Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week
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| Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week | |
|---|---|
| Name | Critics' Week |
| Native name | Semaine de la Critique |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Pierre-Henri Deleau |
| Location | Cannes, France |
| Frequency | Annual |
Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week is an independent parallel section running alongside the Cannes Film Festival that focuses on first and second films by emerging directors. Founded in 1962 by French journalist Pierre-Henri Deleau, it has promoted auteurs who later figured at major festivals and awards such as the Berlin International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Academy Awards, and BAFTA Awards. The section is curated by critics associated with publications and institutions like Cahiers du Cinéma, Le Monde, Sight & Sound, Festival de Cannes press bodies, and national film centers.
History
Critics' Week was established by Pierre-Henri Deleau and members of the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics to present a critics‑curated alternative to the official selection at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. Early editions screened works by directors who would later become influential at New Wave–adjacent circles, with connections to figures such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Éric Rohmer, Jacques Rivette, and institutions like Institut Lumière. Over the decades Critics' Week has reflected shifts in world cinema observable at festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, and Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, showcasing filmmakers from regions represented by the Cairo International Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Mar del Plata International Film Festival, and San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Organisation and Structure
The selection committee comprises film critics and cinema professionals drawn from outlets such as Télérama, Variety, The Guardian, The New York Times, Le Figaro, and institutions like the CNC and European Film Academy. The organisational model mirrors parallel sections including the Directors' Fortnight and the Critics' Week tradition of other festivals by operating autonomously from the main festival jury chaired historically by figures like Jury Presidents at Cannes. Governance involves an artistic director, a programming team, and administrative staff who liaise with distributors such as MK2, Pathé, Gaumont, and international sales agents at markets like the Marché du Film.
Selection and Eligibility
Eligibility is typically restricted to first and second feature films submitted by producers, sales agents, or national film bodies including BBC Films, Canal+, Arte France Cinéma, CNC, Fonds Sud Cinema, and regional film funds. Selection emphasizes auteurist debuts and sophomore features from filmmakers hailing from countries represented in past lineups, such as Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, India, Nigeria, Egypt, and Turkey. The programme includes feature competition and short film competition with works commonly later programmed at events like SXSW and BFI London Film Festival. Submission rules align with festival calendars and co‑production treaties administered through entities like Eurimages.
Awards
Critics' Week awards include the Grand Prize (Grand Prix), the Nespresso Grand Prize in recent sponsor iterations, the France 4 Visionary Award, the SACD Prize for screenwriting, and short film awards adjudicated by juries composed of critics, filmmakers, and industry representatives from bodies such as FIPRESCI, European Film Academy, Unifrance, and national critics' associations. Laureates frequently proceed to win prizes at César Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and continental accolades including the Goya Awards and David di Donatello Awards. Special mentions and parallel prizes are occasionally bestowed by organizations like Œil d'or for documentary features and broadcasters including HBO or Canal+ for acquisition.
Notable Films and Filmmakers
Critics' Week launched the international profiles of filmmakers who later appeared in mainline competitions at Festival de Cannes and other festivals: early supporters included Ken Loach, Nanni Moretti, Lars von Trier, Alain Resnais, Michael Haneke, Andrea Arnold, Arnaud Desplechin, Guillermo del Toro, Wong Kar-wai, Jim Jarmusch, Agnès Varda, Spike Lee, Claire Denis, Pedro Almodóvar, Paolo Sorrentino, Cristian Mungiu, and Asghar Farhadi. Films presented in Critics' Week that later achieved critical acclaim and awards include titles later discussed in contexts of the New Iranian Cinema, New Romanian Cinema, and Latin American cinema waves exemplified by works from Lucrecia Martel, Walter Salles, and Pablo Larraín.
Venues and Festival Events
Screenings are held in venues clustered around the Palais des Festivals, including the short film theaters and the main Critics' Week venue often located in auditoria used concurrently by the Marché du Film and press screenings. Festival events comprise panel discussions, masterclasses with guest filmmakers associated with institutions like La Cinémathèque Française and universities such as Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, market screenings for buyers and distributors, and networking receptions involving film funds, sales agents, and production companies such as WME, CAA, AGC Studios, and independent producers.
Impact and Reception
Critics' Week is regarded as a barometer for emerging auteur talent, influencing acquisition decisions by distributors and programmers at festivals including TIFF, Venice, and Berlin. Its alumni list and award outcomes are tracked by trade publications like Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety, contributing to critical discourse within outlets such as Cahiers du Cinéma and Sight & Sound. The section's curatorial emphasis on discovery has prompted academic analysis in film studies programs at institutions like NYU Tisch School of the Arts and La Fémis, and it remains influential in shaping careers that go on to national and international recognition.