Following the last of three press conferences, filmmakers and journalists the world over now know who's in and who's out of the program for the 49th Cannes International Film Festival. Pierre-Henri Deleau, who heads up the selection process for both the 'Directors' Fortnight' and the all-French 'Cinemas en France" announced the remaining contenders today in Paris.
If you're not a bona fide film honcho who qualifies for festival accreditation, be advised that these two sections of the fest sell tickets to the general public, on a first come, first served basis. Better yet, if you happen to be in Paris between May 22-28, most of the films will be shown at the Videotheque de Paris, for 30 francs a picture.
The 28th edition of the Quinzaine des Realisateurs spotlights 17 features, including 11 world premieres and 6 movies from first-time directors.
American films in the line-up are: Arthur Penn's South African drama "Inside" with Nigel Hawthorne, Eric Stoltz and Louis Gossett, Jr.; John Sayles' Tex-Mex murder investigation "Lone Star" with Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Pena and Joe Morton; and quirky indie-actor Steve Buscemi's writing and directing debut, "Trees Lounge" featuring Buscemi, Carol Kane, Seymour Cassell and Mimi Rogers, among others. Buscemi also has the rare distinction of appearing in TWO Competition films, "Fargo" from the Coen brothers and Robert Altman's "Kansas City."
Deleau sounds particularly enthusiastic about the second feature from Georgian director Nana Dordjadze, who won the Camera d'Or at Cannes ten years ago for her amusing debut feature, "Robinsonade." Her sophomore outing, "Les Mille at une recettes du Cuisinier Amoureux" ('1001 Recipes from a Cook in Love' ) stars Gallic comic Pierre Richard as a travelling French cook who lands in soon-to-be Soviet Georgia at the time of the Russian Revolution.
Twenty-three year old actor Gaël Morel, who played the slimly built gay young man in Andre Techine's "Wild Reeds," makes his feature directing debut with "A Tout Vitesse." Also tempting, in the Cinemas en France section, is "Le Cri de la Soie" ('Scream of Silk') - the story, set in 1914, of a couple who harbor obsessive desires for the touch of silk - from writer/director Yvon Marciano.
English entries are Hettie Macdonald's "Beautiful Thing" and the world premiere of "Jude" from Michael ("Butterfly Kiss") Winterbottom, starring Kate ("Sense and Sensibility") Winslet and Christopher ("Shallow Grave") Eccleston.
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