Festival de Cannes: Official Updates

The official website of the Festival de Cannes has been updated and now includes all materials about the upcoming 2005 edition, including the full list of movies in its Official Selection.

Let’s have a look at this excerpt from an interview to Artistic Director Thierry Frémaux, who told a press conference organisers had had a tough time in selecting films for all the Festival’s categories, having to whittle down their choice from more than 1,000 films. Commenting the 2005 Selection, Frémaux reveals some interesting bits and sheds some light on why animated movies and documentaries did not make the list this year.

“First of all, I would like to say again that each year is particular and unique. Last year we had the opportunity to invite many young filmmakers to join the Compétition, and so we did. We had the opportunity to confirm the emergence of documentary and animated films, and so we did that too. As that year’s production presented those characteristics, so did the selection. In 2005, the year in cinematographic terms has been different and consequently the selection will be too.

Each year does have a particular feel and we try to make our choices as consistent as possible so that the selection is like a journey through one year of film. But we never begin the selection process with any preconceived ideas. In fact, the selection is made by the films themselves! Its overall design takes a while to come forth and we like to leave ourselves open to suggestion until the very last minute. If, in 2005, there are no animated or documentary films in Compétition, then it will be because the right opportunities were simply not there.”

Please remember that Madonna’s Re-Invented : Process was not rumoured to be part of the Competition this year, but it was reported to be part of the Out of Competition section of the Official Selection of the Festival.

Rendez-vous on http://www.festival-cannes.fr for every official information about this 58th Edition.

Our community member AxelP has contacted the Cannes Film Festival’s press office to ask for a confirmation that Madonna’s documentary will not be presented during the festival. This is what they replied:

“Thank you for your interest in the 58th Festival de Cannes which will be held from May 11th to May 22nd, 2005.

The film you are asking for is not in the selection in the 58th Cannes Film Festival.

You will be able this afternoon to download the press kit with the selected films on our website www.festival-cannes.org.”

Thanks to AxelP and the Service de Press of the Festival de Cannes.