25/04/2008

Jerzy Skolimowski, Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu, Joachim Lafosse, Bertrand Bonello and Lisandro Alonso are among the eminent directors in the line-up for the 40th edition of the Directors’ Fortnight which will run from May 15-25 as part of the 61st Cannes Film Festival.

Unveiled at midday today in Paris, the programme once again gives pride of place to European productions which account for 13 of the 22 selected features.

Belgium confirms its strong presence at Cannes this year with Lafosse’s Élève libre (“Free Pupil”) and Bouli Lanners’s Eldorado.

But French auteur films continue to dominate with five titles by Claire Simon, Bonello, Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche, Nicola Sornaga and the Larrieu brothers. Moreover, the majority French production Four Nights With Anna by veteran Polish director Skolimowski will open the 2008 Directors’ Fortnight.

Central and eastern European films are also in the spotlight with Blind Loves by Slovakian director Juraj Lehotsky and Boogie by Romania’s Radu Muntean.

The Directors’ Fortnight is also showcasing Spanish and Portuguese titles, including El Cant dels ocells by Albert Serra and Our Beloved Month Of August by Miguel Gomes. The inclusion of Francesco Munzi’s Il resto della notte is another triumph for Italy which is already represented by three films in the official selection.

There is, however, a noticeable absence of Scandinavian, German and UK films on the programme.

A total of five films will vie for the Camera d’Or in the 2008 Directors’ Fortnight which is screening only one US feature but four South American titles (all European co-productions).

The delegate general Olivier Père was keen to emphasise that the 40th anniversary of the Directors’ Fortnight hadn’t in any way influenced the choice made by the selectors who have, as usual, given preference to bold, original, daring and independent works.

There will nonetheless be a formal celebration of the anniversary with a gala evening on May 18 attended by renowned directors; a screening of Olivier Jahan’s documentary 40x15 about the history of the Cannes sidebar; and retrospectives in theatres across the world until the end of 2008 (see news).

Features:

Opening film: Jerzy Skolimowski - Four Nights With Anna [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (France/Poland)
Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu - Le voyage aux Pyrénées [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (France)
Bertrand Bonello - De la guerre [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)
Claire Simon - Les Bureaux de Dieu [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (France)
Nicola Sornaga - Monsieur Morimoto [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)
Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche - Dernier maquis [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (France/Algeria)
Joachim Lafosse - Élève libre [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacques-Henri Bronckart
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile] (Belgium/France)
Bouli Lanners - Eldorado [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Belgium/France)
Francesco Munzi - Il resto della notte [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Italy)
Albert Serra - El Cant dels ocells (Spain)
Miguel Gomes - Our Beloved Month Of August [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Portugal/France)
Radu Muntean - Boogie [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dragos Vîlcu
interview: Radu Muntean
film profile] (Romania)
Juraj Lehotsky - Blind Loves [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Slovakia) *
Bakur Bakuradze - Shultes (Russia) *
Lisandro Alonso - Liverpool (Argentina/Spain/Netherlands/France/Denmark)
Federico Veiroj - Acné (Uruguay/Argentina/Spain/Mexico) *
Pablo Aguero - Salamandra (Argentina/France/Denmark) *
Pablo Larrain - Tony Manero (Chile/Brazil)
Saman Salour - Lonely Tune of Tehran (Iran)
Yin Lichuan - Knitting (China)
Raya Martin - Now Showing (Philippines/France)
Closing film: Josh Safdie - The Pleasure of Being Robbed (US) *

* competing for the Camera d’Or

Special Screenings
Olivier Jahan - 40X15 (France)
Robert Kramer and John Douglas - Milestones (US)
Jean-Marie Straub - Le genou d’Artémide (France)
Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet - Itinéraire de Jean Bricard (France)

(Translated from French)