The International Critics' Week (french: Semaine de la Critique) was founded in 1962 and is organized by the
French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
The French Syndicate of Cinema Critics (french: Syndicat français de la critique de cinéma et des films de télévision) has, each year since 1946, awarded a prize ("Prix de la critique", English: "Critics Prize"), the Prix Méliès, to the bes ...
. It was created following the showing of ''
The Connection'' directed by
Shirley Clarke which had been organized by the
French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
The French Syndicate of Cinema Critics (french: Syndicat français de la critique de cinéma et des films de télévision) has, each year since 1946, awarded a prize ("Prix de la critique", English: "Critics Prize"), the Prix Méliès, to the bes ...
for the
1961 Cannes Film Festival.
It is the oldest parallel non-competitive section of the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...
. It showcases first and second
feature film
A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...
s by directors from all over the world, and has remained true to its tradition of discovering new talents.
Bernardo Bertolucci
Bernardo Bertolucci (; 16 March 1941 – 26 November 2018) was an Italian film director and screenwriter with a career that spanned 50 years. Considered one of the greatest directors in Italian cinema, Bertolucci's work achieved international ...
,
Philip Kaufman,
Ken Loach,
Tony Scott
Anthony David Leighton Scott (21 June 1944 – 19 August 2012) was an English film director and producer. He was known for directing highly successful action and thriller films such as '' Top Gun'' (1986), '' Beverly Hills Cop II'' (1987), ''D ...
,
Agnieszka Holland,
Leos Carax,
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai (born 17 July 1958) is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter, and producer. His films are characterised by nonlinear narratives, atmospheric music, and vivid cinematography involving bold, saturated colours. A pivotal figure ...
,
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born October 9, 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and actor. He directed the Academy Award–winning fantasy films ''Pan's Labyrinth'' (2006) and '' The Shape of Water'' (2017), winning the Academy Awards for ...
,
Jacques Audiard,
Arnaud Desplechin,
Gaspar Noé
Gaspar Noé (, ; born 27 December 1963) is an Argentine filmmaker based in Paris, France. He is the son of Argentine painter, writer, and intellectual Luis Felipe Noé.
In the early 1990s, Noé along with his wife Lucile Hadžihalilović were ...
,
François Ozon
François Ozon (; born 15 November 1967) is a French film director and screenwriter.
Ozon is considered one of the most important modern French filmmakers. His films are characterized by aesthetic beauty, sharp satirical humor and a free-wheeli ...
,
Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold, OBE (born 5 April 1961) is an English filmmaker and former actor. She won an Academy Award for her short film ''Wasp'' in 2005. Her feature films include '' Red Road'' (2006), ''Fish Tank'' (2009), and '' American Honey'' (2016), ...
,
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu (; American Spanish: ; credited since 2016 as Alejandro G. Iñárritu; born 15 August 1963) is a Mexican filmmaker and screenwriter. He is primarily known for making modern psychological drama films about the hu ...
,
Julia Ducournau, all started out at Critics’ Week.
The International Critics’ Week presents a very selective programming of only seven feature films and seven short films in Cannes so that the films can get a greater visibility. The Critics’ Week Grand Prix (Nespresso Prize) is awarded by the press (journalists and films critics are invited to vote after each screening of the Selection). Feature films also run for the SACD Prize for best screenplay and the ACID Prize that helps the film to be distributed. In 2012, the
France 4 Visionary Award
The France 4 Visionary Award is an independent film award given by France 4 at the Cannes Film Festival to reflect "the cinephile's passion and enthusiasm for new talent in the film industry". It was founded in 2012 and is given to one out of the ...
(Prix Revelation) was introduced to reflect "the cinephile's passion for young talent" in the film industry. Short films can receive the Canal+ Award for best short film and the Kodak Discovery Award. The first feature films also run for the
Caméra d'Or
The Caméra d'Or ("''Golden Camera''") is an award of the Cannes Film Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections (Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight
The Directors' Fortnight (french: Quinzaine des ...
.
Notable jury presidents have included
Cristian Mungiu
Cristian Mungiu (; born 27 April 1968) is a Romanian filmmaker. He won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for his film ''4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days'', which he wrote and directed. He has also won the awards for Best Screenplay an ...
,
Joachim Trier
Joachim Trier () (born 1 March 1974) is a Danish-born Norwegian film director, best known for '' Oslo, August 31st'' (2011), ''Louder Than Bombs'' (2015), '' Thelma'' (2017), and '' The Worst Person in the World'' (2021). For the latter film, h ...
,
Valérie Donzelli
Valérie Donzelli (born 2 March 1973) is a French actress, filmmaker and screenwriter. She has directed five feature films and two short films since 2008, including the film ''Declaration of War'' (2011).
Early life
Valérie Donzelli was born i ...
,
Ciro Guerra and
Kleber Mendonça Filho.
Awards
*Feature Films
**The Nespresso Grand Prize
**
France 4 Visionary Award
The France 4 Visionary Award is an independent film award given by France 4 at the Cannes Film Festival to reflect "the cinephile's passion and enthusiasm for new talent in the film industry". It was founded in 2012 and is given to one out of the ...
**SACD Prize
*Short Films
**Discovery Award
**Canal+ Award
References
External links
International Critics' Week Official Website
Cannes Film Festival
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