Penn, Allen, Nichols films set for Cannes Film Fest – De Niro, Foster to attend Tribeca ‘Taxi’ screening
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LOS ANGELES, Marcxh 19, (RTRS): It’s shaping up to be a strong year for American filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival, with Sean Penn’s “The Last Face,” Woody Allen’s “Cafe Society” and Jeff Nichols’ “Loving” set to make their world premieres on the Croisette.
While festival delegate general Thierry Fremaux and his selection committee still have many titles to screen and many decisions to make before nailing down their lineup in mid April, the film slate is starting to come into focus with a marked emphasis on starry English-language fare, as already signaled by the announcement earlier this week that Jodie Foster’s “Money Monster,” with George Clooney and Julia Roberts, is Cannes-bound.
A competition slot likely awaits “Loving,” Nichols’ civil rights drama starring Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga as an interracial couple in 1958 Virginia. Set to open theatrically Nov 4 through Focus Features, the film would mark a return to Cannes for Nichols after “Take Shelter” (2011, Critics’ Week) and “Mud” (2012, competition). It would also put him in the rare company of directors who have had different films play Berlin and Cannes in the same year, having recently competed for the Golden Bear with the just-released “Midnight Special.”
Locked
Meanwhile, a competition slot has just been locked for “The Last Face,” Penn’s drama starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem as aid workers who fall in love against the backdrop of war-torn Liberia. Already stirring gossip as it will put Penn and Theron on the red carpet after they broke off their engagement last year, the film marks a return to Cannes for the actor-turned-director after his helming debut, “The Indian Runner” (1991, Directors’ Fortnight) and “The Pledge” (2001, competition). Penn served as president of the official Cannes jury in 2008.
Also set to bow in Cannes is Woody Allen’s until-recently-untitled 1930s romance “Cafe Society,” starring Kristen Stewart, Bruce Willis and Jesse Eisenberg. Set to be released by Amazon Studios (rather than the director’s usual distributor, Sony Pictures Classics), Allen’s film will screen, per his usual preference, in an out-of-competition slot. The director was at Cannes just last year with “Irrational Man.”
While an opening-night film has yet to be decided, “Cafe Society” is said to be one of a few films in the running. Allen previously opened the festival in 2011 with “Midnight in Paris.” The 69th Cannes Film Festival runs May 11-22.
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LOS ANGELES: Francois-Henri Pinault’s Kering, one of the world’s most powerful luxury companies, is partnering up again with Cannes Film Festival to roll out the second edition of their Women in Motion program.
Women in Motion has been developed jointly by Kering and Cannes to highlight women’s achievements in film and encourage more diversity within the industry. The program will keep the same format, featuring a series of recorded talks with high-profile talent and execs.
As part of the Women in Motion initiative, two awards will be handed out during a gala dinner hosted during the festival on May 15, with Cannes’ artistic director Thierry Fremaux and president Pierre Lescure in attendance, along with jury members and other high-profile guests.
Last year’s Women in Motion honorees were Jane Fonda and Megan Ellison. The idea behind the awards is to celebrate a talent or industry player who has either served as a role model to other women and/or whose career choices have allowed women to shine whether in front or behind the camera. A second award will be given to an up and coming talent, director or producer.
The first edition of “Women in Motion” showcased talks with Fremaux, Isabella Rossellini, Claire Denis, Salma Hayek Pinault, Matthias Schoenaerts, Melvil Poupaud, Isabelle Huppert, Sylvie Pialat, Agnes Varda, Frances McDormand and Deniz Gamze Erguven.
LOS ANGELES: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster will attend a 40-year anniversary screening of “Taxi Driver” at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21.
The screening will take place at the Beacon Theatre and will be followed by a conversation with Scorsese, De Niro, Foster cast member Cybill Shepherd and screenwriter Paul Schrader. Kent Jones will moderate.
The 1976 film was nominated for four Academy Awards including best picture for Michael and Julia Phillips, best actor for De Niro and supporting actress for Foster. It won the Palme D’or at Cannes; Albert Brooks and Harvey Keitel also starred.
“It’s odd to think that four decades have passed since we shot ‘Taxi Driver’ on the streets of a very different New York City,” Scorsese said. “It was made in a surge of energy, starting with Paul’s one-of-a-kind script, and I was working with an extraordinary group of artistic collaborators as anyone could ever hope for — Jodie, who was 13 years old at the time, and Bob gave the picture something precious, dangerous, and altogether remarkable. I’m honored to take part in the celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.”
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