11/05/2005

"Democracy does not exist in the field of cinema, it’s not in its nature" says Emir Kusturica. If some doubts remained about the eccentricity of this year Cannes Jury President, they have immediately been diverted during the press conference presentation. Kusturica answered a question on his influence on the jury telling that "cinema is made of personal choices. This jury is curious and I hope it will make interesting decisions. One has to choose films with his heart without forgetting his reason. We will mostly look for aesthetic quality".
The Cannes veteran filmmaker Agnes Varda, agrees that there is not much democracy in the field of cinema, but in the end "we will have to make a majority decision". As in politics.
Concerning the selection modalities, that is to say what the jury will do to reach this majority, Kusturica slipped out another joke: "That’s top secret. If I tell it to you, someone will come next year and will copy our work method."

Javier Bardem’s words are better-balanced, he believes so much in the Spanish cinema that he will never move to Hollywood (as did Antonio Banderas) even if the American cinema makes tempting offers. "The fact that I am here is the real proof that the Spanish cinema is developing. It’s the Latin culture which is reaffirming in the world."

(Translated from Italian)