Cannes Highlights ‘Anora,’ ‘Megalopolis,’ ‘Emilia Pérez’ Set for San Sebastian’s Perlak Sidebar

Cannes Highlights ‘Anora,’ ‘Megalopolis,’ ‘Emilia Pérez’ Set for San Sebastian’s Perlak Sidebar

As a seasoned gamer of the global cinema scene, I eagerly anticipate the San Sebastian film festival this year! The Perlak section promises a cornucopia of award-winning films from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Annecy, not to mention the local talent showcased in the competition titles.


As a passionate cinephile with years of attending international film festivals under my belt, I must say that I am truly excited about the upcoming San Sebastian Film Festival. This year, they have carefully selected some of the finest films from Cannes’ competition lineup for their Perlak section. Having had the opportunity to witness a variety of cinematic masterpieces at different festivals, I can confidently say that this decision promises an unforgettable experience for film lovers like myself. The diverse range of stories, styles, and techniques showcased in these films is bound to stimulate our minds and challenge our perspectives. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to immerse myself in the rich tapestry of global cinema that the San Sebastian Film Festival offers, and I encourage all fellow cinephiles to join me in this cinematic journey.

Nearly all films that won an award at Cannes, such as Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” (grand prize), Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (special jury prize), Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” (best screenplay), and Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner “Anora”, will be shown in San Sebastian’s sidebar, and they will contend for San Sebastian’s audience awards.

Jacques Audiard’s unique blend of crime, music, and transgender themes titled “Emilia Pérez” is set to kick off the Perlak section on September 20th. This groundbreaking film won the jury prize at Cannes and garnered best actress accolades for its exceptional ensemble cast.

In addition to Andrea Arnold’s “Bird”, Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada”, Paolo Sorrentino’s “Parthenope”, and Francis Ford Coppola’s controversial work “Megalopolis”, other films such as Hong Sangsoo’s “A Traveler’s Needs” (winner of the Silver Bear-grand jury prize in Berlin), Walter Salles’ “I’m Still Here” (set to premiere in Venice), and Adam Elliot’s “Memoir of a Snail” (which won the Cristal for best feature film at this year’s Annecy animation festival) will all be shown in the Perlak section.

Chris Sanders’ animated film, titled “The Wild Robot,” which features the voices of Lupita Nyong’o and Pedro Pascal, will be screened out of competition at San Sebastian. Similarly, Tom Volf and Yannis Dimolitsas’ documentary, “Maria Callas: Letters and Memories,” about the renowned opera diva, will also be shown out of competition at the same event.

On September 28, closing the segment, we have “Marco,” a biographical film directed by the Spanish duo Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi. This movie is based on the life of Enric Marco, a Catalan individual who fraudulently presented himself as a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp.

The contest titles are eligible for audience awards within the City of San Sebastian – Donostia Festival, where festival attendees vote. This includes the top film award, valued at $55,000 (€50,000), and the best European film award, which brings a $22,000 (€20,000) cash grant for the Spanish distributors of the winning films.

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2024-08-16 14:54