Curtain lifts on edition full of unknown factors
Kristin Scott Thomas, mistress of ceremony at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, will this evening open a 2010 edition that is as enticing as it is enigmatic. Despite a tumultuous selection process (see news and news) complicated by the delayed effects of the economic crisis on global film production, delegate general Thierry Frémaux has put together a top-class programme, with no shortage of gems and discoveries in store.
With a slightly pared-down, 19-strong line-up, the competition, which includes an interesting mix of styles, generations, continents and reputations, will pit big names from the past few decades (Mike Leigh, Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach, Takeshi Kitano, Bertrand Tavernier, Nikita Mikhalkov), against firmly established stars (Alejandro Gonzalez Inárritu, Rachid Bouchareb, Lee Chang-dong, Daniele Luchetti), confirmed newcomers (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Xavier Beauvois, Wang Xiaoshuai, Kornél Mundruczó) and a significant proportion of directors in competition for the first time: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Matthieu Amalric, Im Sang-soo, Doug Liman, and Sergei Loznitsa. The competition therefore looks very open-ended ahead of the awards ceremony on May 23, with the quirky personality of jury president Tim Burton (see news) adding to the mystery.
The most prestigious of international festivals is also hosting a very impressive out-of-competition line-up, including films by Ridley Scott (opening title), Woody Allen, Stephen Frears, Olivier Assayas and Oliver Stone, and a very diverse Un Certain Regard section (see news). As always, there will also be some fine surprises in the Directors’ Fortnight (see news) and International Critics’ Week (see news), as well as events like the Cinema Lesson by Marco Bellocchio (see news) and the Cinéfondation Workshop (see news).
Cannes’ strength also lies in its world-leading Film Market, an essential platform for film circulation and meeting place for film professionals from across the globe. The market’s trends will be watched closely after the beginnings of a recovery were noticed at Berlin and after two stormy financial years for film industry operators. This climate is bound to affect the boldness and ambition of films screened by the Cannes Festival in the coming years.
(Translated from French)
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