The 62nd Critics’ Week of the Cannes Film Festival has revealed its selection: eleven feature films, including seven in competition
First and second feature films from Malaysia, Brazil, Serbia and even Jordan will be presented during the 62nd Critics’ Week, one of the main parallel sections of the Cannes Film Festival. In total, eleven feature films are selected, including six shot by female directors. Seven take part in the competition under the watchful eye of a jury chaired by French filmmaker Audrey Diwan (Lion d’Or in 2021 in Venice with The event).
A first Malaysian film
“We have a very demanding selection of eleven films out of a thousand received, which testified to a strong comeback of certain territories brought to a halt by the health crisis, such as Southeast Asia”explained to AFP the general delegate of the Critics’ Week, Ava Cahen.
Among the discoveries are a first Malaysian film in competition (tiger stripes by Amanda Nell Eu), on “the freedom and desire for recreation of young girls”, or the first Jordanian film to be selected (Inshallah a Boy of Amjad El Rasheed), on “a home help (…) who fights like a lioness for her independence”. Only one French filmmaker is in competition (Iris Kaltenbäck for The Rapture, a psychological thriller about female friendship with Hafsia Herzi and Nina Meurisse). The others are thrown out of competition.
Discovery of new talents
With the Quinzaine des cinéastes, the selection of which is to be unveiled on Tuesday April 18, Critics’ Week is a parallel section to the Cannes festival, dedicated to the discovery of new talents through their first or second film.
A number of established filmmakers have been discovered there, from Ken Loach (revealed in 1970 with Kesand who is seeking a third Palme d’Or in official competition this year), to Julia Ducournau (Palme d’Or with Titanium in 2021, after presenting his previous film, Severe, weekly). Last year, one of the revelations of Critics’ Week was aftersunwhich earned its actor Paul Mescal an Oscar nomination.
All the Critics’ Week selection:
In competition
It’s raining in the houseby Paloma Semon-Daï (Belgium-France)
Inshallah Walad (Inshallah a son)by Amjad Al Rasheed (Jordan – Saudi Arabia – Qatar – France)
Jam (Sleep)by Jason Yu (South Korea)
Levante (Power Alley), by Lillah Halla (Brazil – France – Uruguay)
Lost Countryby Vladimir Perisic (France – Serbia – Luxembourg – Croatia)
the raptureby Iris Kaltenbäch (France)
tiger stripesby Amanda Nell Eu (Malaysia)
Special screenings
Ama Gloriaby Marie Amachoukeli (France)
Vincent must dieby Stephan Castang (France)
The syndrome of past lovesby Anne Sirot and Raphaël Balboni (Belgium – France)
Her father’s daughterby Erwan Le Duc (France)