Cannes: 60th Anniversary lineup unveiled for Critics’ Week

The Critics’ Week section that runs parallel during Cannes Film Festival has released its lineup for the 60th year anniversary edition which will take place from 7 July 2021 to 15 July 2021.

The lineup includes seven feature films debuting in the competition, which means that all the movies are eligible to compete for the coveted Camera d’Or.

The jury for the competition, in charge of handing out the prestigious Nespresso Grand Prize, The Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award, and the Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Short Film, is being led by Cristian Mungiu, Romanian filmmaker and former Palme d’Or winner.

Gérard Depardieu-starrer Robuste (Robust) by Constance Meyer is scheduled as the opening movie for the section. This is the first time since 2004 that a movie directed by a French woman is having the opening night honors. After a week-long of screenings, the proceedings of the week are expected to come to an end with Une Histoire D’Amour Et De Désir (A Tale Of Love And Desire) by Tunisian filmmaker Leyla Bouzid. The directorial debut of actress Sandrine Kiberlain, Une Jeune Fille Qui Va Bien (A Radiant Girl) features among Special Screenings.

Reports from Critics’ Week stated that it received about 1,620 short films and 1,000 feature films and that each category of films consists of about 30% female filmmakers and 70% male filmmakers. Out of the 13 feature films that have been selected for screening, there are 11 films that are debuting at the Critics’ Week. 7 of the 13 feature films are from female filmmakers.

The full schedule for Critics’ Week has been given below;

OPENING FILM
Robuste (Robust), directed by Constance Meyer (Debuting at Critics’ Week)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Anaïs In Love, directed by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Bruno Reidal, Confessions Of A Murderer, directed by Vincent Le Port (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Softie, directed by Samuel Theis
A Radiant Girl, directed by Sandrine Kiberlain (Debuting at Critics’ Week)

SHORT FILMS
Brutalia, Days Of Labour, directed by Manolis Mavris
Lili Alone, directed by Zou Jing
An Invitation, directed by Hao Zhao & Yeung Tung
Inherent, directed by Nicolai G.H Johansen
Intercom 15, directed by Andrei Epure
If It Ain’t Broke, directed by Elinor Nechemya
Noir-Soleil, directed by Marie Larrivé
Safe, directed by Ian Barling
Soldat Noir, directed by Jimmy Laporal-Trésor
On Solid Ground, directed by Jela Hasler

COMPETITION
Amparo, directed by Simón Mesa Soto (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Feathers, directed by Omar El Zohairy (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Libertad, directed by Clara Roquet  (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
The Gravedigger’s Wife, directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Olga, directed by Elie Grappe (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Small Body, directed by Laura Samani (Debuting at Critics’ Week)
Rien A Foutre, directed by Julie Lecoustre & Emmanuel Marre (Debuting at Critics’ Week)

CLOSING FILM
A Tale Of Love And Desire, directed by Leyla Bouzid.