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Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chilean AIDS Drama ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' Wins Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival's second-most prestigious competition, Un Certain Regard, is typically dominated by newer, less heralded names in world cinema. But there was more star power than usual at stake in this year's awards ceremony, as pundits wondered whether one of the three debut features by prominent actors-turned-directors in this year's lineup — Kristen Stewart, Scarlett Johansson and Harris Dickinson — could land a prize. As it turned out, people needn't have worried about a Hollywood takeover. Stewart's 'The Chronology of Water' and Johansson's 'Eleanor the Great' both went unawarded, as the jury threw a relative curveball in handing the Prix Un Certain Regard to Chilean director Diego Céspedes for his alluringly titled first feature 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,' an offbeat study of a transgender commune living in the Chilean desert around the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. More from Variety Josh O'Connor Art Heist Film 'The Mastermind' Steals 5.5-Minute Cannes Ovation as Director Kelly Reichardt Says 'America Is in a Ditch Right Now' 'Young Mothers' Review: Belgium's Dardenne Brothers Adopt a Wider Focus for Their Most Humane Drama in More Than a Decade Rai Cinema Celebrates 'Heads or Tails?' at Cannes and Readies for More Hits: 'Cinema Without Audience Doesn't Exist' The film received mixed reviews when it premiered near the beginning of the festival: Variety critic Siddhant Adlakha wrote that it 'meanders on occasion, and never quite finds the right rhythm for its more traditional dialogue coverage,' but praised it for 'tremendously moving moments that stir the soul by scrutinizing the dueling cruelty and tenderness found within its characters.' The jury, meanwhile, praised it as 'raw and powerful and yet funny and wild,' before handing the prize to an astonished Céspedes, who stated tearily that his film 'began with all the angry lovers to just wanted to love like everybody else.' The decision rested with a jury headed by a relative newcomer herself: 31-year-old British writer-director Molly Manning Walker won the top prize in Un Certain Regard two years ago for her vivid debut 'How to Have Sex,' and was joined on the panel by filmmakers Louise Courvoisier and Roberto Minervini, actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart and Rotterdam fest director Vanja Kaluđerčić. Full list of winners: Prix Un Certain Regard: 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,' Diego Céspedes Jury Prize: 'A Poet,' Simón Mesa Soto Best Screenplay: Harry Lighton, 'Pillion' Best Performance: Cléo Diara, 'I Only Rest in the Storm' and Frank Dillane, 'Urchin' Best Director: Tarzan and Arab Nasser, 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: Writing - 'The Studio' Submits One Episode Only, While 'Severance' and 'The Penguin' Go With Their Finales Emmy Predictions: The Art of the Submission Creates New and Viable Contenders Emmy Predictions: Directing (Drama, Comedy, Limited) - Will Ben Stiller, Philip Barantini and Seth Rogen All Become Award-Winning Auteurs?
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beta Reveals Sales for ‘Let It Rain,' ‘The Physician II,' ‘The Light'
Leading sales agency Beta Cinema has revealed a tranche of sales to major territories for 'Let It Rain,' 'The Physician II' and 'The Light.' The Swedish comedy 'Let It Rain,' directed by two-time Oscar-nominee Hannes Holm, was sold to Leonine (German-speaking territories), Benelux and Singapore (September Film), Czech Republic (Film Europe), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz), Bulgaria (Beta Film) and Israel (Lev Cinemas). More from Variety 'Case 137' Director Dominik Moll on Exploring the Gilets Jaunes Riots in His Cannes-Premiering Political Drama: 'These Divisions Still Exist' in French Society Breaking Through the Lens Co-Founder Daphne Schmon on What Has to Change for Gender Equity in Film: 'We Need Actions to Speak Louder Than Words' Riley Keough to Star in Albert Serra's English-Language Debut 'Out of This World,' Exploring U.S.