’ aims to support women involved in cinema, highlight their contribution and encourage greater awareness of the need for diversity in the film industry.

∞ In 2015, the Women in Motion Talks welcomed numerous film industry professionals who discussed the place of women in cinema and their contribution to it. The ‘Women in Motion’ Awards were given to Jane Fonda and to independent producer, Megan Ellison.

∞ The 2016 Talks will provide an opportunity to enrich last year’s debate around the place of women in cinema with the perspectives of speakers from other fields. The second edition will also be marked by the presentation of the ‘Women in Motion’ Awards on 15 May, designed to celebrate and encourage talented women in cinema.

In keeping with the first edition, the 2016 edition will be comprised of its two founding pillars: the ‘Women in Motion’ Talks and the ‘Women in Motion’ Awards. Taking place as morning sessions throughout the entire competition, this year’s ‘Women in Motion’ Talks will welcome guests from outside the film industry to enrich the discussions about the place and contribution of women in cinema and underline solutions which would make the industry more representative.

During the first edition of the ‘Women in Motion’ Talks held in 2015, a number of high - profile men and women eagerly joined the debate. Isabella Rossellini, Claire Denis, Salma Hayek Pinault, Matthias Schoenaerts, Melvil Poupaud, Isabelle Huppert, Sylvie Pialat, Agnès Varda, Thierry Frémaux, Frances McDormand and Deniz Gamze Ergüven all expressed their views on women and cinema during a series of interviews open to journalists and industry professionals.

In addition to the talks, for the 69th Cannes International Film Festival, the awards will be presented on 15 May 2016, during the ‘Presidential Dinner’ organized by Kering and the Festival de Cannes and hosted by François-Henri Pinault, Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux. The first award will be presented to a laureate who has made an exemplary contribution to both the film industry and women’s causes. The first award winner will then be offered the chance to choose the recipient(s) of the second award, intended to support up-and-coming talents in the film industry, from a shortlist of individuals compiled throughout 2015. The second award will be accompanied by financial support for an ongoing film project.

In 2015, two honorary awards were attributed; the first to actress, producer and committed philanthropist Jane Fonda, who also holds two Oscars for best actress; and the second to independent producer Megan Ellison to celebrate the launch of the ‘Women in Motion’ program. Both women are emblematic of their cinematic generations.

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, commented: "I am proud that ‘Women in Motion’ has once again been given the chance to feature in the programme of such a major event as the Festival de Cannes this year. In 2015, ‘Women in Motion’ proved to be a powerful platform for supporting women in cinema. With ‘Women in Motion’ –and even more so this year, given the real support we are providing to several female directors– we are taking another step towards real awareness and tangible changes, promoting a film industry that is more representative of the richness and diversity of our societies".

Pierre Lescure, President of the Cannes International Film Festival, stated: “I am once again delighted to be able to offer a program as rich and ambitious as ‘Women in Motion’ to guests and the entire film industry at the 69th Festival de Cannes. In 2016, ‘Women in Motion’ is expanding, in line with the debate about the place of women in cinema and the need for greater diversity within the profession. We are pleased to be able to contribute to reflections on this important theme, and to give concrete support to up-and-coming cinematic talents in the process.”

Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Cannes International Film Festival, added: “The
‘Women in Motion’ program has really found its place at Cannes. I am delighted that the second edition is being held in 2016. We are extremely proud of the success of the first edition, both in terms of the quality of its discussions and speakers, and for the positive reception it was given by the press and industry professionals. The place, role, contribution and voices of women in cinema are undoubtedly issues that concern the entire profession and which will help the industry to evolve towards ever greater degrees of openness and diversity.”

10th Asian Film Awards Winners

Yesterday the Academy had their awards ceremony and as expected by many, Hou Hsiao-Hsien's The Assassin swept the night by winning eight awards out of the nine nominations it had, which is a fantastic ratio in any world awards.

But Hou Hsiao-Hsien film steak left not much for other films; still, among the few other awards left, Jia Zhang-ke collected Best Script for his Mountains May Depart.

To check winners in all categories go official site here.  Winners are in *BLUE.

---///---
2/3/16
Organized by the Asian Film Awards Academy, the Asian Film Awards will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. For this edition, 77 nominations have been made for 15 awards. The nominations represent 36 films from 9 countries.

World-renowned Hong Kong director Mr. Johnnie TO Kei-fung will serve as this year’s Jury President and lead a jury comprising by two popular celebrity jurors, Hong Kong actor Mr. Sean LAU Ching-wan and mainland Chinese actress Ms. GAO Yuanyuan, as well as 12 respected film industry professionals, festival programmers and critics from all over the world.

