Cannes Critics Week selections announced

Thanks to Paddy Mullholland at ScreenOnScreen for passing along the news of this morning’s Cannes Critics Week announcement. If the slate for the main competition and Un Certain Regard seemed to be surprisingly Anglo-heavy this year, Paddy notes that today rights the balance with 5 ciné Franco films, with two titles by French directors in competition and all 3 of the special screenings devoted to emerging homegrown filmmakers. All the films selected for Critics Week next month are directorial debuts or second efforts.

That last bit is another fact gleaned and paraphrased from Paddy’s own comprehensive Cannes coverage. I can’t try to pretend that I notice details that are readily apparent to Paddy. The only name that jumped out me from today’s announcement is Louis Garrel, since he’s the son of director Philippe Garrel, and I’m fairly sure Louis’ debut makes him the hottest director on the planet. His Critics’ Week film, Les Deus Amis, stars Iranian singer/actress Golshifteh Farahani who’s conveniently the real-life amour of Garrel fils. Or inconveniently. You’ll know the stunning Golshifteh from the equally stunning film that won all kinds of prizes for Asghar Farhadi in 2009.

So, (as opposed to Paddy’s perceptive insight) that’s the sort of Cannes coverage you get from me at this stage — gossipy love connections. And you get to witness me perk up on high alert at the name GARREL! the exact same way Dug the Dog is distracted by SQUIRREL!

Critics’ Week Competition