At a festival where everyone was told to avoid political statements, the juries made their views loud and clear by choosing films to award with their activists caps on.
Read MoreJafar Panahi, after his Palme d’Or win for It Was Just an Accident
The announcement of the Film Fund at the Palestinian Pavilion in Cannes, photo © Hamza Hamida
PFI launches Film Fund to support Palestinians, plus more Palestinian news from Cannes
While the festival’s official stance may have been to avoid controversy and politics at all cost, or at the cost of the Palestinian people, there were a few cinematic organizations doing right by them on the Croisette. And the presence of a Palestinian Pavilion in the Marché du Film, with their just-announced Film Fund, brought well-deserved attention to their cause.
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The kind of beautiful women attending this year’s Festival de Cannes, as photographed at the Kering Women in Motion Awards dinner
The difference between us: Another Cannes Film Festival dispatch
Never before did I notice such a gender divide and so much incredibly superfluous mansplaining as I did this year on the Croisette.
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DFI supporting the Palestinian pavilion in Cannes this year, with Fatma Hasan Alremaihi, center, Elia Suleiman, third from left and Hanaa Issa, third from right.
Doha Film Institute proves once again the cinematic force to be reckoned with in Cannes
And with a new upcoming international film festival announced for November 2025, the Gulf cultural organization plans to prove to the world what many of us already knew.
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A still from ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ by Diego Céspedes
Moments incroyables: A second Cannes Dispatch
Everything moves so fast on the Croisette, that sometimes I imagine I’ve been here for a year, others that I landed just five minutes ago. But in that time, somewhere in between, I’ve definitely watched loads of films, met interesting people and attended a few parties. So here’s a recap of… only the last 48 hrs?! Incroyable, I tell you.
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Don’t be fooled by the official images, those trains are no longer allowed on the red carpet in Cannes
Oops they did it again: a first dispatch from Cannes
Well, I’m almost there, writing this on the flight, but the trials and tribulations have already started. And the controversies too.
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More goodies, like an award for Nicole Kidman added in Cannes, plus the Competition Jury is announced and 'Yes', please!
Among the new additions, Nadav Lapid’s absurdist tale, focusing on a struggling jazz musician tasked with reinventing the Israeli national anthem, taking place in the aftermath of October 7th, but also Lynne Ramsay’s latest, Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut and Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan’ starring Gael Garcia Bernál as the Portuguese explorer.
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Welcome to the first episode of The Culture Influential
Starting right here, right now, I’m kicking off a podcast that brings together film and fashion in a brand new way, where you'll find yourself sitting in the room with celebrities and artists, for some cozy conversations. Cultural events and world affairs decoded, from Cannes to Venice to London and across the pond, to NYC.
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Cannes' sidebars -- Critics' Week, Directors' Fortnight and ACID selections announced
Among the titles which stand out to me immediately are two beautiful projects, one selected for Critics’ Week and the other in the Fortnight line up, which participated in the recent DFI Qumra industry incubator. And I included the shorts in Critics’ Week!
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Laetitia Ky in a still from Erige Sehiri’s ‘Promised Sky’
Cannes Line-Up announcement 2025: Wondrous women filmmakers, returning favorites and a Spike Lee joint
You have to love Spike Lee for crashing Thierry Frémaux’s insiders party at the line-up press conference… via social media of course!
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The 7th Arab Film Festival Zurich announces program, with special tributes to Sudanese and Saudi cinema
The five day event, which takes place every two years and celebrates the best of Arab cinema, will be held from 2nd to 6th April 2025 in the Swiss city.
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Gems by Almodóvar, Tony Gatlif and Paz Vega to screen during upcoming London Spanish Film Festival Spring Weekend
Now in its 14th edition, the couture festival will also feature the latest film by veteran filmmaker David Trueba and Enrique Buelo’s debut feature, along with two homages dedicated to personalities of Spanish cinema.
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Fabrizio Gifuni and Romana Maggiora Vergano in Francesca Comencini’s ‘The Time It Takes’
Cinecittà present Cinema Made in Italy at London's BFI Southbank
Cinema Made in Italy (CMII) returns to London this spring with exclusive presentations of nine new Italian feature films to UK audiences, presented by the internationally renowned Cinecittà.
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BFI Flare 2025 slated to conquer 'Hearts, Bodies and Minds'
The 39th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, one of the world’s most significant and long-standing queer film events in the LGBTQIA+ calendar recently revealed its full program, with general tickets to go on sale February 27th.
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Margaret Qualley and Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon by Richard Linklater © Sabrina Lantos / Sony Pictures Classics
Berlinale announces main line up which includes Linklater, Franco, Hong Sang-soo titles & German premiere of Timothée Chalamet star vehicle
“Cinema helps us connect and understand each other,” says new Artistic Director Tricia Tuttle during the press conference announcing all the Competition and Perspectives titles, plus the few remaining films in their Special Gala program.
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Palestinian story 'Happy Holidays' wins Etoile d'Or in Marrakech
Plus Polish director Damian Kocur won the Best Directing Prize for his Ukrainian story ‘Under the Volcano’.
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Ajyal young jurors sit during a screening of a film in their section
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Women filmmakers sweep awards at this year's DFI Ajyal Film Festival
And, while watching films during this wondrous festival, I witnessed a second miracle in the making.
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Fatma Hassan Alremaihi and Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater surrounded by some of the Ajyal jurors
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Opening night with a twist and the joy of unorthodox film choices
A documentary about the students’ movement in Sudan opened this year’s DFI Ajyal film festival. And the unusual, yet super welcomed refreshing choices didn’t stop there.
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Todd Haynes, Alfonso Cuarón and Ava DuVernay among those participation in Marrakech Film Fest Conversations
The list of cinema personalities encountering the public at this year’s festival in Morocco also includes Sean Penn and David Cronenberg, in Marrakech to receive their honorary awards, as well as persecuted Iranian helmer Mohammad Rasoulof, Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako and US director-slash-artist extraordinaire Tim Burton.
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Marrakech Film Fest announced Luca Guadagnino as new Jury President and unveils 2024 official selection
On the occasion of its 21st edition, which takes place from November 29th to December 7th, 2024, the Marrakech International Film Festival will present 70 films selected from 32 countries in its various sections: the Official Competition, Gala Screenings, Special Screenings, the 11th Continent, the Moroccan Panorama, Cinema for Young Audiences & Families, and films shown as part of the Tributes program.
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