This year, the AFA received almost 1,600 submissions from 32 countries. The entries were wide-ranging and include genres like wuxia, period epics, romantic comedies, crime, festival acclaimed works and many others.

Hou Hsiao-Hsien's The Assassin leads the pack with nine (9) nominations followed by Port of Call by Philp Yung and the unexpected contender, Bajirao Mastani by Sanjay Leela Bhansali with five (5) each.

To read nominations full press release go official site here and to read nominations in all categories go here both files available in pdf format.

The following are the nominees for some of the 15 categories.

Best Film
Mountains May Depart, France, Japan and China
*The Assassin, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan
Bajirao Mastani, India
Three Stories of Love, Japan
Mr. Six, China
Veteran, South Korea

Best Director
Jia Zhang-ke for Mountains May Depart
*Hou Hsiao-Hsien for The Assassin
Kore-eda Hirokazu for Our Little Sister
Guan Hu for Mr. Six
Ryoo Seung-wan for Veteran

Best Actress
Zhao Tao in Mountains May Depart
*Shu Qi in The Assassin
Ayase Haruka in Our Little Sister
Kim Hye-soo in Coin Locker Girl
Karena Lam in Zinnia Flower

Best Actor
Donnie Yen in Ip Man 3
Nagase Masatoshi in An
Feng Xiaogang in Mr. Six
*Lee Byung-Hun in Inside Men
John Arcilla in Heneral Luna

Best Screenplay
*Jia Zhang-ke for Mountains May Depart
Philp Yung for Port Of Call
Vishal Bhardwaj for Talvar
Ujita Takashi and Kurosawa Kiyoshi for Journey to the Shore
Ryoo Seung-wan for Veteran

Best Cinematography
Chirstopher Doyle for Port of Call
*Mark Lee Ping-Bing for The Assassin
Sasakibara Yasushi and Yamamoto Yoshiaki for Gonin Saga
Luo Pan for Mr. Six
Kim Woo-hyung for Assassination

No surprise when almost all the films listed in the above categories are known to me, especially two films by my most-favorite directors Jia Zhang-ke and Hou Hsiao-Hsien.  The Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 17 at The Venetian Theater in The Venetian Macau.

#Cannes2016 Wish List - Part 3 Latin American Directors

Latin American cinema has some high film production markets like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile and most award winning films tend to come from those countries but lately markets like Colombia and Peru have become source of award-worthy films. With less local production but many interesting films we cannot forget Venezuela and Uruguay.

This bird-view summary to say that production is healthy in the region and many great directors have films ready to premiere during 2016; some hope will make it to Cannes while others hope will make it to any other film festival in the circuit.

Since the end of last year there were a couple of films that had big buzz for 2016 Cannes and after 2016 Berlin one has become THE film that every cinema pundit predicts could win this year Palme d'Or. We all know that it's too early for the guessing game but all the buzz is consequence of the power a director has and yes, Lucrecia Martel has done extremely outstanding films and believe she deserves all the positive buzz her latest film has generated.  Let's start with Martel.

Lucrecia Martel with Zama

Acclaimed Argentinean director has been doing shorts and documentaries but no feature film since her outstanding 2008 La Mujer Sin Cabeza (The Headless Woman); so, 8 years after, she has a new film. A different kind of film.

Since her feature film debut, 2001 La Ciénaga she has written or co written her films screenplays from her own original ideas. Zama is different because is her first feature film without an original idea from her as is based on acclaimed Antonio Di Benedetto 1956 novel with the same name; still, Martel wrote the screenplay adaptation.  It's an historic movie but is also a parody, so story seems exactly fitting Martel's peculiar and particular filmmaking style.

Yes, hope film is ready as many sites, including film production companies, have film release for 2017. Nevertheless, film has strong credentials starting with co production companies like Almodóvar Brothers El Deseo, Mexico's Canana, French MPM Films, American Louverture Films, Dutch Lemming Film and Netherlands Filmfonds, Portugal's O Som e a Fúria, Swiss KNM, and Argentina's Picnic Productions. Film was produced by Rei Cine in Argentina and Bananeir Filmes from Brasil. As you can see it's a true international production and co production with an interesting cast lead by Daniel Giménez Cacho and Lola Dueñas.

No matter if it makes to Cannes or not, or to any other festival, is must be seen for me as I watch everything by Lucrecia Martel.



