A great line-up with 6 Brussels projects for the Cannes Festival 2021
The Cannes Festival is back this summer 2021, from 6 to 17 July. After a very special 2020 edition, the Festival is announcing an official and ambitious selection. In addition, there are the parallel selections of the Semaine de la Critique, the Directors' Fortnight and Acid.
Among the films that will be shown on the Croisette, there are six projects with a Brussels flavour, five of which are financially supported by the screen.brussels fund and another which is supported by the Film Commission for its many scenes shot in Brussels. And to underline that 3 of these projects are directed (or co-directed) by women! Here is a small overview:
Joachim Lafosse's Les intranquilles in official selection
For the first time in official selection - thus competing for the Palme d'Or - director Joachim Lafosse returns to defend his film in Cannes after Elève Libre and L'Economie du Couple, selected in the Directors' Fortnight in 2008 and 2016, and A perdre la raison, already in Official Selection in the Un certain regard section in 2013, which won an Interpretation Award for Emilie Dequenne. Leïla and Damien are deeply in love. Despite his bipolarity, he tries to pursue his life with her knowing that he may never be able to give her what she wants. The film is produced by Stenola Production, also a young Brussels company, and has mobilised many Brussels talents and companies.
Where is Anne Frank - Official Selection Hors compétition
The present day. Kitty, Anne Frank's imaginary friend, the one to whom Anne dedicated her diary, magically comes to life in Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam. She thinks that if she is alive, Anne must be too. She embarks on an incredible quest to find Anne. Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman's highly anticipated animated feature project was produced by Purple Whal Films (BE) Walking the Dog (BE) Magellan Films (BE), Samsa Film (LU) Bridgit Folman Film Gang (IL) Submarine Amseterdam (NL) Le Pacte (FR) Doghouse Films (LU). It was supported by the screen.brussels fund in 2018. With 345 days of production in Brussels and 25 technical animators at work, this project puts the Brussels Animation Valley firmly on the European map
Clara Sola at the Directors' Fortnight
In a remote village in Costa Rica, Clara, a 40-year-old woman, experiences a sexual and mystical awakening as she begins a journey to free herself from the repressive religious and social conventions which have dominated her life. Produced by Brussels-based Need Productions, the film directed by Nathalie Alvarez Mesén in co-production with Sweden (Hobab) was also supported by the screen.brussels fund in the January 2020 session.
My Legionnaire at the Directors' Fortnight
The film, directed by Rachel Lang, was produced by the Brussels-based Wrong Men (who are presenting 2 other projects at Cannes, see below). They come from all over the world, but now they have one thing in common: the Foreign Legion, their new family. Mon Légionnaire tells their stories: that of women who fight to keep their love alive, that of men who fight for France, that of couples who build a new life in hostile territory. After Baden Baden, this is the second feature film by Rachel Lang, a Brussels-based director who spent several years in the French army and rose to the rank of lieutenant. In addition to fifteen or so Brussels technicians, the entire post-production process takes place in Brussels.
Zero Fucks Given at the Semaine de la Critique
Cassandre, 26 years old, is a flight attendant in a low-cost airline. She lives from day to day and goes from one flight to the next with no tomorrow. She has chosen Carpe Diem as her Tinder nickname. She fully recognizes herself in the motto of her company "The world doesn't wait". This is the first film of the Brussels-based director, who brought along a large part of the team - nearly a dozen technicians. The project was directed by Emmanuel Marre and Julie Lecoustre (France) and produced by Wrong Men.
Annette - Opening film of the Cannes Film Festival
Leos Carax's latest film, Annette, will open the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The pitch: A comedian and his wife, an opera singer, have a two-year-old daughter with an extraordinary talent. The project with a prestigious cast (Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard among others) has set its cameras on the streets of Brussels. The film shows the tunnels of the inner ring, the KVS, the Aegidium in Saint-Gilles, the Mirano and the Bois de la Cambre. The film, which did not receive funding from the screen.brussels fund, was also supported by the screen.brussels film commission for the shooting in Brussels.