Cannes Film Festival Unveils Cannes Classics 2020 Lineup

Elsa Keslassy
·8 min read

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The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for the 17th edition of Cannes Classics, a popular sidebar dedicated to restored heritage movies and documentaries that forms part of the Official Selection.

This year’s roster comprises 25 feature films and seven documentaries. The highlights are Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary, as well as Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” and Michelangelo Antonioni’s “L’Aventura,” which are both turning 60. Cannes Classics will also turn the spotlight on Federico Fellini, the Italian master who would have turned 100 in 2020. Two films by Fellini are part of the selection, “La strada” and “Luci del varietà,” along with the documentary “Fellini of the Spirits” directed by Anselma dell’Olio.

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Cannes Classics will also spotlight rare films such as Peter Wollen’s “Friendship’s Death” in which Tilda Swinton delivered a breakthrough performance in 1987, and “The Story of a Three-Day Pass,” Melvin Van Peebles’s feature debut. Documentaries included in the roster include “Wim Wenders, Desperado” by Eric Friedler and Andreas Frege; “Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty” by François Aymé and Yves Jeuland; Bao Nguyen’s “Be Water” about Bruce Lee; R.J. Cutler’s “Belushi” about “Blues Brothers” star John Belushi.

Since the Cannes Film Festival canceled its physical edition due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s selection of Cannes Classics will be showcased at the Lumière Festival in Lyon which will run Oct. 10-18, and at the Rencontres Cinématographiques of Cannes, set to take place Nov. 23-26. The Lumiere Festival is overseen by Bertrand Tavernier and headed by Cannes Festival director Thierry Fremaux.

The 4K restoration of “In The Mood for Love” was led by Criterion and L’Immagine Ritrovata under the supervision of Wong. It will be theatrically released in France on Dec. 2 by The Jokers Films.

The announcement of Cannes Classics completes the Official Selection which was unveiled in June and already includes 56 films, notably pics by Wes Anderson, Naomi Kawase, Francois Ozon and Steve McQueen.

Cannes bowed Cannes Classics at the beginning of the 2000s to celebrate heritage cinema with the support of production companies, rights owners, cinematheques and national archives from around the world.

Here is the full lineup of Cannes Classics 2020:

“In the Mood for Love” (2000, Hong Kong), Wong Kar-wai
The 4k restoration of the film made from the original negative was lead by Criterion and L’Immagine Ritrovata under the supervision of Wong Kar-wai. French theatrical distribution: The Jokers Films, date of release: December 2, 2020.

Friendship’s Death (1987, U.K.), Peter Wollen
Presented by the British Film Institute (BFI). The 4K remastering by the BFI National Archive was from the original Standard 16mm colour negative. The remastering was undertaken in collaboration with the film’s producer, Rebecca O’Brien and cinematographer, Witold Stok.

“The Story of a Three-Day Pass” (1967, France), Melvin Van Peebles
Presented by IndieCollect and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The restoration of the film was funded by a grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The original film elements were found by the IndieCollect team during its inventory of Melvin Van Peebles’ New York apartment and storage facility.

“July Rain” (1966, Russia), Marlen Khutsiev
Presented by Mosfilm Cinema Concern. 4K digital restoration done by Mosfilm Cinema Concern and produced by Karen Shakhnazarov.

“Quand les femmes ont pris la colère” (1977, France), Soizick Chappedelaine and René Vautier. Presented by Ciaofilm. The film was scanned in 4K and restored in 2K from the original 16mm negative. French theatrical distribution in 2021. DVD / Blu-ray release by Les Mutins de Pangée and in VOD on Cinémutins in 2021.

“Get Out Your Handkerchiefs” (1977, 1h50, France), Bertrand Blier
Presented by TF1 Studio and Orange Studio / CAPAC. 4K Restoration from the picture negative and the French magnetic soud track, supervised by Bertrand Blier. Digital works carried out by Eclair laboratory in 2019.

“Hester Street” (1973, U.S.), Joan Micklin Silver
Presented by Cohen Film Collection. 4K scanning and restoration work was carried out by DuArt Media Services in New York.

“Who’s Singing Over There?” (1980, Serbia), Slobodan Šijan
Presented by Malavida Films. Restoration from the picture and sound negative. French theatrical distribution by Malavida Films planned for Oct. 21, 2020.

“Black Silk” (1961, Thailand), R.D. Pestonji
Presented by Film Archive Thailand (Public Organization). 4K Scan and 4K Restoration from the original 35mm negative (preserved by Film Archive Thailand). Restoration made and financed by Film Archive Thailand and Thai Ministry of Culture. Mastered in 4K for Digital Projection.