Talking about Argentine movies, let me do something special, this is a short list of interesting films that could be released during 2016, according to Argentinean press and besides Zama.
Cien años de perdón by Daniel Calparsor, France, Spain and Argentina (March 3, 2016)
Kóblic by Sebastián Borensztein ( with Ricardo Darín as a pilot who refuses to follow orders during infamous recent Argentinian dictatorship. (May 12, 2016)
Gilda by Lorena Muñoz -a biopic with the most surreal story about Myriam Alejandra Bianchi, better known as Gilda, a stage-name she adopted from unforgettable Rita Hayworth's character. (September 7, 2016)

Check Kóblic trailer (yes, must be seen for me)



Pablo Larraín with Neruda

Larraín has been really busy filming late last year and this year and now has two films in post production, one is the Chilean-American co production Jackie about First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy and the other, Neruda, with a less-told story about the times when Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda became a fugitive in his home country for joining the Communist Party. Obviously I'm already "dying" to see Neruda.

After outstanding impact-full and very-unexpected El Club, Larraín goes back to work with Gael García Bernal and his regular magnificent Alfredo Castro to tell the story of an inspector hunting down Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda in 1948 when after several tries, crossed the Andean mountains into Argentina to end in France. Film is not a biopic, nor a documentary but follows chronological reality with lots of fiction.

Hope makes it to Cannes as after great El Club Berlinale success its time he goes back to Cannes.



Amat Escalante with La Región Salvaje (Untamed)

I intensely love to hate (just an image- minimize the hate part) Escalante's very violent films since his debut with 2005 Sangre up to 2016 Cannes Best Director award winner, Heli; so, based on what was able to learn about this movie, find it hard to believe that there will not be violence in this movie that is label as sci-fi/drama about love and falling-out-of-love of a young married couple. Actually, now while writing plot summary can see the irony and even imagine where the violence could be (lol!).

Another film description gets more my attention when says film is a social/sci fi movie about machismo, homophobia and the repression of women ... gee, this plot summary gives a lot more idea of where Escalante's trademark violence could be.

According to Mantarraya, Mexican production company, film premiere will be on September 2, 2016; but IMDb says will be May 15 in Mexico ... so, let's hope that May 15 date means Cannes and not Mexico.  Mexican press already claim that film will be in Cannes, but we know how unreliable that country press could be; still, February article claims that film will be ready by the end of April.

Talking about extraordinary Mexican filmmakers will share another film I'm "dying" to see but will not be ready until the end of 2016 and probably will end up in 2017 Cannes.  I'm talking about Donde Nace La Vida (Where Life is Born) by none other than my favorite director Carlos Reygadas!  Also about love and loss of love in open couple relationships, set in fighting bull-breeding ranches (???!!!). OMG! What's going on with Mexican cinema scripts?

As has happened before, there is nothing (no films stills, no poster, no trailer) about the films by Amat Escalante and Carlos Reygadas.  Grrr ...

Daniel Castro Zimbrón with Las Tinieblas (The Darkness)

Project was at 2016 Cannes Cinéfondation L'Atelier and the following is the synopsis from Cannes official site:
In a forest, always covered by a dense fog, Gustavo has maintained his three children locked in the basement of an old cabin making them believe that a wild beast roams the depths of the forest. Marcos, the eldest son, has not been back since the last time he went hunting with his father. In an effort to find his brother, Argel will discover the mysteries and secrets that both Gustavo and the forest hide and will have to decide how far he can go to confront what is hidden in darkness.

Unless something very unexpected happens, I foresee this film will make it to Cannes, as usually projects in L'Atelier or in The Residence end up premiering at the festival. Nevertheless have to admit that I'm curious about this film.



Kleber Mendonça Filho with Aquarius

Will share that I'm not familiar with director but got interested after learned was part of a very short list with Cahiers du Cinema most anticipated 2016 films and noticed that Sonia Braga plays the leading role in a VERY interesting story that tells about 65-year-old Clara, a retired music writer and critic, widowed and alone in the Aquarius apartment building after her three gown children have moved away ... and oops! she has mastered the gift of time travel!



Talking about Latin American directors there is one that did another English-language film with young Hollywood actors and after watching trailer can't say its Cannes material but always there are the parallel sections, so will share.

