Two minority co-productions with Flanders have been confirmed for the Official Selection of the Cannes International Film Festival (16-27 May): Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone, with rising star Matthias Schoenaerts (The Loft, Bullhead) in the leading role, and Joachim Lafosse’s Our Children.
Flemish co-producers of the films are Antonino Lombardo of Brussels-based production outfit Prime Time (A perdre la raison) and Annemie Degryse of Lunanime (Rust and Bone). With his new role in Jacques Audiard’s feature, Matthias Schoenaerts takes another important step in his career. Rust and Bone is selected for Official Competition and will be competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or while A perdre la raison has been selected for the Un Certain Regard sidebar.
The programme of the Official Selection of the Cannes International Film Festival was announced on 19 April in the Parisian Hotel InterContinental. Earlier this week, the festival had announced its selection of short films. This year the short competition again includes two young Flemish directors. Emilie Verhamme’s Cockaigne is running in Official Competition while Leni Huyghe’s Matteus has been selected for the Cinéfondation. Both films were made at the Sint-Lukas film academy.
The most recent winners of the VAF Wildcard competition will also screen in Cannes in the Short Film Corner: Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fillah’s Brothers, Kenneth Michiels’ Twenty-One + Seven, Kenneth Mercken’s The Letter, Jeremy De Ryckere’s The Heir and Boris Sverlow’s Shattered Past.
The directors of Brothers and The Letter also received good news when it was confirmed that their graduation films will represent Flanders in the Student Academy Awards.