The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cannes

  • Cannes 2019 announces jury president

    Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu is to be President of the Jury of the 72nd Festival de Cannes, taking place in May 2019.

    President of the Festival de Cannes, Pierre Lescure and General Delegate, Thierry Frémaux, are delighted that the filmmaker has accepted their invitation:

    According to Lescure, “It is very rare for Alejandro G. Iñárritu to agree to take part in a jury, and this is the first time that the Festival de Cannes Jury is to be chaired by a Mexican artist. Cannes embraces all types of cinema, and through the presence of the Babel’s director, it is Mexican cinema that the Festival will be celebrating.”

    For Frémaux, “Not only is he (Alejandro Iñárritu) a daring filmmaker and director who is full of surprises, Alejandro is also a man of conviction, an artist of his time. We are always happy to welcome him on the Croisette and, in 2017, have been particularly proud to present “Carne y Arena” (Virtually present, physically invisible) into the Official Selection, a virtual reality installation that addressed the question of migrants with great strength and humanity.”

    Expressing his delight at the appointment, Iñárritu said: “Cannes is a festival that has been important to me since the beginning of my career, he said, adding that, “I am humbled and thrilled to return this year with the immense honor of presiding over the Jury. Cinema runs through the veins of the planet and this festival has been its heart. We on the jury will have the privilege to witness the new and excellent work of fellow filmmakers from all over the planet. This is a true delight and a responsibility that we will assume with passion and devotion.”

    Alejandro G. Iñárritu succeeds Cate Blanchett, Jury President of the 71st Festival de Cannes, whose jury awarded the Palme d’or to Shoplifters by Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu.

    The Festival de Cannes 2019 which will have Nigerian delegates in attendance, will take place from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 25 May.

  • Cannes at Large: After a Tribute to Pierre Rissient, Martin Scorsese and Cate Clanchett ‘cut the tape’

    It was a sad one for the global film community, with the passing, few weeks to this year’s Cannes, of renowned historian and director, Pierre Rissient who died at the age of 81. Thus, a tribute to the veteran formed part of the opening day of the 71st Festival de Cannes, on Tuesday, May 8, 2018.

    For more than fifty years, Pierre was one of the most important members of the Cannes community and of the Festival, putting all of his creative energy into helping it show films from distant countries.

    This year of 2018 was once again going to be the deceased’s year, as he was due to bring back to the festival the Korean director Lee Chang-dong, who he had greatly helped to become known around the world, as he had done with so many others before.  He was delighted to be welcoming to ‘Un Certain Regard’, the second film of the young Chinese director BI Gan. And he was due to present ‘Cinq et la peau’ (Five and the Skin) to Cannes Classics, which he directed in 1982 and which has found its way back, in a restored version, to French theatres.

    The screening today, Monday, May 14, which will be attended by Bertrand Tavernier, a French director, screenwriter, actor and producer, will be in memory of Rissient, as the festival’s way of dedicating the 71st edition to him.

    Meanwhile, the festival opened at the Grand Théâtre Lumière with an excerpt from Pierrot le fou by Jean-Luc Godard, from which the poster for this 71st edition was taken.

    The hallmark of this year’s edition is inspiration, and the tone was set by the verve and enthusiasm of Edouard Baer, Master of Ceremonies, accompanied on piano by Gérard Daguerre.

    After the screening of a montage of the films that will be vying for the 2018 Palme d’or, singer Juliette Armanet came on stage to perform Les Moulins de mon cœur, composed by Michel Legrand, and winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1969.

    In unison, Martin Scorsese and Cate Blanchett announced that the 71st Festival de Cannes was open.

    The first film in Competition, Todos Lo Saben (Everybody Knows) by Asghar Farhadi, an Iranian film director and screen writer was screened after the opening ceremony with the director and his leading actors, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Ricardo Darín in attendance.

    As part of the few changes at Cannes this year; selfies are no longer allowed on the red carpet, just as are there are no press screenings in advance of the premieres, thus critics are unable to influence negative opinions of films until an actual audience has seen it.

    The #MeToo movement also played its part at Cannes, a subtle protest for more women involvement, with the claim that the festival’s record of supporting women directors has not exactly been strong. Despite the fact that Cate Blanchett is head of the jury, only three films competing for the Palme d’Or were directed by women.

     

  • Cannes 2018: Desmond Elliot warns against rail transportation

    Actor, filmmaker and politician, Hon Desmond Elliot has arrived in Cannes, France, for this year’s edition of the annual Cannes International Film Festival which opened on Tuesday.

    Elliot, a lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, is among the delegation from Lagos at the global event, otherwise called the word Cup of film festivals.

    Upon getting to festival town, he hinted of his stalled plan to board a train to Cannes from Paris, saying; “If you are thinking of using the train (as I was); besides the fact that it’s a 5 hour journey, trains are on strike ooo,” he admonished other Nigerian filmmakers, Lagos State delegates, journalists and tourists who may be coming  after.

