I found a useful website that lists the Cannes Film Festival Winners beginning all the way back in 1946.

Fun fact:
Francis Ford Coppola was awarded the Palme d'Or in 1974 for his film The Conversation.

To see other winners, click on the specific year:
2007
2001
1997
1991 (The Coen brothers won this year.)

Only 8 More Weeks

Going to the Cannes Film Festival?
Whether you are attending the festival itself, or just want to be in Cannes during all the excitement, here are some great links for finding hotel accomodations:

http://www.cannes-accommodation.com/en-US/Locations.aspx
http://www.azur-online.com/content/france/cannes/congresses/cannes-film-festival.php

In other Cannes news, "Up", a new animation from Disney Pixar will be the opening ceremony film. It is the first movie to premiere at the festival in 3-D. What a great way to start things off!

"Up" will not be released in the United States until May 29th. I hope I get to see the premiere when I'm there!

Cannes Films Recently Released

24 City was released in France on Wednesday (March 18). It was chosen in the official selection at last year's festival. The film borderlines the genres of documentary and fiction.

Another film from last year's festival was also released yesterday. The Chaser follows the character of a former cop turned pimp.

Also, The Class was released last month. It was the first French film to earn a Palm D'Or in over 20 years. Laurent Cantent, director, filmed The Class in HD, which he gives credit to for creating a real feeling.

Along with the Cannes Golden Palm Award, Cantent also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film...Cannes awards and Oscars seem to go hand in hand (see previous posts).

Clint Eastwood Awarded Palme d'Or

Yesterday Clint Eastwood was awarded the lifetime achievement award, the Palm d'Or, by Cannes Film Festival President Gilles Jacob. Only the second time for the award to be given, it is quite an honor. The first award went to Ingmar Bergman in 1997.

"France is the first country to approach and appreciate cinema as an art form," said Eastwood.

In case you aren't quite sure of all that Eastwood has worked on, here are a few of his films you have probably, at the very least, heard of:

Eastwood directed all the previous films, but that barely scratches the surface. For the complete list go to imdb.com.

When I was a little girl I remember watching Clint Eastwood with my dad in the plethora of Westerns he starred in. My how he has evolved!

Movie to Debut at Cannes

One of the movies to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival was announced a couple of weeks ago. Brand Pele, an acclaimed soccer star in Brazil, is the subject of this particular animated movie. Cannes will be giving him a red-carpet entrance and Pele will be auctioning off some football ( or soccer if you are native to the US) memoribilia.

The movie budget is said to be $63 million. I would venture to say, if you have not heard of Pele (as I had not) then you will most likely have the opportunity to become acquainted with his life story in a few months, assuming the movie is picked up for distribution at the festival.

You can go to Cannes too!

If you are interested in interning for the Cannes Film Festival it's not too late! AMPAV, the corporation that provides internships, has extended the deadline for applications (until February 27). If you have any inclination to do this, don't hesitate. Especially if you are a Flagler student. I say that because the head of AMPAV really likes Flagler and you are very likely to be approved.

If you are interested, the picture to the right is a link to AMPAV.com. This May there are currently four students from Flagler attending. It'd be great to add to that number!

Penn Forgets the Wife

Jury President of The Cannes Film Festival, Sean Penn, won last night for Best Actor in Milk. Unfortunately he failed to thank his wife for her support...notice her tears of joy for him while he recieves his award. Hmmm, perhaps he's sleeping on the couch tonight?