PIERRE LESCURE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE FESTIVAL DE CANNES

The Board of Directors of the Festival de Cannes elected Pierre Lescure as its future President at its 14^thJanuary meeting. Gilles Jacob was the immediate past president till the 67^th Festival de Cannes. The election was held via secret vote in accordance with the statutes. He will take up his responsibilities on 1^st July.The Board of Directors of the Festival de Cannes also appointed Gilles Jacob Honorary President of the Festival.

"The Broken Circle Breakdown" directed by Felix Van Groeningen Won the "International Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (2013)

At the occasion of the Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA, January 3-13, 2014), the "International Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize)for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (2013)" has been presented to  "The Broken Circle Breakdown" directed by Felix Van Groeningen(Belgium, 2012, 111 mins).The jury stated: "A country song of a film - with all the love, pain, tragedy, and headache life can throw at you. A testament to the human spirit and how we can endure almost anything as long as there is even a sliver of hope or faith. Set in the tiny country of Belgium, a very personal story mirroring the ultimate decline of the American dream." The best actor Prize for the year went to:Mads Mikkelsen in "The Hunt" (Jagten) directed by Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark, 2013, 115 mins).Bérénice Bejo awarded the best actress  for her performance in "The Past" (Le Passé) directed by Asghar Farhadi (Italy, France, 2013, 130 mins). 

The Jury members were:

György Kárpáti, Hungary

Karsten Kastelan, Germany

Steven Rea, USA

64th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2014): First seven Films for Competition selected

The first seven films for the Competition programme,  in the 64th Berlin International Film Festival  which will be held 6^th February -16^th February at Berlin , have been selected.

First seven films in Competition :

1--‘71

United Kingdom

By Yann Demange (Top Boy – TV series)

With Jack O’Connell, Sean Harris, Richard Dormer

World premiere  

2--Aimer, boire et chanter (Life of Riley)

France

By Alain Resnais (Smoking/No smoking, On connaît la chanson)

With Sabine Azéma, Sandrine Kiberlain, Caroline Silhol, André Dussolier,

Hippolyte Giradot, Michel Vuillermoz

World premiere

3…Aloft

Spain / Canada / France

By Claudia Llosa (The Milk of Sorrow)

With Jennifer Connelly, Cillian Murphy, Mélanie Laurent

World premiere

4…Die geliebten Schwestern

Germany

By Dominik Graf (In Face of the Crime, Lawinen der Erinnerung)

With Hannah Herzsprung, Florian Stetter, Henriette Confurius

World premiere

5..Stratos

Greece / Germany / Cyprus

By Yannis Economides (Matchbox, Soul Kicking)

With Vangelis Mourikis, Vicky Papadopoulou, Petros Zervos

World premiere

6..The Grand Budapest Hotel

United Kingdom / Germany

By Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)

With Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric,

Adrien Brody

World premiere – Opening film

7..The Monuments Men

Germany / USA

By George Clooney (The Ides of March; Good Night, and Good Luck.)

With George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean

Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, Cate Blanchett