    The closest airport to Cannes is in Nice, from where buses, cabs and trains are usually boarded to Cannes, but as a tourist, Elliot had planned a train ride, to enable him behold the beautiful sights that the European country holds in that part of town.

    With the ongoing strike by train workers in Paris, Elliot said: “Fly please, from Paris to Nice.”

    Among the first Nigerians to arrive in Cannes was the Director General of Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Dele Balogun who conveyed good news about the Nigerian pavilion.

    “As far as arrangement here is concerned, we are good. The location is even better than last year’s,” he said.

    This is the second time in a row that Lagos State will provide a pavilion for Nigerian contingents in Cannes.

    The Lagos State participation at the festival is being led by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

    As part of the programmes for the festival this year, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan will be on hand with a special documentary on ‘Nollywood in Lagos’ which will be screened to guests, before the unveiling of the 2018 edition of Cinema in Lagos magazine, edited by Olumide Iyanda, at the weekend.

    Elliot, Afolayan, Lagos State Perm. Sec., Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, and the Audio Visual Attache of the French Embassy in Lagos, Yoann Talhouarne will help unveil the Cinema in Lagos magazine and introduce the documentary.

    This is expected to be followed by the Lagos Special Day at the pavilion or a venue along the Riviera or by the beach, among other activities to be announced later.

    In its 71st edition, the festival opened Tuesday evening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière with an excerpt from Pierrot le fou by Jean-Luc Godard, from which the poster for this year’s edition was taken.

    The hallmark of this edition is inspiration, and the tone was set by the verve and enthusiasm of Edouard Baer, Master of Ceremonies, accompanied on piano by Gérard Daguerre.

  • ‘Potato Pohtato’ takes Nigerian acts to Cannes

    AN African comedy movie, ‘Potato Pohtato’ was one of the contents for which some Nigerian artistes like OC Ukeje and Kemi Lala Akindoju participated at the just concluded Cannes International Film Festival in France.

    The film, by notable Ghanaian female director, Shirley Frimpong Manso, screened to invited Cannes festival goers on May 24, as an aside show, with promises of feats that can be attributed a continental co-production.

    The premiere held at Gray d’Albion 2, 38 Rue des Serbes, 06400 Cannes, tells the story of a divorced couple whose plans to share their matrimonial home descend into chaos after the husband Tony brings in an attractive female house help. When his ex-wife Lulu then hires an attractive young man to help her out, a roller coaster ride of laughter, jealousy and tears ensues.

    “Potato Potahto” is written and directed by the award winning Frimpong-Manso, who is well known for her positive and complex portrayal of African women in films.

    “I have written a lot about marriage and new relationships but never about divorce. I wanted to put a hilarious spin on it, especially when the divorcees become victims of their own tricks,” says Frimpong-Manso.

    “I think we touched on an interesting aspect of love and relationships. And I think we made something that people will have genuine empathy for,” says OC Ukeje.

    “Potato Potahto has a fantastic creative team behind it. This film is definitely worth seeing,” says producer Inya Lawal.

    “The soundtrack was recorded on three different continents and features recordings from Swedish, French, British, Ghanaian and Nigerian artistes,” says co-producer Georges Williams

    Pundits say the film has broken new ground with its Ghanaian, Nigerian, British, French and Swedish co-production aimed at making African-made cinema more accessible for global markets.

    The film also stars Ghanaian actress and TV star Joselyn Dumas; award-winning Nollywood veteran Joke Silva and notable Nollywood actor Blossom Chukwujekwu.

    Others are Chris Attoh, Lala Akindoju, Nikki Samonas, Adjetey Anang and Victoria Micheals.

    ‘Potato Potahto’ is a co-production of WB Entertainment, 19 April Entertainment, Ascend International Studios, Virgo Sun Ltd, and Lufodo Productions.

    Distributed by Jambo Play, Nigeria-based distribution company FilmOne has first-look rights for Nigeria and UK.

  • On the road to Cannes 2016

    On the road to Cannes 2016

    The race for Cannes Lion, a global advertising and creativity festival, has begun. With plans by the Nigerian creative egg-heads to hold the local 2016 Lions Night and Awards, in preparation for the event holding in France in June, this year’s is expected to produce world best creative and innovative ideas in the marketing communication industry.

    But for Nigeria, the Lions Night and Awards is expected to produce  in three cateogries young professionals who have displayed creative wizardry. The winners will represent Nigeria in the Cannes Lion festival.

    One of the categories is the Roger Hatchuel Academy awards which is dedicated to identifying and nurturing gifted students in tertiary institutions who intend to practise advertising. The second  is the Young Lions Competition, which aims to find, promote and reward the efforts of some of the most brilliant professionals in the industry who are below 30.

    The third category is designed to enable highly talented Nigerians to study on scholarship in Miami Ad School campuses around the world.

    The local organiser, CHINI Production, said this year’s scholarships would be offered for portfolio programmes, Bachelor degree programmes and Master’s programmes.

