15/04/2011

Originality, radicalism and artistic intransigence characterise the three French directors in the race for the Palme d’Or (see news) at the 64th Cannes Film Festival (May 11-22, 2011).

Twice selected in competition in 1986 (Jury Prize for Thérèse) and in 1993 (Libera Me), Alain Cavalier (79 - photo) presented his latest two works in the Un Certain Regard section: Le Filmeur [+see also:
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film profile] in 2005 (see review – Intimacy Prize) and Irene [+see also:
film review
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film profile] in 2009 (see review). He returns to the competition with Pater [+see also:
film review
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interview: Alain Cavalier
film profile], in which he appears alongside Vincent Lindon. Over one year, the director and actor met and filmed each other both in real life and in a fictional drama they created together.

Pater was produced by Michel Seydoux for Caméra One. Its €740,000 budget included co-production support from Arte France Cinéma and pre-acquisitions from Canal + and CinéCinéma. French distribution and international sales will be handled by Pathé.

Selected in the Critics’ Week 2001 with The Pornographer and the Directors’ Fortnight 2008 with On War (see review), Bertrand Bonello (42) is back in the Cannes competition where he got a surprise selection in 2003 with Tiresia. House of Tolerance [+see also:
film review
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interview: Adèle Haenel
film profile] (see news) has a cast including Noémie Lvovsky, Hafsia Herzi, Jasmine Trinca, CélineSallette, Adèle Haenel, Xavier Beauvois and Louis-Do de Lencquesaing.

Set in a Parisian brothel in the early 20th century, the film was produced by Kristina Larsen for Les Films du Lendemain and by My New Picture. Its €3.8m budget included co-production support from Arte France Cinéma, an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC), pre-acquisitions from Canal + and CinéCinéma and funding from the Ile-de-France region. French distribution will be managed by Haut et Court, while international sales are being handled by Films Distribution.

With Forgive Me [+see also:
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film profile] (nominated at the 2007 César Awards for Best Debut Film and Best Female Newcomer) and All About Actresses [+see also:
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film profile] (2009), Maïwenn (35) attracted attention for her style that straddles fiction and documentary. She will make her Cannes competition debut with Poliss [+see also:
film review
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interview: Maïwenn
film profile] (see news), a love story set against the backdrop of the Police Child Protection Squad.

Starring Karine Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Riccardo Scamarcio, the €6.14m film was produced by Alain Attal for Les Films du Trésor. Co-produced by Arte France Cinéma and Mars Films (who will handle French distribution), it was pre-bought by Canal + and CinéCinéma. International sales are being handled by Wild Bunch.

(Translated from French)