21/04/2005 - During the 44th edition of the International Critc's week, four European productions will compete. Among them, Thomas Clay's new work The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael

Four features on seven are European at the 44th Semaine Internationale de la Critique (SIC) which will take place in Cannes from the 12th to the 20th of May, during the famous festival. The event has a new general manager, Jean-Christophe Berjon, and a refreshed selection Committee which preferred young directors such as the Italian Daniele Vicari who presents his second film, L’orrizonte degli eventi, the British Thomas Clay, with The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael (with the participation of the famous Picture Director Yorgos Arvanitis), and the French director Karin Albou who is presenting La petite Jérusalem. The fourth European film is Orlando Vargas by Juan Pittaluga, from Uruguay, a French coproduction involving Gemini Films, Laroux-Ciné, and Les Films du Rat. The European contenders will compete against the big American favourite, Miranda July (who won the best prize at the Sundance Film Festival with Me and you and everyone you know), Zhang Lu (China), and Kenji Uchida (Japan).

In terms of special screenings, the event will open on Les Invisibles, the directorial debut of Thierry Jousse, former chief editor at the Cahiers du Cinéma. Together with 6 other first features, this film will run for the Golden Camera. Amongst the other special screenings scheduled for the Semaine de la critique, we find Vento di Mare by Vincenzo Marra (Italy - Fipresci discovery of the year) and, at midnight, Imposture by Patrick Bouchitey (France).
As far as short films are concerned, five on seven are European, while three middle-length European films will be shown in a separate section. A special programme entitled ‘Europe in shorts’ will be dedicated to six shorts from Eastern Europe. This year, the European Coordination of Film Festivals will show three features and two shorts distinguished by the French critics in 2004-2005.

Features in competition
Daniele Vicari-L’orrizonte degli eventi(IT)
Karin Albou-La petite Jérusalem(FR)/Caméra d’Or
Juan Pittaluga-Orlando Vargas(UY/FR)/Caméra d’Or
Thomas Clay-The Great ecstasy of Robert Carmichael(GB)/Caméra d’Or
Miranda July-Me and You and Everyone You Know(US)/Caméra d’Or
Zhang Lu-Grain in Ear(CN/KR)
Kenji Uchida-A Stranger of Mine(JP)/Caméra d’Or

Short film competition
Valérie Liénardy-Le grand vent(BE)
Wi Ding Ho-Respire(TW)
Siegfried A. Fruhauf-Mirror Mechanics(AT)
Justin Kurzel-Blue Tongue(AU)
Cédric Babouche-Imago...(FR)
Rosto-Jona/Tomberry(NL)
Mitovski&Kalev-Get the Rabbit Back(BG)

Special screenings – Features
Thierry Jousse-Les Invisibles(FR)/Caméra d’Or
Phil Morrison-Jonebug(US)/Caméra d’Or
Vincenzo Marra-Vento di Mare(IT)
Patrick Bouchitey-Imposture(FR)
Arturo Ripstein-Los heroes y el temp(documentaire-MX)
Zola Maseko-Drum(ZA)
Otar Iosseliani-La chute des feuilles(1967-URSS)

Special screenings – Middle-length films
Michael Ramsauer-(AT)
Mathieu Vadepied-Mille soleils(FR)
Helen Ahlsson-Parasiten(SE)

(Translated from French)