– Argentinian film “Simon of the Mountain” won the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics’ Week
– U.S.-Chinese film “Blue Sun Palace” received the French Touch Prize for best first feature
– Brazilian actor Ricardo Teodoro won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for his role in the film “Baby”
Hey there, movie buffs! Did you hear the news? ‘Simon of the Mountain’ just took home the top prize at Cannes Critics’ Week! Yep, you read that right, the debut feature from Argentinian director Federico Luis snagged the Grand Prize at the 63rd edition of the prestigious film festival.
Starring Argentinian actor and singer/songwriter Lorenzo Ferro, ‘Simon of the Mountain’ is a coming-of-age story about a young man grappling with a mental disorder. International sales for the film are being handled by Luxbox, so keep an eye out for this one hitting the big screens near you!
But wait, there’s more! U.S.-Chinese filmmaker Constance Tsang also made waves at Cannes Critics’ Week with ‘Blue Sun Palace’, clinching the French Touch Prize of the Jury for best first feature. The drama delves into the lives of Chinese immigrants in Queens, offering a heartfelt glimpse into their everyday struggles. Charades are taking care of the international sales for ‘Blue Sun Palace’, with WME handling rights in North America.
And the awards just keep on coming! Ricardo Teodoro scored the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for best actor for his standout performance in the Queer romantic drama ‘Baby’ from Brazilian director Marcelo Caetano. Teodoro shines as an outsider trying to make it in the tough streets of São Paolo, delivering a raw and emotional performance that had the critics buzzing.
Jour2Fête snagged the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution to support its French distribution campaign for the tennis drama ‘Julie Keeps Quiet’ from Belgian director Leonardo Van Dijl. With this boost, we can expect to see ‘Julie Keeps Quiet’ making waves in the French cinema scene in no time.
The Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for best short film was awarded to ‘Montsouris Park’ by Guil Sela, showcasing the talent and creativity of up-and-coming filmmakers in the industry.
Heading up this year’s Critics’ Week jury was French producer Sylvie Pialat, who was joined by Rwandan actress Eliane Umuhire, French director Iris Kaltenbäck, Belgian cinematographer Virginie Surdej, and Canadian film critic and journalist Ben Croll. With such a diverse and experienced panel of judges, it’s no wonder the competition was fierce and the winners well-deserving.
So there you have it, folks! Cannes Critics’ Week delivered yet another round of outstanding films and talented filmmakers, showcasing the best of the best in the industry. Keep your eyes peeled for these award-winning gems hitting the silver screen soon, and don’t forget to share the good news with your fellow cinephiles!
