Film needs festivals like Cannes says jury

Record ID: 104063

  • Title: Film needs festivals like Cannes says jury
  • Date: 11th May 2016
  • Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 11, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** CAR PULLING IN CANNES FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION JURY JUDGE, GEORGE MILLER, GETTING OUT OF CAR MILLER SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS ARNAUD DESPLECHIN STANDING FOR PHOTOS ACTRESS VANESSA PARADIS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS PHOTOGRAPHERS / PARADIS WALKING IN ACTRESS VALERIA GOLINO WALKING IN MILLER WALKING IN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ACTRESS KIRSTEN DUNST WALKING IN (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANNES FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION JURY JUDGE, GEORGE MILLER, SAYING: "Yes you could argue that how do you measure these things but we do, in competitions and so on. But that's definitely balanced for me by the simple joy of being here and watching film and the celebration of cinema." DUNST SIGNING PICTURES FOR FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANNES FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION JURY PANELIST, KRISTEN DUNST, SAYING: "Without film festivals like this we wouldn't see movies and they wouldn't become famous like "Son of Saul" we need these festivals to promote filmmakers so for me without that we'd all just be in a lot of, well we probably wouldn't be working so we'd just be in big blockbusters all the time." VARIOUS OF ACTOR MADS MIKKELSEN SIGNING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANNES FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION JURY PANELIST, MADS MIKKELSEN, SAYING: "We had a word yesterday with our wonderful boss and we decided that go ahead and watch all the films. In the end of the day if everybody loves it it's simple right, if nobody wants it to win it's simple as well. And if it's a draw I think it's fair enough that I come in and discuss it as well. So I think we can all be neutral, I love Nicholas, I love his films but I think I will view his films like any other film and I'm open for bribes as well."
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2016 16:26
  • Keywords: Cannes Film Festival jury George Miller Kirsten Dunst Donald Sutherland
  • Location: CANNES, FRANCE
  • City: CANNES, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Film
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HD653H
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Actors would only be working in big-budget blockbusters if it wasn't for festivals like Cannes, the jury tasked with deciding what film will pick up the coveted Palme d'Or said on Wednesday (May 11), in comments after Woody Allen told reporters he doesn't believe in competition for film.
    Allen is opening proceedings in Cannes for the third time, but he always refused to be part of the competition.
    "Yes you could argue that how do you measure these things but we do, in competitions and so on. But that's definitely balanced for me by the simple joy of being here and watching film and the celebration of cinema," said director George Miller, who heads this year's panel.
    Actress Kirsten Dunst went further, saying blockbusters would be the only films actors got roles in if it wasn't for showcases like Cannes.
    "Without film festivals like this we wouldn't see movies and they wouldn't become famous like "Son of Saul" we need these festivals to promote filmmakers so for me without that we'd all just be in a lot of, well we probably wouldn't be working so we'd just be in big blockbusters all the time," she said.
    The jury will be tasked with deciding not only which film takes home the Palme d'Or, but also who is awarded other prizes such as the best actor and actress prizes, the Jury prize, and others.
    Along with Dunst and Miller, Jury members include Canadian. actor Donald Sutherland, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, French Film-Maker Arnaud Desplechin, Italian actress and director Valeria Golino, Iranian producer Katayoon Shahabi.
    French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis and Hungarian film-maker Laszlo Nemes round off the panel.
    Mikkelsen, who has a close working relationship with Nicolas Winding Refn, who directs The Neon Demon, one of the 21 films competing for the Palme d'Or, said the jury was satisfied he would stay neutral.
    "We had a word yesterday with our wonderful boss and we decided that go ahead and watch all the films. In the end of the day if everybody loves it it's simple right, if nobody wants it to win it's simple as well. And if it's a draw I think it's fair enough that I come in and discuss it as well. So I think we can all be neutral, I love Nicholas, I love his films but I think I will view his films like any other film and I'm open for bribes as well, " he said.
    Sutherland also took the opportunity to pour cold water on the idea of a Canadian cinematic identity.
    "I mean I kind of gave up talking about Canadian cinema a long time ago. You know there's a very famous story of a British soldier and a French soldier and a Canadian soldier who were captured in the process of the war and were sentenced to be shot by firing squad but they were each given an opportunity to have a last wish. The Brit asked for a cup of tea, the Canadian asked for fifteen minutes to talk about Canadian identity and the Frenchman asked to be shot before the Canadian," he quipped.
    The festival kicks off on Wednesday (May 11) with Woody Allen's 'Cafe Society' as the opening film. The event wraps up on May 22 when the prizes will be announced.
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