Actor Sean Penn receives Cesar of Honor for life achievement
The French film industry showered honors on "Timbuktu" at Friday's 40th annual Cesar awards — France's equivalent of the Oscars — selecting it as best movie, one in seven prizes it scooped up days before competing in Hollywood for an Oscar for best foreign film.
Abderrahmane Sissako, a Mauritanian, took best director's prize for "Timbuktu," set in the ancient north Malian city when it was under control of Muslim extremists.
Sean Penn was the other shining star at the Cesar ceremonies, given a Cesar of Honor for his life's work, and a standing ovation from the elegant crowd at the sumptuous Chatelet Theater. Penn was accompanied to the ceremony by Charlize Theron, who lit up with pride during her beau's award speech.
"Sean, France loves you," said Marion Cotillard as she presented the award.
Kristen Stewart was the other American given honors by the French with a Cesar for best actress in a second role for Olivier Assayas' "Sils Marie," a French-Swiss-German production starring Juliette Binoche.
Best actor and best actress awards went to France's new generation of young actors, Pierre Niney for "Yves Saint Laurent" in which he played the designer and Adele Haenel for "The Combattants."
"Timbuktu" was the star of the ceremony, nominated for awards in eight categories and sweeping up seven.
Sissako, accepting the best director prize, thanked his native Mauritania, where "Timbuktu" was filmed and his foreign crew was "protected," and France for proving it is a nation "open to others" by showering his work with awards.
"Timbuktu" is competing for an Oscar for best foreign film at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. The movie plays out in Timbuktu during its occupation in 2012 by Muslim extremists who oversaw harsh Sharia law. Despite the reality he portrayed, Sissako revealed his humanist and optimistic view as he accepted best director's award.
"There is no shock of civilization. It doesn't exist," he said. "There is an encounter between civilizations."
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More