The Deauville American Film Festival opened Friday evening with a tribute to Grease star Olivia Newton-John, who died on August 8, before the screening of the opening film devoted to abortion,
Call Jane
.
Lacquered hair and leather jacket, the actress and singer appeared on the screen of the Center International de Deauville in one of the most famous scenes of the cult comedy
Grease
, alongside John Travolta.
"Tribute to Olivia Newton-John"
, could be read on the screen during the clip, acclaimed by festival-goers.
The actress died last month at her ranch in Southern California.
She had been battling breast cancer for 30 years.
A few minutes later, the mayor of the city, Philippe Augier, and the American ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, declared the 48th edition of the festival open.
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The opening ceremony was also punctuated by the presentation of the New Hollywood Prize to actress Lucy Boynton (
Bohemian Rhapsody
), by French actress Élodie Bouchez.
Created in 2011, this prize rewards the faces of tomorrow.
In the past, it has been awarded to Jessica Chastain, Ryan Gosling or Robert Pattinson.
From Marilyn Monroe to Leonard Cohen
Thirteen films are in competition for this 48th edition of the festival, including eight first opuses.
Among them, several nuggets already spotted in the different sections of the Cannes Film Festival, such as
War Pony
by Gina Gammell and Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, or
Aftersun
, by director Charlotte Wells.
The winners will be revealed next Saturday evening.
In the highlights, it will be necessary to count on the film
Blonde
, a biopic on the life of Marilyn Monroe.
It will be presented on September 9, in the presence of its director, Andrew Dominik (
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
) and its main actress, the Cuban and ex-James Bond girl, Ana de Armas.
The film, which will be released on September 28 on Netflix, is in the running for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, where it will be officially screened on September 8.
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On the side of documentaries, a section always very extensive in Deauville, a film holds all the attention: the one dedicated to the Canadian musician Leonard Cohen, who died in 2016 at the age of 82.
Entitled
Hallelujah, the words of Leonard Cohen
, it is signed Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine and returns, through the cult song
Hallelujah
, to the life of this essential artist.
If the festival's dose of glamor will undoubtedly be provided by Ana de Armas, the arrival of actor-turned-director Jesse Eisenberg (
The Social Network
), who will present
When You Finish Saving the World
, also promises a highlight.
Just like the closing screening of American actress Olivia Wilde's new feature film,
Don't Worry Darling
with Florence Pugh and pop superstar Harry Styles.
