Credit to the critics

Let the party begin! 

At the Miramar, our magnificent cinema with its prestigious CST label, and among our teams who give their all to our dear Semaine de la Critique, everything is up and running for eight exceptional days. Ava Cahen, our Artistic Director, and her committees have selected eleven feature films and thirteen short films among more than 3,000 works viewed. This precious labour of delving into international productions to share the best is the very definition of the work of a critic, but done at the source. The goal is to bring the selected first and second films to the world, showcasing them in the best possible location, the Cannes Film Festival. 

Remember that over 63 years, this selection has been led by working film critics. The only one in Cannes, and one of very few worldwide. There is a sense of dedication to discovery and young artists that is the pride of our profession. This time, I will spare you the long list of filmmakers who debuted brilliantly with us before winning Palmes and the most prestigious awards. I will, however, remind you of our warm and stellar care, since we focus on a few films, thus allowing each of them to exist in the whirlwind that is the Cannes Festival. 

What is new this year in Cannes is our very own beach (right in front of the Miramar) open to the press all day long, offering optimal conditions for the teams of the film to organise meetings and interviews. Our care to always welcome the press to offer them the best access to our selection is also made manifest at our ticket office. For the first time since the digital booking system was launched, a significant number of seats for the first screening of each film will be set aside for journalists. The press plays a crucial role in shining a light on our selection, and we want to give it the place it deserves.  

La Semaine continues after the Cannes Film Festival. First, the whole selection - or part of it - will be screened in Paris (at the Cinémathèque Française), Marseille, Corsica, and abroad. Also, our film literacy programmes in schools led by committee members focus on films selected at La Semaine. The young short-film directors are also offered tailored support towards developing their first feature film through our Next Step programme. As this famous laboratory celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, and some of its alumni have already shone in Cannes and other international festivals, we stepped up and created Next Step Volume 2: held in Corsica in autumn, this programme offers specific guidance on music in film.

Philippe Rouyer

Chairman of the French Union of Film Critics