The Cannes International Film Festival needs no real introduction as this annual event held on the French Riviera is one of the most publicised festivals celebrating movies around.
For those fortunate enough to be invited to the two-week extravaganza of film previews and new documentaries, this is a chance to flirt with the famous and check out the most artistic upcoming releases – as well as launches of productions that leave a lot to be desired.
During this media frenzy and hype, those who’ve made films will be looking to attract the various distributors present so that their works can be received by wider audiences.
The 66th Cannes Film Festival, which took place this May has proved to be no different, with a variety of films on show, with some gems as well as those guests would immediately like to forget.
One of those movies that was firmly placed in the latter category by most of the people present took place at the screening of Japanese director Takashi Miike’s cop thriller Shield of Straw, with this high octane ride sharply contrasting the rest of this year’s entries going for the main prize.
It came as a shock to attendees that such a high budget production was selected by the committee to compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or. But what did top the list of contenders with critics and filmmakers alike was another entry from the Coen brothers.
Anything produced by Joel and Ethan Coen usually makes for an intriguing prospect, but the chance to be present at the viewing of Inside Llewyn was especially exciting.
The general consensus of those at Cannes was that this tender film about a frustrated folk singer in New York was certainly deserving of its ‘favourite’ tag. The artistic competition entries are what the crowds really come here for and this movie has been described as “the best so far at Cannes”.
There is just something about the Coen brothers that generates interest, with their unique filmmaking style which pays tribute to classic American genres appealing to all kinds of movie lovers. Their dedication to the craft and high attention to detail always shining through in the films they make.
The latest to be added to the growing collection of Coen movies has been described by Peter Bradshaw at the Guardian as being “brilliantly written, terrifically acted, superbly designed and shot”, with this opinion shared by many others in the film community.
The directorial grounding Joel Coen got at New York University cannot be underestimated. He spent four years attending an undergraduate film programme, making a short thesis production entitled Soundings.
While film school isn’t the only way to make movies, it does give you an opportunity to hone the craft in dedicated surroundings and under expert guidance. There is no guarantee your films will ever be nominated for the coveted Palme d’Or, but your passion for creativity and desire to succeed can be channelled in the right way when you work hard at learning about making films.
Peter Jenkins is a documentary filmmaker who spent four years at a film school in the United States. For something closer to home, the bristolfilmacademy.com run a number of courses that give students the grounding they need to succeed.