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CANNES FESTIVAL: Winners announced, the Ruben Östlund-directed “Triangle of Sadness” awarded the Palme D’Or

Tonight's closing ceremony capped the 75th edition of this festival

Paris-- The winners have been announced and they are as follows: The Short Film Palme D'Or goes to Jinanying Chen for "The Water Murmurs" Special mention in the short film category for "Lori" by Abinash Bikram Shah Special mention: "Plan 75" by Hayakawa Chie The Camera d'Or prize, which is awarded to a first-time film in the official selection, went to "War Poney" by Riley Keough and ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: Bowie like you’ve never seen before in “MOONAGE DAYDREAM”

“It’s what you do in life that’s important, not how much time you have left. Or what you wish you’d done. Life is fantastic” (David Bowie)

CANNES, France – Talking heads, live performances, the requisite cautionary tale factor, rock biopics often check the boxes, it’s a genre and it functions well but it can be a bit by the book. “All people, no matter who they are, all wish they’d appreciated life more. It’s what you do in life that’s important, not how much time you have. Or what you wish you’d done. Life is fantastic” (David ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: Ruben Östlund makes his return to the Croisette with “Triangle of sadness,” biting satire about our times

Film is competing for the Palme D'Or
Woody Harrelson, Harris Dickinson and Charlbi Dean
Directed by Ruben Östlund

CANNES, France -- “Triangle of Sadness” is a comedy about fashion, trends, social media influencers, how to set yourself apart but not too much, the enduring power of social hierarchies, the #metoo and virtue-signaling maelstroms. The pitch for “Triangle of Sadness” goes like this: the film starts in the fashion world, then the action moves to a cruise ship to finally end on a deserted island, ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: Twenty years after the serial killings in Mashhad, Iran, “HOLY SPIDER”

Film is competing for the Palme D'Or
Zahra Amirebrahimi, Mehdi Bajestani and Arash Ashtiani
Directed by Ali Abbasi

CANNES, France -- Lately, it seems there’s been a change in attitude among some directors in the new generation of Persian filmmakers: through their films they’re more willing to show more, more of the dark underbelly of the beast. In films like “Tehran Taboo,” “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” “Just 6.5,” themes and motifs, two shades darker than before, are explored: Iranian society has ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: James Gray’s return to his childhood with “ARMAGEDDON TIME”

A story about growing up in the eighties
Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Anthony Hopkins
Directed by James Gray

CANNES, France -- There were problems with booking seats to the screening of James Gray's latest film, "Armageddon Time," this caused frustration. Finally, I managed to snag a ticket to join my group. Gray doesn't come to the Cannes Festival often. Fascinated by marginal characters left to fend for themselves, like Joaquin Phoenix's Leonard Kraditor of "Two Lovers," Gray casts a spotlight on ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: caught between Egypt’s state apparatus and al-Azhar’s leadership, “BOY FROM HEAVEN”

This film is competing for the Palme D'Or
Tawfeek Barhom, Fares Fares and Yunus Albayrak
Directed by Tarik Saleh

CANNES, France -- Adam (Tawfeek Barhom) is accepted to Al-Azhar University, one of the leading centers of study of Sunni Islam, located in Cairo. He leaves his native fishing village where where he helps his father on the boat. The school year begins and shortly thereafter the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar suddenly dies; Adam, finding himself involved in a shadowy negotiation around his replacement, ... more >

CANNES FESTIVAL: “EO,” no animals were harmed in the making of this film

Produced by Skopia Film and Jeremy Thomas
Sandra Drzymalska, Isabelle Huppert and Lorenzo Zurzolo
Directed by Jerzy Skolimowsky

CANNES, France -- Making a movie about a donkey,or to be more specific, from a donkey's point of view is an audacious project. But that's just what Jerzy (pronounced "Ya-shee") Skolimosky did and his film, a slow and oppressive rumination on humans and their relationship to the animal world was screened here on Thursday. A circus troupe. A grey donkey and his handler Kassandra. The animal seems ... more >