CANNES: There has not been many French winners of the Palme d'Or in recent years but with Jacques Audiard's A Prophet that screened today if the critical response is anything to go by the French have a strong chance this year. The film is about the 19 year old Malik El Djebena condemned to prison for six year who cannot read or write.
CANNES: British director Ken Loach has fulfilled a dream in making a film about football with Looking For Eric that stars the real life football star Eric Cantona alongside vetern British actor Steve Evets. Loach films do not tend to be star vehicles but Cantona drew as many cheers as Brad Pitt on the red carpet and his name is sure to bring this film more popularity at the box office than most Loach films.
CANNES: American born director Quentin Tarantino brought total star power to Cannes for the world premier of his film Inglourious Basterds surrounded by his cast Mélanie Laurent, Diane Kruger, Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mike Myers, Michael Fassbender, Daniel Brühl, and Eli Roth. Tarantino looked at home on the red carpet. The director was president of the jury in Cannes in 2004 and won the Palm d'Or for his film Pulp Fiction in 1994.
CANNES: Today's screening of Michael Haneke's What Ribbon was definitely the unveiling of one of the competition's most serious artistic achievements. Set in a small village in Northern Germany on the eve of the first World War Haneke explores the consequences of absolutist values and the inhumanity that it leads to.
CANNES: Lars Von Trier's Antichrist lived up to the controversy that has surrounded the film when it unspooled in today's press screening. The film follows a grieving and troubled couple to their isolated cab in the woods but as the images of sex and nudity Von Trier subjects his audience to grow increasingly disturbing to look at you have to ask if the result is worth the experience you are subjected to.
Cottbus has awarded its "Distribution Support Prize for a festival film From Cottbus to Cinema" to distributor Alpha Medienkontor.
BERLIN: Polish director Roman Polanski is not expected on the red carpet tonight but his film Ghost Writer has dominated the buzz here in Berlin.
BUDAPEST: Bibliotheque Pascal directed by Szabolcs Hajdu collected the top prize at the 41st Hungarian Film Week (2-8 February) at the annual showcase of new Hungarian production.
