(Deauville) Natalie Portman and Claude Lelouch took part in the 50 awards ceremony on Saturdaye Deauville American Film Festival, whose jury chaired by Benoît Magimel crowned directors Nnamdi Asomugha and Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio.
A week after Michael Douglas, who came to receive an honorary award in the Normandy seaside town, Natalie Portman was rewarded with a Deauville Talent Award by Isabelle Adjani during the last evening of the festival which will officially end on Sunday.
“I am an American living in France and celebrating the meeting of American and French cinema is truly incredible,” said Mme Portman on the red carpet, a few hours after inaugurating a cabin in her name on the famous boards.
The 43-year-old Israeli-American actress, best known for her roles in Leon, Black Swan or the trilogy Star Warsnoted “the French recognition of American cinema and the American recognition of French cinema, I am very lucky to live in these two worlds.”
The jury prize, chaired by French actor Benoît Magimel, was awarded to The Knife by Nnamdi Asomugha.
The Grand Prix went to In the Summers by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio.
Present on Saturday evening to present his latest feature film with the film crew including actress Elsa Zylberstein, director Claude Lelouch said he was “as nervous as a beginner, but I am delighted to close this festival with a film called ‘Finalement'”.
PHOTO LOU BENOIST, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Director Claude Lelouch
“It doesn’t make me any younger, during these 50 years I have come regularly to this festival, there are so many memories that it would be shameful to privilege one,” added Mr. Lelouch.
“I managed to get through the rain, and I’m delighted to have been able to make 51 films,” concluded the French filmmaker, whose Oscar-winning A man and a woman and its final scene filmed on the same beach in Deauville.
On Friday evening, Francis F. Coppola also presented his latest film, Megalopolis.
The new festival director Aude Hesbert replaced Bruno Barde in June, who was dismissed from his duties after 25 years at the head of the festival following a Mediapart investigation into accusations of harassment and sexual assault.
At the end of August, it was Ibrahim Maalouf, accused several years ago of sexual assault on a minor, who had to leave the jury.