This year’s Cannes Film Festival has come to a close and the awards have been announced. One could just imagine that by choosing Tim Burton as the head of the jury, we would be in
for some interesting selections. Burton with his fellow judges (including Kate Beckinsale and Benicio Del Toro) have made the Thai people very happy by choosing one of their own to win the coveted Palme d’Or. This year’s top prize went to Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s film Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a one-of-a-kind dreamy ghost story about a man who is on speaking terms with all sorts of supernatural entities. The runner-up for the Palme was Xavier Beauvois’ Of God and Men, which garnered the most buzz as a possible Best Foreign Film Oscar contender this year. (stay tuned for that one!)
for some interesting selections. Burton with his fellow judges (including Kate Beckinsale and Benicio Del Toro) have made the Thai people very happy by choosing one of their own to win the coveted Palme d’Or. This year’s top prize went to Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s film Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a one-of-a-kind dreamy ghost story about a man who is on speaking terms with all sorts of supernatural entities. The runner-up for the Palme was Xavier Beauvois’ Of God and Men, which garnered the most buzz as a possible Best Foreign Film Oscar contender this year. (stay tuned for that one!)The festival's jury prize went to A Screaming Man, directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and the first film ever in the competition from Chad. It is a melancholy film that explores the relationship between a father and son during a civil war in Chad. Well done, Chad!
The top acting nods went to Javier Bardem (Biutiful) and Elio Germano (La Nostra Vida) who tied for best actor. Best actress went to the always wonderful Juliette Binoche (Certified Copy). Not in competition but also present were Ridley Scott with Robin Hood, Woody Allen and his latest, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and Oliver Stone with Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Having attended some major film festivals, I know that sometimes it is satisfying to see the big films before they open in the States. However the real joy in attending is discovering those hidden gems; the ones you know won’t ever get distribution here in America. If you haven’t already, give a film festival a try!! (see The Film festival Guide: for filmmakers, film buffs and industry professionals 791.43079LAN @HBPL or there are many websites online with film festival information.)
