Cannes Film Festival 2016
The 11th of May signaled the beginning of the 69th Cannes Film Festival; where filmmakers & shakers from across the globe converge on the French riviera for 12 glitzy days of pomp and premieres, bringing the world an array of likely award-contending films to be released throughout the rest of 2016 and well into 2017… not to mention the awarding of Cannes’ own prestigious prizes.
Jury
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The jury which selected the winners of Sunday’s official competition was once again an eclectic international selection of filmmakers, presided over by Australian ‘Mad Max’ director George Miller and comprising of; French director Arnaud Desplechin, American actress Kirsten Dunst, Italian actress Valeria Golino, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, Hungarian director László Nemes, French actress Vanessa Paradis, Iranian producer Katayoon Shahabi and Canadian actor/film legend Donald Sutherland.
Jury Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Premieres & Screenings
Wednesday the 11th
Café Society
Image Source: Getty Images
This year’s festival was opened by Woody Allen’s “Golden Age” Hollywood comedy ‘Café Society’, starring Jesse Eisenberg as a young New Yorker who gets caught between an unexpected romance and the high-life in the city of Angels, both were joined by cast members Blake Lively, Kristen Stewart and Corey Stoll on the red carpet.
The media and the Twittersphere were handed a present when host of the opening ceremony and French comedian Laurent Lafitte directed an off-colour rape joke at Allen, triggering “outrage” all around. ‘Café Society’ is out on the 15th of July in the US with no current UK release date.
Café Society Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Thursday the 12th
Money Monster
Image Source: Reuters
Day two’s centerpiece premiere was director Jodie Foster’s financial corruption hostage thriller ‘Money Monster’, in attendance were the cast which included Julia Roberts, Dominic West, Caitriona Balfe, Jack O’Connell and George Clooney. ‘Money Monster’ is out now in the US and on the 27th of May in the UK.
Money Monster Cannes press conference (courtesy of ScreenSlam)
Friday the 13th
Slack Bay (Ma Loute)
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An unlucky Friday provided the good premiere fortune of Bruno Dumont’s comedy farce ‘Slack Bay’, set in early 20th century coastal Northern France where mysterious disappearances unravel which may involve the resident “eccentric” aristocratic family and the ordinary locals.
In attendance were director Dumont as well as the film’s stars Juliette Binoche, Raph, Fabrice Luchini, Brandon Lavieville, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Jean-Luc Vincent. There is no US or UK release date yet.
Ma Loute @ Cannes 2016 highlights (courtesy of Reuters)
I, Daniel Blake
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British director and master of social drama Ken Loach returned once again to Cannes on Friday with what turned out to be his 2nd Palme d’Or winning film, ‘I, Daniel Blake’ is the story of two disparate working class Brits, one a middle-aged carpenter and the other a young single mom, who are brought together by their dependence on the state in this social class drama with something to say about modern British society and the state of the welfare system.
In attendance were the director along with stars Dave Johns and Hayley Squires plus writer Paul Laverty and producer Rebecca O’Brien, no release date yet.
I, Daniel Blake @ Cannes 2016 highlights (courtesy of AFP)
The Student (Uchenik)
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Friday also brought us Un Certain Regard prize contender ‘The Student’; anarchic director Kirill Serebrennikov’s dark religious fundamentalism drama following the fate of a increasingly zealous teenager in modern Russia who begins to openly question the morality of the society around him. In attendance along with the director were young stars Alexandr Gorchilin, Victoria Isakova and Petr Skvortsov, no current US or UK release dates.
Uchenik @ Cannes film extract (courtesy of ARP Selection)
Saturday the 14th
The BFG
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Saturday provided a first look for a selected few at one of this year’s most anticipated films and biggest premier at Cannes 2016, Steven Spielberg’s magical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel ‘The BFG’.
In attendance along with the director were stars Ruby Barnhill, Mark Rylance, Penelope Wilton and Rebecca Hall, ‘The BFG’ is out on the 1st of July in the US and the 22nd of July in the UK.
The BFG Cannes press conference ( courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
The Handmaid (Ah-ga-ssi)
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Director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Thirst) returned to competition at Cannes with his adaptation of Sarah Waters’s Victorian-era crime novel “Fingersmith”. Park’s sexually charged erotic drama ‘The Handmaiden’ takes place in early 20th-century occupied Korea where a young woman’s plan to defraud a Japanese heiress is complicated when she becomes infatuated with her.
In attendance were director Park along with stars Ha Jung-Woo, Kim Min-Hee, Kim Tae-Ri and Jo Jing-Woong, there is no release date yet.
The Handmaiden Cannes Trailer (courtesy of The Upcoming)
Sunday the 15th
The Nice Guys
Image Source: AFP
Sunday’s 1st week gala featured the premiere of writer/director Shane Black’s 1970s “buddy-cop” detective black comedy ‘The Nice Guys’, joining Black were stars Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Murielle Telio and Matt Bomer. ‘The Nice Guys’ is out on the 20th of May in the US and 3rd of June in the UK.
The Nice Guys Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
American Honey
Image Source: AFP
Writer/director Andrea Arnold assembled arguably the most colourful cast at this year’s festival for the premiere of her misfit American road dramedy ‘American Honey’. In attendance were several of the film’s young stars including Riley Keough, Isaiah Stone, Robbie Ryan, Sasha Lane, McCaul Lombardi and Shia LaBeouf. No release date yet.
American Honey Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
From the Land of the Moon (Mal de Pierres)
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French actress-turned-director Nicole Garcia returned to Cannes with her 3rd Palme d’Or nominated feature ‘Mal de Pierres’, a post World Warr II French period romance/drama starring Marion Cotillard as a free-spirited woman struggling in a loveless marriage. In attendance were also her co-stars Louis Garrel and Alex Brendemuhl, no release date yet.
Male de Pierres Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Week 2 (Next Page)–>
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