A Two-Year Experience In Cannes

I have had the utmost luck of witnessing this colossal film event for two years in a row. I consider 2014 and 2015 to be two of the most successful years in my career, just having to experience Cannes in person. In the film fraternity, Cannes is considered a myth, in a sense that one can only dream of being there in person. Its achievements and accolades are unmatched of considering this year is its 69th instalment and every year it sets a new quality yardstick of grand proportions to measure films that the following year has to stand on and above in order to maintain the reputation of the grandest event in international films.

Cannes, this year, has been considered by many to have been one of the best in its history and with all the ill-fated luck that one can bear, I had to cancel my flight to France due to some unavoidable circumstance. The most I miss about the 11-day long event is not being able to see the celebrities in person.

Being star-struck is something that happens to all journalists at the event and I was no exception. I have not seen the movies of this festival for this year yet but the trailers and teasers have already established a firm belief in my mind that indeed, this year at Cannes had the best of everything.

This year has seen one of the most Bangladeshi participants in various categories at Cannes. Since Showbiz could not attend the event this year, our team has put its effort in bringing our readers more about Cannes than in previous years.  With the help of various intermediaries and internet sources this issue of Showbiz has been fully dedicated to Festival de Cannes. 

The prizes this year were a surprise which somehow missed out many of the films which were more anticipated. Maren Ade's comedy Toni Erdmann did not receive any award.

No award for Jim Jarmusch'sPaterson and for Paul Verhoeven'sunusually pleasing thriller Elle. It was disappointing to see Isabelle Huppert being overlooked for the best actress award, along with Ruth Negga,Kristen Stewart, and Sonia Braga; instead, Jaclyn Jose as the Manila drug-dealer in Brillante Mendoza's Ma'Rosa took the gold. A very good performance by the winner overall however, it does not outstand the others in comparison.

The 2016 Film Festival came to an end with the presentation of the year's awards, peaked by the prestigious honoring of the Palme d'Or. Among the awards, Palme d'Or, Grand Prix, Prix du Jury, and Un Certain Regard are most reputed and have carried on its legacy of excellence.

This year has experienced several incredible films, reviews of which have been done in the subsequent pages, and amazing new talents from all around the world showcasing their passion for film at Cannes 2016.

Cannes 2016 was a remarkable year for films, and the competitors in the list werean unparalleled streak of flair, only seldomdisappointing. The disappointments in terms of the winning entries are becoming a bit of a convention, but do notreduce any satisfaction at Cannes. 2016 undoubtedly adds to the great vintage of Festival du Cannes enormously.

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Un Certain Regard (A Certain Regard) Winners: 

Best Movie: "The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki"; Directed By: Juho Kuosmanen

Jury Prize: "Harmonium"; Directed By: KojiFukada

Best Director: Matt Ross for "Captain Fantastic" 

Best Screenplay: Delphine and Muuriel in "The Stopover" 

Special Regard: "The Red Turtle"; Directed By: Michael Dudok de Wit

Cinéfondation Winners: First Prize: "Anna", Or Sinai

Second Prize: "In the Hills", Hamid Ahmadi 

Third Prize (joint): "The Guilt, Probably", Michael Labarca "The Noise of Licking", Nadja Andrasev