67th Cannes Film Festival

Claimed to be the biggest and most comprehensive film festival in the world, and attended by more than 5000 media representatives as well as the same number again and more of buyers, distributors and industry movers and shakers the Cannes Film Festival’s 67th edition ran from 15 to 25 May. The main prizes ceremony including the accolade of the Palme d’Or, took place a day earlier than usual (24 May) because of the European Elections (on 25 May).

Of the 49 titles selected across the board (out of 1800 submissions) for the Competition and Un Certain Regard 15 were directed by women. In the past the selectors had been criticized for a lack of female balance.

Many of Cannes’s favoured family were in the selection among them Ken Loach (Jimmy’s Hall), Mike Leigh (Mr. Turner), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Winter Sleep), the Dardennes Brothers (Two Days, One Night), David Cronenberg (Map to the Stars) and Olivier Assayas (The Clouds of Sils Maria). A young newcomer to the Competition although his films have been presented in previous Festivals, was Canadian Quebecois film-maker Xavier Dolan (Mommy).

The edition opened with Olivier Dahan’s Grace of Monaco featuring Nicole Kidman and Tim Roth which attracted much negative criticism and closed with a restored digital copy of Sergio Leone’s classic Western For a Fistful of Dollars introduced by Quentin Tarantino who was also on hand for a master class. For many a highlight was the appearance of Sophia Loren for a master class and also for the film she made with her son Edoardo Ponti, The Human Voice adapted from Jean Cocteau, preceding a restoration of her classic comedy with Marcello Mastroianni, Marriage Italian Style by Vittorio De Sica.

The late, great Mastroianni was the iconic poster image for the Festival, looming large over the red carpets leading up to the Lumière and Debussy theatres in the Palais des Festivals.

The Competition jury was presided over by Jane Campion, the only female director to have won the Palme d’Or (for The Piano in 1993). She said: “The Cannes Film Festival manages to combine and celebrate the glamour of the industry, the stars, the parties, the beaches, the business, while rigorously maintaining the Festival’s seriousness about the art and excellence of world cinema.” The FIPRESCI jury covered the Competition, Un Certain Regard, Critics’ Week and Directors’ Fortnight. (Richard Mowe)

Cannes Film Festival: www.festival-cannes.com