News

Editor’s Note: On Nov. 14, 2005, Variety published the following interview with Mort Sahl. The revolutionary comedian, who died on Oct. 26, provided an unfiltered view on the entertainment industry, from Depression-era cinema and the Hollywood blacklist to how current films tackle race, politics and culture.

For half of the last century and on into the next one, Mort Sahl, 78, has been the comedic conscience of America. Since 1968, when he debuted at San Francisco’s legendary Hungry i nightclub, he’s been walking onstage in his trademark V-neck sweater, a newspaper tucked under his arm, serving notice to every pundit and politician from Eisenhower through Bush that there was nowhere to hide.

He was the original truth-teller, pioneering a new kind of stand-up — barbed bipartisan political humor — paving the way for everyone from Lenny Bruce to Woody Allen to Chris Rock.

In 1958, he co-hosted the Oscars. In 1960, Time magazine put him on the cover,...

Cannes Film Festival 2020 leaders have unveiled the selection committee for this year’s edition, running May 12 through May 23. Last year, the festival revealed its committee for the first time, and it included four women, three of whom return this year. The committee now includes five women, dominating the list of participants. The announcement was made by Thierry Frémaux (the festival’s General Delegate), Christian Jeune (Director of the Film Department and Deputy General Delegate), and Stéphanie Lamome See the selection committee members below. Bios come courtesy of the Cannes Film Festival.

Last year’s Cannes made strides in the representation of films by female directors throughout the lineups — including four out of the 21 films in the Official Selection. Also of note last year, Mati Diop became not only the first black female filmmaker to have a film play in the main competition, she also went on to win the festival’s jury prize.

This year’s committee includes Virginie Apiou, Paul Grandsard, Laurent Jacob and Johanna Nahon.

The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled its selection committee for its 72nd edition, which runs May 12-23.

The committee was selected by general delegate Thierry Frémaux, film department director Christian Jeune and artistic advisor of the film department Stéphanie Lamome ((a member of the selection committee for 10 years).

This year’s committee has nine members, up by one from last year. Seven of the members are the same; script doctor and producer Johanna Nahon and film journalist Caroline Veunac are the new members, with Marie Sauvion no longer a member.

After an increased uptick in attention regarding a lack of female filmmaker-backed features debuting at the annual event, the Cannes Film Festival has announced this year’s full selection committee, which includes four prominent women from the world of film.

In addition to reaching parity among its committee members — something it has never been able to do among its film selections — Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes, and Christian Jeune, Director of the Film Department and Deputy General Delegate, have appointed Stéphanie Lamome as Artistic Advisor of the Film Department. Lamome is already a member of the eight-person selection committee, and she now joins the official organizing team of the festival, while she will continue to officiate for the selection, with an eye towards young French cinema.

The 2018 competition lineup included new works from Nadine Labaki, Eva Husson, and Alice Rohrwacher. On average, the festival’s competition...

Stéphanie Lamome appointed as artistic advisor of the film department.

The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the composition of its selection committee for its 71st edition running May 14-25 this year.

The festival also announced that general delegate Thierry Frémaux and film department director Christian Jeune had appointed Stéphanie Lamome as artistic advisor of the film department.

Lamome was already a member of the eight-person selection committee. In her new role, she joins the festival’s organising team, while continuing to work on the selection, particularly around young French cinema.

The festival noted that as well as the selection committee,...

Fireman drama has drawn 1m spectators at the French box office since release late November release.

WTFilms is reporting strong buyer interest in French director Fréderic Tellier’s breakout hit Through The Fire (Sauver ou Périr), starring Pierre Niney as a hero fireman who is badly disfigured while rescuing colleagues from a burning building.

The film has sold to China (Lemon Tree), Canada (A-z Films), Latin America (California Filmes), Hong Kong (Edko), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Korea (EnterMode), Belgium (Athena Films) and Greece (Odeon). Encore has picked it up for airlines.

Paris-based sales company WTFilms is expecting to seal further deals at...

Actress, director and screenwriter Nicole Garcia is to preside over the Jury for this year’s Caméra d’or award for the best debut film at Cannes.

Garcia, who has presented a total of seven films at Cannes as both actress and director, first came to attention in Bertrand Tavernier’s Let Joy Reign Supreme in 1975 and subsequently worked with directors Henri Verneuil (Body of My Enemy, 1976) and Laurent Heynemann (The Question, 1977).

In 1979, her performance in Philippe de Broca’s Practice Makes Perfect earned her popular acclaim and a César award for best supporting actress. She went on to work with the greats of French cinema including Alain Resnais (My American Uncle, 1980), Bertrand Blier (Stepfather, 1981), Claude Lelouch (Bolero: Dance of Life, 1981), Pierre Schoendoerffer (A Captain’s Honor, 1982), Claude Sautet (Waiter!, 1983) and Claude Miller (Little Lili, 2003).

She made her behind-the-camera debut with Every Other Weekend in 1990, followed by The Favorite Son in 1994. She has directed seven films, of...

“Me Myself and Mum” by Guillaume Gallienne won two awards at the Directors’ Fortnight

Directors’ Fortnight is a non competitive sidebar of Cannes Film Festival, however, it does offer awards in partnership with other institutions. French film Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! (Me Myself and Mum) by Guillaume Gallienne won two of the awards at the fortnight. Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly was screened in this section.

Here is the list of winners:-

Art Cinema Award

The Cicae (Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d’Art et d’Essai) gives the Art Cinema Award, prize that helps with film distribution.

Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! (Me Myself and Mum) by Guillaume Gallienne – France

Label Europa Cinemas

The Europa Cinemas Label aims to enhance the promotion, circulation and box-office runs of European award winning films on the screens of a cinema network spread across Europe. Awarded by a jury comprised of Europa Cinemas member exhibitors.

CANNES -- Lucia Puenzo's "XXY" will take home the grand prize for the Festival de Cannes' Critics Week sidebar, organizers said Friday night.

The Argentine-Spanish-French co-production, which explores the psychological challenges of an adolescent hermaphrodite, was voted upon by journalists and film critics after each screening. First-time helmer Puenzo will receive €5,000 ($6,726) and an invite to the Moulin d'Ande to hone her writing and directing skills.

"XXY" also won the ACID/CCAS Support Award chosen by the Association of Independent Cinema for its Distribution and the Main Fund of Social Activities.

French authors' rights group the SACD, meanwhile, gave their prize for best director to Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen for their Israeli-French co-production "Jellyfish". Keret and Geffen were chosen by an elite jury composed of Bertrand Van Effenterre, Laurent Heynemann, Bertrand Tavernier and Claude Miller.

"Jellyfish" also proved a favorite among French youth, as the film picked up TV5Monde's "(Very) Young Critic Award" for best film; 36 students voted on the prize, which awards €4,500 ($6,052) to the winner for advertising and film promotion.