“New Year Sacrifice” (1956, China), Hu Sang
Presented by Shanghai International Film Festival and China Film Archive. 4K restoration made by China Film Archive. Co-financed by Shanghai International Film Festival and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

“Upthrown Stone” (1968, Hungary), Sándor Sára
Presented by National Film Institute. The 4K digital restoration was carried out by the Hungarian Film Institute. Collaborating partner: Hungarian Society of Cinematographers.

“Neige” (1981, France), Juliet Berto and Jean-Henri Roger
Presented by JHR Films. The 4K restoration was carried out at L’Image Retrouvée laboratory in Bologna and in Paris.
French theatrical distribution: JHR Films, date of release: spring 2021.

“The Wasps Are Here” (1978, Sri Lanka), Dharmasena Pathiraja
Presented by Asian Film Archive. 4K film and sound restoration was carried out by L’Immagine Ritrovata using the sole-surviving 35mm film positive.

“Bayan Ko” (1984, Philippines / France), Lino Brocka
Presented by Le Chat qui fume. First 4k digital restoration submitted by Le Chat qui fume.
French theatrical distribution and Blu-ray / UHD release: Le Chat qui fume, date of release: February 2021.

“La Poupée” (1962, France), Jacques Baratier
Presented by the CNC. Sound and image digital work of restoration executed by the CNC and carried out by Hiventy. French distribution: Tamasa Distribution.

“The Hourglass Sanatory” (1973, Poland), Wojciech J. Has
Presented by Polish Film Classics. 4k Scan and 2K restoration carried out by DI Factory and the reKino team by keeping the guidelines of DOP Witold Sobociński (this restoration is dedicated to him). French Blu-ray release: Malavida Films, date of release: May 2021.

“America as Seen by a Frenchman” (1959, France), François Reichenbach
Presented by Les Films du jeudi. Restoration carried out at Hiventy: 4K scan – 2K restoration from the original negatives.

“The Ninth Circle” (1960, Croatia) by France Štiglic
Digital restoration in 2K presented by Croatian Cinematheque – Croatian State Archives with the support of Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Restoration performed by Ater and Klik Film studios in Zagreb, Croatia.

“Muhammad Ali the Greatest” (1974, France) by William Klein
Presented by Films Paris New York and ARTE. First digital 2K restoration from the original 16mm negative scanned in 4K carried out with the support of the CNC.

Frederico 100

“La strada” (1956, Italy) by Federico Fellini
Presented by The Criterion Collection and The Film Foundation.Restoration funding provided by Hollywood Foreign Press Association

“Luci del varietà” (1950, Italy) by Alberto Lattuada and Federico Fellini
Presented by Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna. Restored in 4K by Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory.

“Fellini of the Spirits,” Anselma dell’Olio (Italy / Belgium)
Presented by Mad Entertainment, Rai Cinema and Walking the Dog with Rai Com and Arte.

À Bout de souffle and L’Avventura turn 60

“Breathless,” Jean-Luc Godard
Presented by Studiocanal. 4K scan and restoration by Studiocanal with the help of the CNC.
French theatrical distribution: Carlotta Films, date of release: October-November 2020. Video release: collector edition UHD+Blu-ray on November 4, 2020.

“L’Avventura,” Michelangelo Antonioni
Presented by Cinématographique Lyre and Théâtre du temple. 4K Restoration in its uncut version Cinématographique Lyre company. French theatrical distribution: Théâtre du temple, date of release: November 2020.

Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation celebrate its 30th birthday

“Accatone” (1961, Italy), Pier Paolo Pasolini
Presented by The Film Foundation. Restored by the Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory and The Film Foundation.

“The Game Chess of the Wind” (1976, Iran), Mohammad Reza Aslani
Presented by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project. Restored by Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata and The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

Documentaries 2020

“Wim Wenders, Desperado,” Eric Friedler and Andreas Frege (Germany)
Presented by Studio Hamburg Enterprises.

“Alida: In Her Own Words,” Mimmo Verdesca (Italy)
Presented by Venicefilm, Kublai Film, Istituto Luce-Cinecittà, Rai Cinema.

“Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty,” François Aymé, Yves Jeuland (France)
Presented by Kuiv productions in association with Lobster films and France télévisions.

“Be Water by Bao Nguyen” (USA)
Presented by ESPN and Dogwoof. The film world premiered at Sundance this year.

“Belushi,” R.J. Cutler (USA)
Presented by Passion Pictures Films and Showtime Documentary Films.

“Antena da raça,” Paloma Rocha, Luís Abramo (Brazil)
Presented by Paloma Rocha Produções Artísticas e Cinematográficas (Paloma Cinematográfica) and Luba Filmes.

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