    “The Roger Hatchuel Academy awards will recognise the best student, who will win an all-expense paid trip to attend the international Roger Hatchuel Academy event in France, the first runner-up will win a sponsored trip to attend the Lynx Academy in Dubai. The Roger Hatchuel Academy awards will also recognise the best teacher and the best performing school or department,” the company stated.

    Meanwhile, the Young Lions Competition will award the best teams in media, film, print, cyber and design categories. The winning teams from each category will represent Nigeria at the Cannes Lions Festival.

    Activities for the Lions Night and Awards began with training for competitors in the media category which began last Friday. It was handled by a resource person from Coca Cola Nigeria, Dozie Okafor. He was a member of the team that won the first Young Lions Media Competition, and represented Nigeria in Cannes.

    A similar training for the creative competitors was held on April 2 and was led by Abolaji Alausa, Executive Creative Director, Noah’s Ark, whose team won the Young Lions film competition and represented Nigeria in Cannes eight years ago.

    The week-long activities will end at the Lions Night and Awards at the MUSON Centre tomorrow.

  • Nigerian advertisers brace for Cannes Lions Festival

    The stage is set for Nigerian advertising agencies to partake in world most glamorous and recognised advertising festival, Cannes Lions International Festival.

    The festival, which launches with a new campaign: Thank You Creativity, according to the Festival representative in Nigeria, CHINI Productions, has opened up the window for local agencies with series of activities that will climax few days to the global event in Paris, France.

    To ensure that local ad agencies actively participate, CHINI Production said most of the agencies will be busy with its local events such as the Roger Hatchuel Academy, the Young Lions Competitions, the Miami Ad School Scholarship Competitions, Lions Edit and Lions Night & Awards.

    The Managing Director of CHINI Productions and Cannes Lions representative, Mr. Nnamdi Ndu, said: “For many in the industry, this is as close as they can get to Cannes Lions. This is our own creative carnival! There is no reason in the world why any major brand or agency in Nigeria should not be at the forefront of this. More than ever before, we need creative solutions to get out of the present challenges we find ourselves in as a nation. And, here’s an open invitation for all hands to come on deck. If we don’t build our industry, no one else will.”

    “All the pre-Cannes Lions national activities for Nigeria will come to a head at the Lions Night & Awards in the evening of April 9 at the MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos. This event will feature a colourful graduation ceremony of the Roger Hatchuel Academy, the Roger Hatchuel Academy Awards, the Young Lions Awards, the Miami Ad School Scholarship Awards and other exciting activities,” he said.

    These activities, according to him, are scheduled to take place between April 5 and 9. Entries for Roger Hatchuel Academy, Young Lions Competition and Miami Ad School Scholarship competitions are already open.

  • Heineken shines at Cannes

    HEINEKEN has reinforced its strong creative credentials, with a total of 17 prestigious awards won at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

    The wins for the company included Heineken®’s first ever Grand Prix in Creative Effectiveness(¹) for its ‘Open Your World’ global integrated campaign and a Gold Lion PR for ‘The Candidate’, which was also selected for a Titanium and Integrated Bronze(²) award.

    The ‘Legendary Journey’, part of the ‘Open Your World’ campaign(³), encapsulates Heineken®’s approach to asking its drinkers to live beyond their boundaries, inspiring men across the world to seek new experiences. The campaign was developed in partnership with Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam.

    ‘The Candidate’, created with Publicis Italy and activated by Edelman London, outlined the brand’s creative and unconventional approach to recruitment. It was released earlier this year and rapidly became a global viral and PR sensation, amassing 2.8 million views within seven days and unprecedented global media buzz.

    The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world’s biggest celebration of creativity in communications. At this year’s event, more than 35,000 entries from 92 countries were showcased and judged.

    Heineken®’s investment in design and innovation was also recognised and celebrated. Its futuristic igNITE bottle picked up Silver for its use of Exhibitions or Live Events and Bronze each for its Your Future Bottle and The Wall of Opportunities activations.

    Global Chief Marketing Officer and President Western Europe at Heineken, Alexis Nasard said: “We are delighted by this recognition. Creativity is a decision which entails risks. These awards, and more importantly, consumers’ choice at every consumption opportunity vindicate these decisions. Clients get the creativity they deserve from their agency partners, and we are thus thankful to both our agency partners and our employees for keeping the bar high, and keeping us and our brands part of the conversation.”

    Creative Effectiveness Lions will honour creativity, which has shown a measurable and proven impact on a client’s business – creativity that affects consumer behaviour, brand equity, sales, and where identifiable, profit. It will aim to establish a direct correlation between creativity and effectiveness.

    Titanium and Integrated Lions, the idea is central to the award and everything, whether it is for a car or toothpaste, telecommunications or charity, big budget or low budget is considered. Campaigns cannot be directly entered into the Titanium category, but the jury decide which campaigns should be considered for the award, hence the prestige.