Gerardo Naranjo with Viena and the Fantomes

Mexican director of interesting films like 2008 Voy a Explotar (I'm Gonna Explode) and the film that propel him to a different level in Mexican and World cinema, Miss Bala has a new film and from what I see in the bad-quality trailer seems that he was able to transfer his disturbing filmmaking style to an American production about the intense times of Viena, as she travels with the Fantomes, a post punk band on tour through the American west. If what I'm saying is accurate then surely you have to prepare for an unusual cinematic ride as all Naranjo films have been before.

Film cast includes Dakota Fanning, Evan Rachel Wood, Zoë Kravitz and more young actors. Definitively there is something not-positive happening with this film as was supposed to be released in 2015 with many speculating film going to 2015 Cannes, then 2015 Venice, then 2015 Toronto, then 2016 Sundance, then 2016 Berlin and nothing happened.  Seems film is hanging in the void, so let's hope will appear somewhere.

#Cannes 2016 News

As expected news have started to come drop by drop -very nice strategy to keep our attention- and yesterday we learned that none other that great Japanese filmmaker and one of my favorite contemporary directors, Naomi Kawase, is the President of The Cinéfondation and Short Films Jury for the 69th edition of the Festival de Cannes.

Assume that all of you, who read the blog regularly know who she is; but in case you're not familiar with her and wish to meet her, my best suggestion is to start with 2007 Mogari no Mori (The Mourning Forest), then go back to her previous films, continue with her recent films up to An (Sweet Bean), which perhaps is her more easy-to-watch by general audiences, as broke Japan's box office records. If I have to explain her style in a few words will be, simple everyday life moments told with full poetic storytelling and awesome visuals.

According to Cannes official site, Naomi Kawase said the following when her appointment was announced:

“Films enrich people’s lives, and their worlds inspire new possibilities. It is a little over 100 years since the advent of films, and their potential is ever expanding. They are exceptional media that can embody the diversity of world cultures, and their stories are like another life that enchants the audiences who see them.

Short films are exceptionally difficult, facing the question of how much of a story can be experienced in their short duration, while they also contain myriad possibilities yet unseen. And among films created by students there will be the discovery of hidden brilliance like a gemstone, which makes me very much look forward to participating in this jury, a journey of adventure."

The President of the Cinéfondation, Gilles Jacob, added: “From her Japanese roots, Naomi Kawase (Caméra d'or 1997) takes her extreme delicateness, refined manners and moral elegance. Her pointillist talent has helped generate a cinematic intelligence and a subtle art full of poetic mystery and graceful simplicity, conveyed through the great emotions of life and the tiny gestures of everyday existence. This year she will join a long line of great presidents of the Cinéfondation and Short Film Jury, from Martin Scorsese and Abbas Kiarostami, to Jane Campion, Hou Hsiao Hsien, John Boorman and the Dardennes brothers."



Cannes Buzz

Also yesterday The Hollywood Reported published an "exclusive" that tells about one American film going to Cannes. One month before the official announcement of the selection make me take all the "sure thing" news with a grain of salt and suggest you do the same.

But the movie is none other than Money Monster by Jodie Foster, a film that since February has strong buzz about its premiere in Cannes; then, maybe will be true and film will premiere on May 12, one day before the North American premiere on May 13.  No, buzz says that film is not expected to be the opening film.

No doubt that film has all the right credentials for Cannes, started with Jodie Foster who is a "darling" of the French Cinema industry and has history with the festival as in 2011 her film, The Beaver, also debuted at Cannes. Then we have the Hollywood A-List cast that includes George Clooney and Julia Roberts.



ACID Cannes 2016

Famous French underground graphic designer, Pierre La Police, got carte blanche to design this year ACID poster and today was released. Not sure if the following words are official but I like them, so share them here: "Les films avancement comme des trains dans la nuit".

Yes, those words (movies advance like trains in the night) are from François Truffaut's 1973 La Nuit américaine (Day for Night) but poster really goes well with them and the idea they suggest.



ACID official selection with 9 feature films will be announced on April 19 and inscription is still open until March 24.

#Cannes2016 Wish List - Part 2 Prominent Diversity

Usually I do not spontaneously think about independent cinema but I was reminded that in Cannes there is an important showcase of world independent cinema that's looking forward to find distribution, I'm talking about ACID. It's not easy to talk about world cinema as usually feels more like underground cinema than anything closer to mainstream, but that's why sections like ACID are crucial to learn about newcomers and become a vehicle to help their films be seen by audiences.  I find this Cannes section to be highly unpredictable as there are not many sites that specialize in independent world cinema.

