Since last Wednesday, the Côte d’Azur has once again been home to many stars and starlets of the global film industry. The prizes of the International Film Festival are coveted, the films well worth seeing and often real insider tips. Here is a quick overview of some of our favorites.
The Zone of Interest British director Jonathan Glazer is surprisingly a Cannes newcomer. Since 2000, he’s impressed us with works like “Sexy Beast,” “Birth” and “Under The Skin.” Now comes his fourth feature film, based on the novel by Martin Amis. It’s a Holocaust drama about an Auschwitz commandant and his wife who try to build a life next to the concentration camp. The film was shot in Auschwitz and promises to be one of the most haunting of the year. The film’s score is by Mica Levi.
Banel & Adama French-Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy is in contention for the Palme d’Or as the only debut director. Set in a remote village in northern Senegal, the story follows a couple who live apart from their families, causing chaos in the community. The film is a tragic love story and was shot in the Pulaar language with local amateur actors.
Asteroid City The latest film by Wes Anderson is set during a meeting in 1955 in a fictional desert city. Expect alien encounters, mannered discussions and homages to sci-fi B-movies. The all-star ensemble includes familiar faces like Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton and Jeff Goldblum, as well as newcomers like Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks.
Firebrand Director Karim Aïnouz adapts the novel “Queen’s Gambit” by Elizabeth Fremantle. The film tells the story of Henry VIII and his last wife Catherine Parr. It is described as a “historical horror drama” and could be a title that gets attention in terms of awards.
The Cannes International Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Every year in May, they are held on the Côte d’Azur, mainly at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes.
An international jury of filmmakers awards the festival’s film prizes. The most prestigious award is the Golden Palm (Palme d’Or), which is given to the best film in the competition. Other prizes awarded by the jury are the Grand Prize of the Jury (Grand prix du jury), the Prize of the Jury (Prix du Jury) and the Special Prize of the Jury. There are also awards in the categories of Best Female and Male Performer, Best Director and Best Screenplay. In addition, other juries award prizes for competition films, including the FIPRESCI Prize of International Film Critics (Prix de la FIPRESCI) and the Ecumenical Jury Prize (Prix du Jury oecuménique). In addition to the main competition, there is also the short film competition with the Palme d’Or for short films (Palme d’Or du court métrage), the Cinéfondation competition, which honors works by film students, and the Un Certain Regard section, where the Prix Un Certain Regard is awarded. Trophies for the awards are made and sponsored by the Swiss jeweler Chopard in Geneva. Chopard also provides the jewelry for the celebrities. The 76th Cannes Film Festival will take place till May 27, 2023.