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The Notebook Primer introduces readers to some of the most important figures, films, genres, and movements in film history.“Je résiste. I’m still fighting. I don’t know how much longer, but I’m still fighting a struggle, which is to make cinema alive and not just make another film, you know?” —Agnès Varda, “An Interview with Agnès Varda,” The Believer, October 1, 2009Summing up Agnès Varda is nigh impossible; reducing her down to a single quote futile. There are words I might use to describe her—creative, ambitious, whimsical, pragmatic—but these feel remissive in their temperance. Simply put, Varda’s work is what epitomizes her, each feature, short film, photograph, and installation a breath of life. In elaborating on her concept of cinécriture, or “cinematic writing,” she affirms that it’s not “illustrating a screenplay, not adapting a novel, not getting the gags of a good play, not any of this.

La Pointe courte © 1994 Agnès Varda and her children - Montage and design : Flore Maquin Photo: Festival de Cannes

The late Agnès Varda, often described as “the grandmother of the New Wave” appears as a young woman on the official poster of the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival unveiled for the first time today (15 April) ahead of the much anticipated programme announcement on Thursday.

Varda, who died on 29 March aged 90, appears on the striking poster as a 26-year-old making her first film La Ponte Courte in the bright sunlight perched atop the shoulders of an impassive technician. She is seen clinging to a camera, which, the organisers say, seems to absorb her entirely.

The film was shot in 1954 neighbourhood of Sète, in the South of France. In the dazzling summer light, Silvia Monfort and Philippe Noiret explore their fragile love, surrounded by struggling fishermen, bustling women, children at play and roaming cats.

Always a fun update, the Cannes Film Festival has revealed its latest poster. This year’s is a poignant one, but as ever, it’s sprinkled with cinema magic.

The festival’s newest poster pays tribute to the late French filmmaker Agnès Varda who passed away just last month. It captures the director precariously perched up high while filming her 1955 debut La Pointe Courte, which played at Cannes. It is unclear whether the festival was planning on spotlighting the iconic filmmaker in this way before her death, but either way, it’s a fitting and timely tribute. The artwork behind the poster is impressive as ever: it oozes Riviera.

An accompanying message from the festival press release reads:

“Agnès, in the bright sunlight

All the way up.

As high as she could go.

Perched on the shoulders of an impassive technician.

Clinging to a camera, which seems to absorb her entirely.

Agnès Varda, the French New Wave director and filmmaking icon behind such films as “Cleo From 5 to 7” and “Vagabond,” has died at age 90. Varda passed away from breast cancer at her home in Paris early March 29. The death was confirmed by Varda’s family, who issued a statement saying Varda was “surrounded by her family and friends” at the time of her passing. The family described the filmmaker as a “joyful feminist” and “passionate artist.” Varda’s funeral is expected to take place in Paris on Tuesday.

Varda got her start as a still photographer before making the jump to feature filmmaking with the 1955 drama “La Pointe Courte.” The film, starring Silvia Monfort and Philippe Noiret, is widely considered to be one of the forerunners of the French New Wave.

Varda’s second feature, “Cleo From 5 to 7,” was entered into the Cannes Film Festival and earned her international acclaim.

French director is the first woman and only the fourth person to receive the honour after Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood and Bernardo Bertolucci.

Agnès Varda is to receive an honorary Palme d’or at the 68th Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).

The French filmmaker will the first female director to be given the honour. Previously, only Woody Allen, in 2002, Clint Eastwood, in 2009, and Bernardo Bertolucci, in 2011, have been granted this distinction.

“And yet my films have never sold as much as theirs,” she said of following in their footsteps with her well-known sense of humour.

The award is given by the festival’s board of directors to renowned directors whose works have achieved a global impact but who have never won Cannes’ top prize - the Palme d’or.

Varda, 86, is a photographer, writer, actress, director and visual artist.

She studied photography and learned the ropes at the Avignon Festival, where she was...