One of best sites to read their Cannes predictions is Wask, unfortunately is available only in French but nevertheless if you don't understand French, consider that film names and directors are easy to identify and then go elsewhere to read more about them. Up to this moment Wask has only the prologue of what's coming and they promise five different posts with what I imagine 20 films each. Soon we will learn what the site will do this year, check it here.

Will share with you all a copy and paste of Article 3 from the Festival de Cannes Rules & Regulations 2016 as will clarify to many -including me- if film has the conditions to receive an invitation to the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition and Un Certain Regard).

Article 3
The Board of Directors chooses and invites the films which will be presented in Competition, Out of Competition or for Un Certain Regard. Each film invited to be part of the Official Selection by the Board of Directors will receive a Certificate of Participation. Only films that meet the following conditions may be chosen for invitation in the Official Selection:

Films that have been produced during the twelve months preceding the Festival;
Films that have not been released anywhere other than their country of origin;
Films that have not been presented at any other international motion picture event;
If the film (feature or short) has been selected in an international section (competitive or not) of a festival, it becomes ineligible for the Festival de Cannes. A selection is international if it presents films from different countries;
Films that have not been exhibited on the Internet;
Films that respect the aims of the Festival as defined in Article 1;
If participating in the "short film" category, films that do not exceed 15 minutes in length, including credits.

The second part of my wish list covers many of my most interesting directors, some have films ready while others I'm not sure they will have a finish version; some will premiere film in Cannes, while others suggest will open film before the festival. No matter what, they have new films that absolutely are must be seen for me.

Most Interesting Directors

Pedro Almodóvar with Julieta

It was called to my attention that Almodóvar tends to premiere his films in Spain before going to Cannes and if we check his films records we find that it's true for 3 films out of the four he has had in competition. As we can see in article 3, filmmakers can premiere their films in the country of origin and still be eligible for the Official selection. So, yes, Almodóvar latest film, Julieta, will premiere in Spain on April 8, 2016 and could be eligible; BUT if we believe IMDb then we see that on April 21 will premiere in Portugal and on May 6 in Mexico, so IF true, then film will NOT be in Cannes, no matter if France release is scheduled to May 18 as becomes not eligible.

Still, let's hope IMDb is not accurate and film still is Cannes eligible as is time he returns to Cannes with a strong drama in the female universe as Julieta suggests to be. Film international sales are handled by FilmNation and already has been sold to Sony Pictures Classics for North American rights. Film expectations are so HIGH that American cinema pundits are already speculating that film is a strong contender for the 2017 Oscars (!). Please recall that he has an Oscar and was not for a foreign-language film but for Talk to Her original screenplay. Yes film has extremely good credentials for Oscar and to be in the mother of all festivals.

Originally was called Silencio (Silence) but director decided to change name to Julieta so will not be confused with Scorsese's film. But the original name is crucial to learn about film as there is very little info about film plot; yes, I imagine is about silence and the main character, about something that happened when she was young and that will emerge when she's older.



Semih Kaplanoğlu with Grain

Kaplanoğlu's trilogy Yumurta (Egg), Süt (Milk) and Bal (Honey) is one of the most visually impacting cinema that I have seen, with a particular storytelling style -telling the story backwards- and outstanding performances. So waiting for a new Kaplanoğlu film has been a very long wait that finally is over, BUT my huge surprise is to discover that he's doing a film in the English-language even do is a Turkish, German, French and Swedish co production. Still the use of that language probably has something to do with the filming in Detroit, Michigan -plus Central Turkey, Cappadocia and Germany- and story is related to ecological science-fiction set in an indefinite near future, where existence of sustainable life is threatened, where a genetics expert and a general chaos scientist join forces in the Dead Lands to find fresh seeds, changing everything they thought they knew in the process.

International cast includes French-American Jean-Marc Barr, awesome Belgian Lubna Azabal and more actors from B&H, Russia, among other countries. Have no doubt that cinematography has to be with spectacular use of light and shadows as film is in black and white. Not sure what to expect of film but nevertheless because of his magnificent previous films, movie is must be seen for me no matter if makes it to Cannes or not. The Match Factory picked up international rights at 2015 Toronto fest where was promoted to buyers, so seems film is ready for

Andrea Arnold with American Honey

She came to my attention with her outstanding raw/realistic 2009 Cannes Jury Prize winner Fish Tank -wish was the second film with Michael Fassbender I've seen-; then her Wunthering Heights version that opened at 2011 Venice fest did not touch me, so I'm looking forward to her latest, American Honey that many expect to be ready for Cannes.

