The Deauville Festival does not let itself be defeated! Bruno Barde, general manager of the event, is formal: “The festival will be full of surprises and great moments with strong works on which we will refocus. Despite the actors’ strike which deprives the event of Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Peter Dinklage or Joseph Gordon-Levitt for whom tributes are organized this year, Deauville intends to remain the capital of American cinema. “It’s only four names out of a whole selection. It’s certainly disappointing, but you have to adapt”, confides Bruno Barde to 20 minutes.
“Enough to ensure a high quality show”
The boss of Deauville has long thought he could convince the stars to come: “I insisted with their agents, because there is a clause in the actors’ union which authorizes them to receive prizes. They chose to remain in solidarity with the strikers, which I obviously respect. The tributes will therefore take place without them. The strike being directed “against the studios and the platforms”, the French stars and the representatives of the independent films “will be there”, assures Bruno Barde who quotes in particular Luc Besson, Judith Godrèche or Caleb Lancry Jones.
From September 1 to 10, 80 feature films will be shown in eight categories. The jury chaired by Guillaume Canet will have to decide between 14 films. “We still have enough to ensure a high quality show, insists Bruno Barde. If only with the presence of great filmmakers like Jerry Schatzberg, or directors in competition. »
The only thing that worries Bruno Barde today is the Norman weather: “but it’s like the strike, I can’t do anything about it, so I’m doing my best. As for the future, he sees it bright. “We are going through a cycle of changes, underlines the general manager, but I have confidence. The strike will eventually end and cinema will triumph. At least Emilia Clarke will be there this weekend to receive a tribute and the New Hollywood Award by presenting the science fiction film The Pod Generation by Sophie Barthes. And next weekend, Todd Haynes will show his new film, May-Decemberhowever without its main actresses Julian Moore and Natalie Portman.