Maïwenn, Anderson, Ozon, McQueen… a “Cannes 2020” label for 56 films

The event film by the American Wes Anderson, shot in France with a breathtaking cast, the much awaited “Eté 85” by François Ozon, the apocalyptic film by Jonathan Nossiter, Maïwenn's next feature film with Fanny Ardant… In total, 56 films find themselves with the Cannes 2020 label this Wednesday evening. By revealing their selection for the 73 rd edition, Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux, president and general delegate of the festival, have declared that there will be no white year for Cannes. "This selection is there, and it is beautiful," says Thierry Frémaux.

The suspense will have lasted several months. First postponed to early July because of sanitary containment measures, the Cannes festival ended up giving up organizing this year a "physical" edition. When it became clear that the 73 rd edition could not be held, Pierre Lescure and Thierry Frémaux still decided to maintain the idea of ​​an official selection -, “there was never any question for us to cancel ", Even declares the latter.

What's the point ? Thierry Frémaux, the festival's general delegate, explains this in a long text accompanying the selection. “It is also because the filmmakers were there at work that we did not leave, that we did not fire everyone in 2021, that we continued. And we did well: by choosing to work to the end to establish a selection, we received more than 2000 feature films, "he details, adding that the selectors have refined their list by watching the films at home. during containment.

Supporting the career of author films

Today, "this selection [...], she says that the cinema, which disappeared from theaters for three months in 2020, and for the first time since their creation by Lumière on December 28, 1895, is more alive than ever", rejoices the general delegate. Which justifies this selection as a priority: “Deciding to deliver an Official Selection is above all the best way to help the cinema, to focus on the films that will be released in theaters in the coming months. The reopening of cinemas, after months of closure, is a crucial issue. The Cannes Film Festival intends to be present to support these films and support their careers in France and abroad. "

Clearly: the 56 films, bearing the logo "Official Selection Cannes 2020" will have more visibility, a sort of palm of excellence, and can hope to make a stronger career, in theaters as in other festivals elsewhere. Thierry Frémaux thus explains, among the criteria which determined this selection, to have added, to the usual one of “Is this a film for Cannes? ", That of" Isn't this a perfect film for the return to theaters? "

The Cannes Festival general delegate, Thierry Frémaux, and its president, Pierre Lescure, this Wednesday. AFP / Starface / Serge Arnal  

In detail, we note the presence of five comedies (including one by Denis Podalydès or the adaptation of the novel by Fabcaro "the speech"), four animated films (including "Soul", by the new boss of Pixar Pete Docter , but also a feature film from the Ghibli studios), a slew of first films (15!) including that of the actor Viggo Mortensen and a certain… Suzanne Lindon. The daughter of Vincent and Sandrine Kiberlain, 20, who signs "Sixteen Spring" (released in December. Unusual performance: Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen ("Twelve Years a Slave") offers the luxury of seeing two films among the selection, "Lovers Rock" and "Mangrove".

Leos Carax in 2021?

Films, usually compartmentalized in various selections, are not differentiated this year. To note some absent of mark, of which the Dutchman Paul Verhoeven and the Italian Nanni Moretti who, one says, would prefer to try their luck for 2021 with a more traditional festival. Ditto for the musical of Léos Carax which could rebound next year.

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For the rest, this 2020 vintage does not differ, from the point of view of the nationalities of the films, from the previous selections, with French (more than usual), American, Korean, Japanese, British, but also Bulgarian feature films, Georgians, Congolese… All will communicate their release dates soon.

Main films of the Cannes 2020 Selection

Heavy weights :

• "The French Dispatch", by Wes Anderson (end of August)
• “Ete 85”, by François Ozon (released on July 15)
• "True Mother", by Naomi Kawase
• "Lovers Rock" and "Mangrove", by Steve McQueen
• "Druck", by Thomas Vinterberg
• "Last Words", by Jonathan Nossiter
• "DNA", by Maïwenn
• "Event", by Im Sang-soo

And also :

• "Les Hommes", by Lucas Belvaux
• "Peninsula", by Yeon Sang-ho
• The new Koji Fukada
• "Simple Passion", by Daniele Arbid
• "Goodman", by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
• "The Things We Say, The Things We Do", by Emmanuel Mouret
• "Rouge", by Farid Bentoumi

First films :

• "Falling", by Viggo Mortensen
• "Slalom", by Charlène Favier
• "Casa de Antigua", by Miranda
• "Broken Keys", by Jimmy Keyrouz
• Samir Guesmi's first film
• "Vaurien", by Peter Dourountzis
• "Garçon Chiffon", by Nicolas Maury

The comedies :

• "Antoinette in the Cévennes", by Caroline Vignal
• "The Second Brother", by Denis Podalydès
• "A triumph", by Emmanuel Courcol
• "Le Discours", by Laurent Tirard
• "The Origin of the World", by Laurent Lafitte