25/06/2007

The first documentary to be selected in official competition at the Cognac Detective Film Festival, British title A Very British Gangster, yesterday won the Grand Prize at the festival’s 25th edition. Its win allows the film’s director Donal MacIntyre to join previous winners of the event, filmmakers such as Alex de la Iglesia, Bong Joon-Ho, Fabian Bielinsky, Larry Clark, Danny Boyle, Carl Franklin and Curtis Hanson.

Produced by Dare Films, A Very British Gangster (winner of the Jury Grand Prize in the World Cinema category at the Sundance Film Festival) will be released on July 18 through Bac Films in France, while no release is planned as yet in its home country, the UK.

The documentary – which also won at Cognac the Special Police Jury Award – follows three years in the highly unusual life of Dominic Noonan, leader of the most powerful gang in Manchester, who spent 22 of his 37 years in prison.

Reigning over the gangs of a city dominated by violence, drugs and poverty, where the police are no longer called on to settle scores, for the locals the “godfather” is a protector, a judge and an upholder of the law. Filmed with his agreement during three years by MacIntyre, Noonan also experiences several legal tribulations that unveil a system linking gangsters to the law.

Other awards at Cognac 2007 went to Jindabyne by Australia’s Ray Lawrence and US director Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces, while the Sang neuf (New Blood) section crowned Angosto [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alina Sigaro
interview: Belén Bernuy
interview: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo
film profile] by Spanish helmer Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo (see Focus). The Venice Days title, which was also nominated at the 2006 Goyas in the categories of Best Young Director, Original Screenplay and Male Newcomer (Walter Vidarte), opens in France on July 25 (ID Distribution).

(Translated from French)