Coffee and Cinema

In search of fantastic cinema and great coffee? Join ÉCU and Coutume Café tomorrow, Wed, May 30th at 20:00 for a special re-screening of some of this year’s award winning films! Make sure not to miss this event! 

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“AMOUR” CONQUERS ALL

The ultra-glamorous 65th Cannes Film Festival came to end Sunday evening. The chic red carpet awards ceremony was held amidst rain, thunder and lightening – an added dramatic effect maybe for some of the night’s surprise winners. After 12 days of screening over 100 films, both in competition and out, attendees and the world were ready to see who would would win the evening’s awards.

The official jury, whom was headed by veteran Italian director, Nanni Moretti, were thrilled with their choices. Of the 22 competing films, the prestigious Palm d’Or was given to Austrian director, Michael Haneke for his film, “Amour.” The touching film told the story of an elderly couple coping with the wife’s failing health. This was Haneke’s second Palm d’Or. He also won in 2009 for his film, “The White Ribbon,” a triumph that only six other directors share in the festival’s history. The film’s stars, Emmanuelle Riva, 85-years-old and Jean-Louis Triatignant, 81-years-old, both gave tremendous performances and were honored in Haneke’s award speech.

Best Actor was given to Danish actor, Mads Mikkelsen, for his work in the psychedelic thriller, “The Hunt.”
The prize for Best Actress was shared by two actresses, Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur, for their roles in Christian Mangiu’s, “Beyond the Hills.”

Best Director went to Mexican filmmaker, Carlos Reygadas, for his experimental film, ”Beyond the Hills,” by Romanian director, Christian Mangiu, was awarded Best Screenplay. He won the Palm d’Or in 2007 for “4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days.”

The Jury Prize was given to “The Angel’s Share” by British director, Ken Loach – the only British film in the competition.

Camera d’Or went to “Beasts of the Southern Wild” by American director, Benh Zeitlin.

And lastly, the Short Film Palm d’Or was awarded to Turkey’s Rezan Yesilbas for “Sessiz-Be Deng,” or “Silence.”

Another successful festival – although sadly no new talent was recognized. As the evening ended, attendees left the ceremony dodging puddles and rain-soaked carpet. Winners and guests celebrated their victory with a cocktail at the the French Riviera resort.

By: Helene Kelly-Isham

DAS KIND (The Child)

Winner of the 2010 ECU film festival, Das Kind (The Child) will be showing at l’Inalco in Paris June 11th at 14:00. Save the date!

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Check out…

Twofour54 launches filmmaking in Abu Dhabi. Check out this incredible offer! 

http://media.twofour54.com/en/news/news/abu-dhabi-launches-incentive-scheme-to-become-go-to-destination-for-international-production.html 

3 MASTER CLASSES – LEARN FROM THE BEST AT THE 65TH ANNUAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Believe it or not, the Cannes Film Festival offers plenty more than just awards. In fact, attendees of the Festival are welcome to participate in an incredible hands-on experience, and beside some of the film business’s very best. How spectacular would it be, getting the chance to work and learn from the some of the worlds most renowned directors and producers, like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese? This is precisely what makes the Cannes Film Festival such a unique and enriching worldwide event, even for those not going home with an award!

This year, for the Festival’s 65^th Anniversary, Phillip Kaufman, Alexandre Desplat and veteran Norman Lloyd have been invited to share their expertise at the Bunuel Theatre in Cannes. The “master classes” will focus on various directing techniques, professional experiences; will conclude with an informative Q&A period involving the audience.

Master class “A lesson in directing by Phillip Kaufman,” will place on May 25^th. This director has been a very well known figure in the American film industry for nearly 50 years. The director’s film “Hemmingway and Gellhorn,” starring Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen, will be a part of the Official Selection of the ‘Out of Competition’ category, and will also screen as a world premiere. According to author Annette Insdorf, who has just recently written a book on Kaufman, she describes the director’s body of work as diverse, having a range of work from both studio and independent films.

Composer Alexandre Desplat provided festivalgoers with “A personal history of film music” on May 19^th. Back in 2006, the multi-award winningmusician gave a master class on his own work, so this year the focus was a little different. The workshop pinpointed less on Desplat, and more so on his fellow composers’. He explains,  “great film scores should enhance a film, the collective body of work as well as being able to exist independently from the images.” This year’s Festival had several film scores by Desplat in the Official Selection category. To name a few, some of his recent film scores can include well known and successful films such as Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, The Tree of Life and The King’s Speech. A visionary in his field, we don’t doubt this master class was anything short of extraordinary!

Finally, legendary film figure, Normal Lloyd, will offer his veteran expertise on May 24, at “A history lesson with Norman Lloyd.” The 97 year-old actor, producer and director, certainly knows his stuff, having worked in both theatre and cinema for an outstanding eight decades. Lloyd also maintained affiliations with the best of the best in the business, keeping a long lasting friendship and professional relationship with praised film pioneer, Alfred Hitchcock. Anyone with an opportunity to attend this master class with such an esteemed figure like Lloyd would be learning history front row and center from one of the industry’s most fine and seasoned.

The Cannes Film Festival is offering a very special line-up of talent for its 65^thAnniversary. Each class offers a particular expertise that every attendee can truly benefit from. So nominee or not – you can take home more than just an award from this year’s Festival!

by Gabrielle Martin

Did you know…

Did you know that Jane Campion became the first female director to win the Palme d’Or in 1993 for The Piano!? // Saviez que Jane Campion est devenue la première femme cinéaste à gagner la Palme d’Or en 1993 pour le Piano! ?