Cannes Critics’ Week Unveils Lineup of 62nd Edition

Rolling off a successful edition that premiered Charlotte Wells’ celebrated film “Aftersun” with Paul Mescal, Cannes Critics’ Week is back with an international lineup spanning South Korea and Malaysia to France and Jordan, among others.

The Critics’ Week sidebar runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival, and focuses on first and second films. Under the leadership of artistic director Ava Cahen since last year, the lineup will boast 11 feature films chosen from 1,000 submitted movies.

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Out of these 11 movies, seven are feature debuts and six are directed by women. Among them is the opening night film, “Ama Gloria,” directed by French helmer Marie Amachoukeli, who previously won Cannes’ Golden Camera for “Party Girl” which she co-directed with Claire Burger and Samuel Theis.

“Ama Gloria” tells the story of Cléo, a six-year old girl who sees her beloved nanny, Gloria, leave town to return to Cape Verde.

This 62nd edition will wrap with “La fille de son père,” Erwan le Duc’s anticipated follow up to his critically acclaimed debut “Perdrix.” Cahen described the film as a “bittersweet comedy about paternity and filiation with a poetic and off-beat angle.” The film stars Nahuel Perez Biscayart (“BPM (Beats per Minute)”) and Céleste Brunnquell as an endearing father-daughter duo.

Critics Week will also premiere “Tiger Stripes,” the feature debut of Malaysian director Amanda Nell. Cahen said the film was a coming-of-age movie following teenage girls rebelling in Malaysian society.

The selection will highlight politically minded films, such as “Levante,” a timely drama about Sofia, an athlete whose dreams are nearly crushed because of an unwanted pregnancy. Living in Brazil where abortion is illegal, Sofia embarks on a race against the clock to find a solution. Directed by Lillah Halla, the “luminous” queer film denounces the conservatism of contemporary Brazil, Cahen explained.

The roster also includes “Jam,” feature debut of Jason Yu, former assistant to Oscar-winning helmer Bong Joon-ho. The movie is both a black comedy and a horror thriller about a couple before and after the arrival of their first child.

A pair of films are slated for Special Screenings presentations: Stéphan Castang’s genre film “Vincent doit mourir” with Karim Leklou and Vimala Pons; and “Le Syndrome des amours passées,” Lucie Debay and Lazare Gousseau’s romantic comedy about a couple trying to have children and advised by their doctor to sleep with their exes.

As previously announced, “Happening” director Audrey Diwan will preside over the jury. Other jury members will include Portuguese cinematographer Rui Poças (“Tabu,” “Zama”); German actor, choreographer and dancer Franz Rogowski (“A Hidden Life”); Indian journalist, curator and Berlinale programming advisor Meenakshi Shedde; and Sundance programming director Kim Yutani.

Here is the lineup:

Competition

“Levante,” Lillah Halla

“Il pleut dans la maison,” Paloma Sermon-Daï

“Inshallah Walad,” Amjad Al Rasheed

“Jam,” Jason Yu

“Lost Country,” Vladimir Perisič

“Le ravissement,” Iris Kaltenbäck

“Tiger Stripes,” Amanda Nell Eu

Opening Film

Ama Gloria, Marie Amachoukeli

Film de Clôture

“La fille de son père” (No Love Lost), Erwan le Duc

Special screenings

“Vincent doit mourir,” Stéphan Castang

“Le syndrome des amours passées,” Ann Sirot, Raphaël Balboni

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