This UK and USA co production has a not-easy to watch story with a cast that includes troubled -but great performer- Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keogh among many not-known (to me) actors. Yes, story seems not really the kind I enjoy in film as tells about a teenage girl, Star, with nothing to lose who gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying, law bending and young love; but hope that Arnold's Fish Tank filmmaking style is present as will make story and film go up to a different -unique- level.

Film already sold to  A24, which has USA rights; film was introduced in Cannes 2014 by Protagonist Pictures.

Ken Loach with I, Daniel Blake
Seem Loach much announced retirement is over -or never happened-, great!!!  His very particular social storytelling style is one that shouldn't be silenced, ever -not even by him.  Add very raw, direct filmmaking style and we have some of the best films in British Contemporary Cinema.  Highly enjoy his films so very glad that he didn't retire and very curious about his latest films.  This time seems he will explore state welfare as tells about a middle aged carpenter who requires state welfare after injuring himself, and is joined by a single mother in a similar scenario.



Cristian Mungiu with Fotografii de familie (Family Photos aka Recycling Feelings)

Four years after outstanding Beyond the Hills, Mungiu has a new film and yes, I'm already "dying" to see it even when is Mungiu's first feature focusing on a male character, as he became famous with his female-characters stories. Still, film is a family drama about parenting set in a small Romanian town where everybody knows everyone, main character is a doctor.

Most surprising he didn't work with long time collaborator cinematographer Oleg Mutu, so I wonder how the look in this film will be and IF will be as breathtaking as in Beyond the Hills or as disturbing as in 4 months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.  Not sure if film is ready for Cannes, but filming closed on August 2015, so should be ready for the fest even when official production site, Mobra Films has no info yet about movie, nor the other co production companies like Why Not Productions.  The only place where found basic info was in Dardenne Brothers' production company Les Films du Fleuve.

Derek Cianfrance with The Light Between the Oceans

Cianfrance's fabulously darkish Blue Valentine opened in 2010 Cannes Un Certain Regard, so there are chances this film could also go to Cannes specially now, after the 2015 awards seasons as film leads are none other than Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender and Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, which obviously will bring some glamour and buzz to Cannes red carpet but more interesting, film Cannes presence will assure the quality of the film and actors performances.

A USA and New Zealand co production tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from an adrift rowboat.  Trailer suggests film feels/looks "different" to Cianfrance's previous films and maybe it is, as recent films he had sort of a claustrophobic atmosphere in  indoors scenes; but here thanks to breathtaking outdoors scenes and use of light, there could be an absence of his previous atmospheric treatment.

Have seen everything with  Alicia Vikander, including early Swedish films, so obviously film is must be seen for me, plus yes, also see and love everything with Michael Fassbender; "dying" to see them together, hope film will not disappoints me, as do not wish to see a melodrama -story could easily go that way- but an intense human drama with great performances and a masterful director. Cinematography is by Adam Arkapaw, fresh off working with Justin Kurzel and Michael Fassbender on Macbeth.



Cate Shortland with Berlin Syndrome

After Somersault and Lore, Shortland brings us a movie that seems could catapult her to an upper echelon in her filmmaker career as only from reading fantastic synopsis (by Memento Films) all my senses were stimulated and became very curious about film. Take a look.

While holidaying in Berlin, Australian photojournalist, Clare, meets Andi, a charismatic local man and there is an instant attraction between them. A night of passion ensues. But what initially appears to be the start of a romance suddenly takes an unexpected and sinister turn when Clare wakes the following morning to discover Andi has left for work and locked her in his apartment. An easy mistake to make, of course, except Andi has no intention of letting her go again. Ever.

Film is based on Melanie Joosten novel with the same name with a script by Shaun Grant who wrote Justin Kurzel highly disturbing The Snowtown Murders, so film has the right credentials to travel the 2016 festival circuit and good chances that trip could start in Cannes.

Emir Kusturica with On the Milky Road

Will long-awaited film be finally released this year?  Seems finally film will see audiences this year; but could be in Cannes or in Venice?  Don't know but many pundits speculate that has to be Cannes, to give him the opportunity of a third Palme d'Or.  Besides being a Kusturica film, movie has him acting in a leading role along with Monica Bellucci in the female lead role, so that's something that I have to see no matter what (!).  Been waiting for this film for the past 2-3 years, so let's hope Wild Bunch will release the film that just this morning announced in its 2016 lineup. Sigh.



Next installment will be about Latin American directors, then Asian directors, and will end with American directors.