Critics' Week
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| Critics' Week | |
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| Name | Critics' Week |
| Native name | Semaine de la Critique |
| Established | 1962 |
| Location | Cannes, France |
| Founder | Pierre-Henri Deleau |
| Language | French, international |
Critics' Week is an international film sidebar founded in 1962 to showcase first and second feature films at the Cannes Film Festival with an emphasis on discovering new talent from around the world. Organized originally by the Syndicat Français de la Critique de Cinéma and later by a committee of film critics, it has premiered works by filmmakers who later became associated with institutions and movements such as the French New Wave, Italian Neorealism, and contemporary New Hollywood. The section has intersected with festivals like the Venice Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and awards circuits including the Palme d'Or, Academy Awards, and BAFTA Awards.
History
Critics' Week was created in 1962 by Pierre-Henri Deleau in response to programming innovations at the Cannes Film Festival and as an outlet parallel to events like the Locarno Film Festival and the emerging Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Early editions screened works alongside releases from auteurs associated with François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais, Roberto Rossellini, and Federico Fellini. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Critics' Week intersected with the careers of directors linked to the Cahiers du Cinéma circle, participants in retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art, and co-productions involving production companies such as Les Films du Losange and Ciné-Tamaris. The sidebar evolved amid shifts marked by the May 1968 events in France and the expansion of film festivals across Europe and North America. In the 1980s and 1990s it became a launching pad for directors who later received honors from institutions like the César Awards and collaborated with distributors such as MK2 and Pathé. Recent decades have seen Critics' Week engage with markets and platforms including the European Film Market and streaming services represented at industry gatherings like Sundance Film Festival.
Format and Selection Process
The programming committee, composed of critics from bodies such as the Syndicat Français de la Critique de Cinéma, scouts films submitted via national bodies including the British Film Institute, Cinémathèque Française, and the Italian National Film Archive. Selection criteria favor first and second features from filmmakers connected to festivals like Toronto International Film Festival and Locarno Film Festival, often spotlighting works from countries represented at festivals like Busan International Film Festival and Shanghai International Film Festival. Films are chosen for competition to receive awards including the Grand Prix Nespresso (formerly the Nespresso Grand Prize), the Leitz Cine Discovery Prize, and the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award, with juries often composed of representatives from organizations such as the European Film Academy, FIPRESCI, and national critics' associations. Screening formats align with technical standards championed by institutions like the National Film Board of Canada and archives such as the Royal Belgian Film Archive, while submission logistics reference procedures used at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Viennale.
Notable Winners and Alumni
Many alumni first presented at Critics' Week later achieved prominence alongside figures and institutions linked to the international film canon. Early breakthrough filmmakers shared circuits with Jean-Pierre Léaud projects and worked within contexts that included collaborations with producers like Luc Besson and Isabelle Huppert. Notable names who premiered or gained early recognition at Critics' Week include directors later associated with awards such as the Palme d'Or, Golden Lion, and Golden Bear; they have since participated in retrospectives at the British Film Institute, received grants from bodies like the European Commission's MEDIA Programme, and been taught in curricula at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and the La Fémis. Alumni have gone on to feature in festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival, and collaborate with distributors including Sony Pictures Classics, Neon, and A24.
Controversies and Criticisms
Critics' Week has faced controversies paralleling debates at the Cannes Film Festival and other cultural institutions. Criticisms have included disputes over selections compared to those at the Directors' Fortnight and allegations of bias similar to discussions involving the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Questions were raised when selections intersected with political controversies like films about events related to the Arab Spring, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and representations tied to the Rwandan Genocide. Accusations of gatekeeping echoed debates seen at the Sundance Film Festival and in conversations about diversity also present at the Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival. Legal and distribution disputes have occasionally involved companies such as StudioCanal and Gaumont, while programming choices sparked commentary from critics associated with Cahiers du Cinéma, Sight & Sound, and Variety.
Impact on Film Industry and Festivals
Critics' Week has influenced programming strategies at major festivals including Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and national showcases like the New Directors/New Films series. It has served as a discovery hub affecting distribution deals with companies such as Criterion Collection, IFC Films, and Magnolia Pictures and has impacted funding flows from bodies like the CNC and the European Film Academy. The sidebar's emphasis on emerging talent has shaped film education at institutions like the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Leicester Media School, inspired curatorial practices at museums such as the Cinémathèque Française and the Museum of Modern Art, and influenced critical discourse in outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Film Comment. Its alumni network continues to intersect with international awards and markets including the Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, European Film Awards, and trade events like the Marché du Film.