-Russia Rivalry Amid the Ukrainian War (EXCLUSIVE) Robert Gustafsson ('The 100-Year-Old Man'), Jonas Karlsson ('The Snowman') and Karin Lithman ('The Bridge') star in the tale of a grumpy widower who, by miracle or coincidence, finds himself at the center of an event that could transform not only his own life but the fate of his entire village—and possibly the world. Holm earned two Academy Award nominations for 'A Man Called Ove' in 2015. The film became an international box office hit in 2016, grossing over $30 million worldwide, and was later remade as 'A Man Called Otto,' starring Tom Hanks. Holm is one of Sweden's most successful filmmakers, with other hits like 'Adam & Eva' (1997), 'Shit Happens' (2010) and the 'Andersson Trilogy' (2012-2014), all of which set box office records in Sweden. The sweeping epic, 'The Physician II,' starring Tom Payne ('Horizon,' 'Prodigal Son') in the leading role as the gifted healer Rob Cole, was presold to Spain (Dea Planeta), Portugal (Outsider Pictures), Italy (Rai Cinema), Austria (ORF), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Bonton), Former Yugoslavia (Blitz), Poland (Monolith), and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (Paradise). This long-awaited sequel to the international box office hit 'The Physician,' explores early treatment of the human soul and is set amidst a gripping royal intrigue in medieval Europe. Emily Cox ('The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die'), Aiden Gillen ('Game of Thrones,' 'Maze Runner') and Liam Cunningham ('Game of Thrones,' 'Hunger') co-star. Tom Tykwer's Berlinale Opening movie 'The Light' was sold to Italy (Rai Cinema), Benelux (September Film), Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia (European Film Forum), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Hungary and Bulgaria (ADS), Greece (TFG), Turkey (Bir Film), Taiwan (Cineplex) and Brazil (Imovision). The politically charged drama stars Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz as parents of a modern Berlin family on the brink, navigating deep personal and ideological rifts in a rapidly changing world. Tykwer ranks among Germany's most acclaimed directors with a track record including his breakout hit 'Run Lola Run,' 'Cloud Atlas' with Tom Hanks and Hale Barry, and the international hit series 'Babylon Berlin.' Deals across more than 15 territories for Beta Cinema's Cannes Première title, 'Amrum,' directed by Fatih Akin, were announced earlier this week by Variety. Beta Cinema's Cannes slate also includes the Italian hit comedy 'U.S. Palmese' by directors Antonio and Marco Manetti, the Spanish debut 'The Remnants of You' by Gala Gracia and the Nina Hoss-led Berlinale drama 'Cicadas,' directed by Ina Weisse ('The Audition'). Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Al-Ahram Weekly
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian film Aisha Can't Fly Away Anymore to compete in Cannes Film Festival 2025 - Screens - Arts & Culture
The Egyptian film Aisha Can't Fly Away Anymore, directed by Morad Mostafa, will compete in the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th edition of Cannes Film Festival (13-24 May). The film follows the story of Aisha, a 26-year-old Somali woman who lives and works in Ain Shams, a working-class neighbourhood in east Cairo that has received many African refugees in recent years. Written by Mostafa, Mohammad Abdulqader, and Sawsan Yusuf, the film stars Buliana Simona, Emad Ghoneim, Mamdouh Salah, and Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza. During its production stage, the film and another Egyptian film scooped most prizes awarded by the Venice Film Festival's Final Cut 2024. The jury of Venice's Final Cut described the film as 'a powerful and authentic story filled with the environment's challenges and complexities.' 'Despite being Mostafa's first feature film, it showcased confident direction and a distinct cinematic voice. The film's gritty realism, attention to detail, and impactful storytelling left a strong impression on us,' they added. The film also collected awards from Titra Film (Paris), Rai Cinema (Italy), the Cinémathèque Afrique of the Institut Français (Paris), and the Festival International de Films de Fribourg (Switzerland). In 2022, Mostafa was invited to attend the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival among the 10 directors selected for the La Fabrique Cinéma programme for Aisha Can't Fly Away Anymore. Mostafa, 37, has been touring the world recently with his first three short films: Henet Ward, What We Don't Know About Mariam, and Khadiga. These films have competed in over 100 festivals across the globe and earned him dozens of awards, including Oscar and BAFTA qualifying awards. Mostafa previously worked as an assistant director for many important names, including Hala Khalil, Sherif El-Bendary, Mohamed Diab and Ayten Amin in her 2020 Cannes-selected feature Souad. Mostafa's latest short I promise you paradise was selected in Cannes Critics' Week 2023. The Cannes Film Festival revealed its official selection for the 78th edition on Thursday. Un Certain Regard is one of the festival's most prestigious segments, " including unusual styles and non-traditional stories seeking international recognition,' the festival explains. Among the 16 films selected for this segment is the Palestinian film Once Upon a Time in Gaza, directed by Arab and Tarzan Nasser. Last year, the Egyptian film The Brink of Dreams won the Golden Eye Documentary Prize at Cannes. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
