The 2017 lineup for Cannes’ Critics’ Week sidebar has been announced. Three of the main competition’s seven films — about 42 percent — are women-helmed. Only one film screened in last year’s Critics’ Week competition, which amounted to 14 percent of the program: Julia Ducournau’s cannibalism coming-of-age story, “Raw.”
The Critics’ Week section recognizes films from first- or second-time directors. Lea Mysius’ “Ava” is among the main competition’s offerings. The film centers on a young woman who learns she is going blind during her summer vacation. Atsuko Hirayanagi’s “Oh Lucy!” — adapted from her short film of the same name — follows an older office worker coming out of her shell as she learns English, and Marcela Said’s “Los Perros,” which traces the affair between an upper class Chilean woman and her riding teacher, are also set to screen.
The other Critics’ Week categories are something of a mixed-bag, number-wise. About 33 percent of the projects screening in the Shorts Special Screening and Short Films Competition lineups are women-directed, but none of the Special Screening feature films are helmed by women.
Cannes also announced that Uma Thurman will preside over this year’s Un Certain Regard jury, per Deadline. The Oscar-nominated actress is set to oversee films that “offer a unique perspective and aesthetic.” Among the films screening in Un Certain Regard are Cecilia Atan and Valeria Pivato’s “The Desert Bride,” which centers on a middle-aged maid whose life is turned upside down by a move, and Kaouther Ben Hania’s “Beauty and the Dogs,” a story about a young Tunisian woman forced to collaborate with the police after a tragedy.
Critics’ Week runs May 18–26.
Here are all the women-directed or co-directed films selected for Critics’ Week. List adapted from Deadline.
SHORT FILMS SPECIAL SCREENING
“After School Knife Fight,” dir: Caroline Poggie & Jonathan Vinel
COMPETITION
“Ava,” dir: Lea Mysius*
“Oh Lucy!,” dir: Atsuko Hirayanagi*
“Los Perros,” dir: Marcela Said
SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION
“Los Desheredados,” dir: Laura Ferrés
“Children Leave At Dawn,” dir: Manon Coubia
“Selva,” dir: Sofia Quiros Ubeda
*Denotes first film eligible for the Camera d’Or
