‘The Beasts’ Filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen Named Cannes Critics’ Week Jury President

Zac Ntim
·2 min read
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Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen, best known for his 2023 feature The Beasts, has been announced as jury president for this year’s edition of Cannes Critics’ Week.

The parallel Cannes section devoted to emerging talents and first and second features will unfold from May 15 to 23 this year.

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“It is a big responsibility, which I look forward to,” Sorogoyen said in a video statement on X, formerly Twitter, announcing his presidency.

“La Semaine de la Critique supports and rewards first and second feature films as well as short films, thus providing vital support to cinema, new voices, and new ways to tell stories. Without these new voices, there would be no new cinema. They’re the ones who make it live and make it work.”

Sorogoyen’s last film, The Beasts, debuted at Cannes in 2022 and dominated the main prizes at the 37th edition of Spain’s Goya Awards, taking home nine gongs, including best film and director. The film’s story follows a middle-aged French couple who move to a small village, seeking closeness with nature. However, their presence inflames two locals to the point of outright hostility and shocking violence. The Beasts also picked up wins for best screenplay, leading actor, and supporting actor.

The year’s Critics Week lineup is set to be announced in the next few weeks. The official Cannes Film Festival lineup will be announced on April 11. Earlier this week, we got our first solid look at the shape of this year’s Festival as French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux‘s comedy road movie Le Deuxième Acte (The Second Act) was set as the opening title. Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Louis Garrel, and Raphaël Quenard star in the pic and will all be in attendance on the red carpet.

Presented Out of Competition as a world premiere on the Croisette on Tuesday, May 14, the four-part feature will be released in French cinemas on the same day. The film’s official synopsis reads: “Florence wants to introduce David, the man she’s madly in love with, to her father Guillaume. But David isn’t attracted to Florence and wants to throw her into the arms of his friend Willy. The four characters meet in a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.”

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